When were the rifle sights taken off?

[Adam]

They were taken off at some point in the week leading up to the massacre.

AP said he saw the rifle with sights and silencer attached on 26th/28th July.

http://jeremybamberforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,1209.0.html

[Adam]

Obviously taken off by Bamber.

Putting them on and aligning them takes a long time. AP says a shop did it.

So once on they stay on. No reason for Nevill to take them off.

[Adam]

Special keys are needed to take them off. This and the length of time it takes, rules out them being taken off just before the massacre. Once inside WHF, he would want to be as silent as possible and get upstairs quickly.

Taking them off during supper is possible. Providing Nevill did not see him. Not sure when Nevill did the last trailer. Bit risky relying on getting an opportunity a few hours beforehand.

[Adam]

AP says the rifle had sights and silencer attached when he saw the rifle. Which is how it should be for shooting vermin. Obviously the silencer stayed on for the massacre.

AP also says there was no scratch on the silencer. So this must have arisen during the kitchen fight.

[Adam]

Don't believe he had unlimited access into WHF. No keys. So restricted in when he could take the sights off. Although he could get in via windows.

Believe he would not want Nevill to know about the sights being taken off. The rifle is basically not useable for shooting vermin without sights.  So the closer to the massacre the better.

[Adam]

Quite possible he took them off during supper. After seeing the condition Sheila was in. Together with fully loading the rifle.

Then put the rifle back in the gun cupboard. Leaving the silencer on.

Providing there was a suitable period when Nevill was not around.

[Adam]

AP said he had never seen Sheila with a rifle. Jeremy became interested in 1980 and was profient with the rifle. 

He said the rifle looked new, no marks.

[Adam]

http://jeremybamberforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,768.msg20285.html#msg20285

Here is a more detailed WS from AP.

Says he picked up the rifle on the 26th/28th July. Which is why he could describe the silencer being unmarked.

[Roch]

I'm going to sit this one out Adam. It is a subject that has never grabbed my attention. Some Bamber topics are too dry for me. Other ones are 'telephone under the magazines'.  'June's bike'. The infamous 'sea wall'. 

[Adam]

http://jeremybamberforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,505.msg8606.html#msg8606

AP says his wife could not load the rifle. Sheila in her condition would find it impossible.

The bullets had protective grease on. Of which Sheila's hands did not.

[Adam]

Pre massacre the rifle was loaded, sights taken off & silencer kept on.

During the massacre the silencer aquired blood, paint, a hair & a scratch. A piece of the rifle fell off.

[Hardy Boy]

They were taken off at some point in the week leading up to the massacre.

AP said he saw the rifle with sights and silencer attached on 26th/28th July.

http://jeremybamberforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,1209.0.html

Why take the Scope off to clean it anyway?  Surely the glass and scope could be cleaned while attatched to the rifle, if Neville had cleaned the scope like Bamber said, it would have been left with a view to attatching it back to the rifle and not boxed at the back of a cupboard, leaving it boxed and at the back of a cupboard suggests to me it wasn't going to be used for some while, i don't think that would be the case on a working farm.

[Adam]

Why take the Scope off to clean it anyway?  Surely the glass and scope could be cleaned while attatched to the rifle, if Neville had cleaned the scope like Bamber said, it would have been left with a view to attatching it back to the rifle and not boxed at the back of a cupboard, leaving it boxed and at the back of a cupboard suggests to me it wasn't going to be used for some while, i don't think that would be the case on a working farm.

Did he say Nevill took it off to clean?

AP said the rifle & silencer were in pristine condition. Assume the sights were as well.

As you said, doubtful Nevill would take it off to clean. Considering how long the process of taking it off, putting it on and aligning it takes.

[Hardy Boy]

Did he say Nevill took it off to clean?

AP said the rifle & silencer were in pristine condition. Assume the sights were as well.

As you said, doubtful Nevill would take it off to clean. Considering how long the process of taking it off, putting it on and aligning it takes.

I could be wrong, but i'm sure that Caroline put the question to him and he said that his Father probably took them off to clean them?

[Adam]

DB said the rifle without sights would be a lot easier to fire at close range without the sights.