PH M85 00131F in sold at auction in UK

[desperatedan]

**Please ignore title - my typo it's SN 00135F**

Catching up with my auction updates I see a PH M85 (no. 00135F) sold today at Gavin Gardiner in the UK.

It was missing a few original parts (mag, one piece scope mount, etc) but came with a spare new M85 barrel.

Sold for GBP 1300(GBP 1755 inc fees). Pretty good deal for someone IMO.

link here: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-l...per-a454dea967

There was an L42A1 in the sale too that sold for GBP 4500 (GBP 6075 inc fees).

[Roy W]

That rifle has been doing the rounds at trade shows for a few years. I don't believe it is an M85 at all, but made to look like one. The barrel is not original, the stock is repainted, but most importantly, the receiver does not have the integral rearsight, nor can one be fitted.
I believe it is a PH action of some sort, fitted with a MacMillan McHale stock and a heavy barrel and passed off as an M85.
I have seen it and handled it. I wouldn't have bought it.

[desperatedan]

Cheers Roy.

I must admit I hadn't looked too closely, I just saw my auction alert update and thought it was cheap!

[Lee Enfield]

That rifle has been doing the rounds at trade shows for a few years. I don't believe it is an M85 at all, but made to look like one. The barrel is not original, the stock is repainted, but most importantly, the receiver does not have the integral rearsight, nor can one be fitted.
I believe it is a PH action of some sort, fitted with a MacMillan McHale stock and a heavy barrel and passed off as an M85.
I have seen it and handled it. I wouldn't have bought it.

It would be nice to see better photos, but it looks like an M85 action (extended front receiver ring) which has had the rear sight wings and possibly well removed.

It would be interesting to know what Gil's list says regarding the serial number ?

I have attached a crop of the rifle in question and added a number of illustrative photos.


M86/M87 action

[Simon P]

Could it be a Parker Hale M87 action

[Gil Boyd]

Hi Guys,
Apologies for the delay, this MND is relentless, so have been busy trying to walk and keep driving with my left leg as the right deteriates....................anyway enough about my crap. Just a Reminder John Clark aka MrClark303 does this service in my absence.

Parker Hale M85 Serial Number 00135F build on the 26th November 1986 fitted with a Swarovski scope ZFM6X42 S/N A5726009.
It shot 11.2mm group @100 yards with 10 rounds.
Built into a McMillan NATO GREEN stock
Sold to Avon & Somerset Police Force in the UK on the 20/4/1989
I have to assume it was held in stock until the sale date.

Its one of these guns you need in your hands to check provenance

[Promo]

Gil, John/mrclark303 has provided a different entry for serial 00135F than you. He said to me your entry is the one he has for serial 00351F. Could you possibly check whether the above entry indeed is for 00135F or if you by mistake quoted 00351F? Thanks!

[desperatedan]

Gil,

You have previously replied - in 2014 - about both 00135F and 00351F :

Rifle S/N 00135F Built on the 26th November 1986 into an Arctic body fitted with an Arctic Knob too.
Fitted with a Swarovski ZFM 6X42 scope and one piece mount.
Firing 16.7mm group 10 rounds at 100 yards
Sold to Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Rifle S/N 00351F Built on the 20th of April 1989 into a Green body
Fitted with a Swarovski ZFM 6X42 scope Serial Number: A5726009
Firing 11.2mm group 10 rounds at 100 yards
Sold to Avon & Somerset Police

The full reply and original enquiry is here: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=47454&page=2

[Roy W]

Could it be a Parker Hale M87 action

This looks more likely than an M85

[Lee Enfield]

Could it be a Parker Hale M87 action

The front receiver ring is too long to be an m84/86/87 action. Also the top bar extends too far to the right side.

The action in question started as an M85 - looks to have been modified by removal of the rear sight wings and filling of the well that the rear sight sat in.