I did a lot of my MS thesis petrography work on an ancient brass tubed Leitz scope that I found squirreled away in a cabinet in the pet lab. Prior to the digital photography revolution some folks I know used those 5x7 plate backs with polaroid film to take photomicrographs. I have a couple of the film holders on a shelf behind me. I just use an inexpensive digital camera to take pics of rock thin sections these days.

Ain't technology great?

re: vickers barrels. the set on the gun i have for sale were proofed in italy.