The Spanish military used the CETME-L rifle as its standard rifle in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition to the standard model, they also had two versions of marksman’s CETME-Ls. These were designated the LV (“V” for “visor”, or scope). The Army used a domestic 4x scope of tradition design made by ENOSA (Empresa Nacional de Óptica S.A.; National Optics Factory). The Marines used the British SUSAT 4x optic. The two versions of the rifle for these optics each had different rear sight blocks for mounting; one a STANG compatible type with backup iron sights and one a simple dovetail rail. Today we are looking at examples of each.
Thanks to MarColMar Firearms for loaning me the SUSAT model for this video!
Height over bore….
Right, it really hits your eye, does it 🙂
I wish I lived closer, I would re-weld that mount for you just because…
Grinder and paint makes me the welder I ain’t.
I am the happy owner of two ENOSA binoculars (8×30 and 7×50 models); excellent optics, comparable to quality German glass of same vintage (1970s).
Probably because Germans worked there after the war. In Canada, many productive industries, such as optical company Ernst Leitz in Midland Ontario was founded by Germans. With founder came many skilled workers.
The Leitz company in Ontario is simply a Canadian branch of Leitz Germany, the maker of the famous Leica 35mm rangefinder cameras.
The genesis of the Spanish optics industry, despite having profited from some German input, was very much a local endeavour that can and a by-product of the regime’s autarkic dreams…
History of Ernst Leitz company https://leica.pt/leica-a-history-of-success/?lang=en
Canadian division starting in 1952.
Thanks for the link. Since more than 50% of their customers were in North America the company decided to open a factory in Canada. This was their first venture outside Germany, where all manufacturing took place till then. According to what I have read on the subject, the company owners were concerned with the prospect of destruction (having experienced the war) and felt it was wiser to relocate at least a part of their manufacturing capability to a safer location, hence the choice of Canada, where the first factory outside Germany was eventually installed in 1952. In its early phase, work at the factory was confined to glass polishing and other (relatively) minor things. Then, they started assembling lenses from parts and even designing them. Camera manufacturing proceeded with the assembling of Leica IIIF, followed by partial production of the famous M3. The first model fully made in Canada was the M4-2, a model lauched in 1977.
I am also the happy user of a beautiful Leica M3 camera, together with a few lenses. Quite possibly the best mechanical rangefinder that Ernst Leitz GmbH ever made. The camera was originally released in 1954, being produced until 1966 (mine is a mid-production example made in 1961). Quite a feat of precision mechanics, if you ask me. Btw, I had it CLAed by an expert repairman and now it looks and works as new.
I have learned a lot of information from your sharing, thanks a lot. Please continue sharing such interesting information.
How rugged and precise are the external adjustments on the SUSAT?
The Spanish Marines version of the CETME LV actually had a detachable iron sights module which slided into the dovetail base. You can see a picture of it here:
https://www.armas.es/images/art/cetme_triarii/cetme_lv.jpg
It could be used instead of the SUSAT scope.
The SUSAT scope on the Marcolmar LV is not actually correct! The mount on the SUSAT is a standard L85A1 mount for the SA80 series of rifles. The correct mount is a Mueller mount (front elevation adjustment knob) built and designed commercially in the UK. I have some of the correct SUSAT’s and mount, they are a better mount in my opinion!