No4 Based Target rifles - Collectable?

[tbonesmith]

I've had a few and like them a lot. I find it very interesting from a target shooting enthusiasts point of view, and as a No4 collector. For what it's worth, well set up these rifles shoot brilliantly. They have their limitations, and they won't out shoot modern well set up target rifles, but they will out shoot a bunch of half decent shooters.

[superbee]

I say,very collectable!I have about 15 in my collection.Some from well know target shooters from the 50'-60's.Fun to collect the different target sights and see how each one is set up and bedded.
DCRA 7.62's are very interesting as they are some of the only enfields factory converted to 7.62..I have one that was used in the 1967 palma match.
Target rifles are an important part of the history of Enfields.

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

The interesting ones have been worked over meticulously by men who knew more about tuning these rifles than any six internet posters put together. (Present company excused.) I have a No4 Regulated by Fulton that has a widened foreend, which was slabbed on the original bedded centre section of the stock. It is a single feed with a filled in magazine well. The trigger is hung, and the most delicate single pressure pull you can imagine. Sights. Barrel. Butt. Trigger guard. No part has not been examined and improved.

[Beerhunter]

Yes. A few of those as well!. If only Bisley was on the doorstep!.
Do the P14's have the edge with the supposedly stronger action?.

In the "olden days" the received wisdom (Which I later found out was based on fact.) was that the Mauser actioned P14 was better at shorter ranges for example 200 yards but the Lee-Enfields better for longer ranges, that is to say 600 yards and out; due to the "self-compensating" nature of the Lee action.

[Alan de Enfield]

There is an auction held at Newark (the one in the UK) every 8 weeks -There are normally at least 4 or 5 - or more - 7.62 "target rifles" based on both No4 and P14 actions - they rarely fetch above £100 (unless fitted with PH rear sights or scopes)

I actually bought one and built an Enforcer 'clone' when I thought I'd never find a real Enforcer.

[jss]

Currently only worth the value of the parts in them, unfortunately.

Apparently so. Just phoned about what looked like a nice A J Parker TR going for £150. Sold in a day to a dealer for the receiver!.
What a shame. A rifle that is probably as it was when it came out of the A J Parker works is to be stripped for its receiver and probably turned into another fake No4. Like buying a Lotus Elan and putting the engine back into a Ford Cortina!.

[bigduke6]

Apparently so. Just phoned about what looked like a nice A J Parker TR going for £150. Sold in a day to a dealer for the receiver!.
What a shame. A rifle that is probably as it was when it came out of the A J Parker works is to be stripped for its receiver and probably turned into another fake No4

There are 3x P14,s on guntrader at present £95, £100, £120, the £95 one has had a big stock fitted ( its in your neck of the woods), but comes with a PH sight, the others have no pictures, maybe worth a call. one of them maybe a Fulton or AJ Parker ?

[Simon P]

Theres also a No4 7.62 Whitaker rifle on the Gun Mart site:

Bolt action : Whitaker Special 7.62 Match Rifle

[Mk VII]

My club has a bunch of those AJ Parker No.4 conversions that they want to sell. I think I'll probably have one, but that still leaves three.

[jss]

Thanks all for the great response as usual. I was expecting a bit of flak for some reason. I just hate to think of a rifle that someone has carefully and professionally put together being dismantled for its parts, especially after the compelling photographic and anecdotal content posted here regarding the A J Parker company.
But if they are so unwanted then who am I to argue. This is a bit of a minefield for a novice!.
How about a nice Envoy or L39 parted out for sporterisation. Would that be acceptable?.
How many of these 1st gen. rifles are out there and why does no-one want them?. You don't see many "Conv's" around any more. Or have they all been parted out?.
Questions, questions.........I do apologise. Perhaps you should ban newbies!.