Hi Jim, I'm sorry I missed your email from my website. I don't get very much mail there, so I don't check it very often. Q: Can you describe the scope mount, how it is attached, whether it was done by modifying the stockworks or not?Steel, aluminum etc? A: All the Ag42b's have holes drilled and tapped in the left side of the receiver just below the wood. This particular piece has had the wood cut out to expose the holes, and then a flat piece of metal "inlaid", screwed to the receiver that comes up flush with the surface of the stock. The mount is screwed to that piece. Q: Concerning the scope orientation: I cannot tell from the picture IF the scope is directly atop the receiver-chargeing cover or perhaps offset to the left..Can you elaborate for me? A: The scope "begins" just at the rear of the receiver opening, directly on the centerline of the receiver. Q: Can the rifle be reloaded using stripper clips with the scope attached? A: No, the front of the scope overhangs the charger guide about 1/2". Q: Do the spent brass cases hit the scope as they are ejected? A: No, the brass is ejected, bounced off the rubber bumber and is thrown 30 feet or so to the right front. Q: Do you think the rifle was scoped for practical use? A: I have often wondered that myself. I bought the rifle in about 1989 from a (believe it or not) Swedish flight instructor in Dalton Georgia. He said the scope was mounted when he was given the rifle by someone in his family. Q: Any idea when or by whom? A: No, but it looks to be a professional job. Q: IF you could take a few digital pictures closeup of the mount, RingS and scope that would be very helpful. A: Yes, the next time I have my junky camera running I'll snap a couple and send them to you. I really appreciate your taking the time to reply. No problem at all sir, and again, I'm sorry for being so slow to respond. A couple of other things about this piece. The scope is a 1945 PU Russian, and the rifle is also a 1945. Both are in excellent condition, and look to have never been abused at all, and used very little. The mount is heavy steel with a coulpe of lightening holes. The blue is worn on the edges from handling, and the cut in the stock is old. I have always wondered if the Swedes mounted the scope for trials or something, but all the Swede collectors in the world say it never happened. So probably someone just had a good smith do it for them, unless it was the Russians. Also, the sighting is "right on", optically near perfect. The military configuration is not altered in any way, and the rifle number is stamped onto the mount. I have never been able to understand why any "civilian" would go to all that trouble! Since the rifle is Swede, and the scope is Russian, it surely is not an attempt to counterfeit a sniper rifle, I don't think. At any rate, it's one of my favorite rifles, and by far the most accurate one I own. A while back on the C&R board I posted the picture of a target using M41 Swede surplus ammo at 200 meters, 10 shots for exibition, (they wouldn't let me enter it for score since it had been "sporterized"). From a rest front and rear the group measured 2.20". Best Regards Mosko'