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    Sterling conversion kit from AJ Parker

    I just dug out something I had completely forgotten about. A complete (less barrel and ejector) No4 Sterling conversion kit. This is the magazine, extractor and charger bridge insert.

    I bought it from old Miss Parker herself at AJ Parker, which was a bizarre experience in itself. I had a mid 90s catalogue which had line drawings and product art typical of previous decades, 50s to some later contemporary pictures which looked as if they had been cut and pasted (ie with real paper and glue) from distributor's catalogues. Only the prices had changed by cut and paste of new strips of paper with the new prices.

    I had to phone from Sydney three times before I could get Miss Parker on the phone because no one else in the place was able to deal with product enquiries, let alone orders. Payment was of course the old fashioned way, bank cheque. I don't know what the value was like in relative terms. Price was £40 in 1995 money and exchange rates, which was £0.30 = A$1 at the time. They had a lot of good stuff in their catalogue, but prices looked too steep for my wallet then. I wonder what it's worth now?

    I was in Solihull a few years ago and looked them up online but I was not surprised to learn that they had shut up a year or two earlier. The state of the workshop in the photos that went around a while ago seemed indicative to me of the whole business situation.

    Interestingly, when I was in Solihull, I drove past the old ROF Shirley factory site regularly. It wasn't until after I left that I realised where I had been and that I ought have looked it up. It is now a retail centre or some such thing.
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    Quote Originally Posted by L42A1 View Post
    They had a lot of good stuff in their catalogue, but prices looked too steep for my wallet then. I wonder what it's worth now?
    Judging by Ma. Parker's prices, I'd say that current prices have only recently caught up.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Beerhunter View Post
    Judging by Ma. Parker's prices, I'd say that current prices have only recently caught up.
    Interesting. At the time, it was probably worth about A$130 in 1995 money. The repro Enfield magazine (Charnwood Ordnance?) retailed here for $150 around the same time. This was all pre-internet shopping of course, and I've not seen Sterling magazines offered anywhere else.

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    As an aside, I heard that the Charnwood reproduction 7.62mm mags may soon be available once more, though I've no idea on prices as yet.

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    I've had plenty of Sterling magazines. I never thought much of them because they didn't really eject. The Sterling ejector is a separate assembly and I just always preferred the Enfield pattern 7.62 magazine with it's fixed ejector. I ordered 25 sets of No.7Mk.1 bolt parts from AJ Parker back in 1992 along with 4/80 and 8/53 back sight attachments. It took a long time, (a year I think), to get them but they were perfect. I had a nice visit with Edna Parker. Pretty amazing stuff now that I look back.

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