Question on Malcolm telescopic sights

[breadbasketbomb]

This isn't a real firearm obviously, but it is related to old and antique weaponry. And it's really simple... why is the Malcolm sight so damned long? Was it limitation in manufacturing the lenses, was it just intuition that made the designer? What's the advantage of having such a long scope?

 

[4V50 Gary]

There were shorter scopes back then too. The Davidson side mounted telescope comes to mind.

 

[breadbasketbomb]

There were shorter scopes back then too. The Davidson side mounted telescope comes to mind.

I know that for sure. Though why were certain models much longer?

 

[Jim Watson]

Limitations in lens grinding and mounting. Not many lenses in a 19th century scope, a modern short scope is full of glass.

 

[mapsjanhere]

Grinding wasn't the big issue, they didn't have the high-refractive-index low-aberration glass we have today. You needed very thick lenses with old glass, and the color fringes were bad.

 

[Jim Watson]

Achromatic lenses were a great improvement for sure.

 

[Ricklin]

Yup it's the glass.....kinda

Don't overlook what gave us that great glass, computing power.