I found reference to the "M.83" in a museum collection, is there any known documentation or photos?
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I found reference to the "M.83" in a museum collection, is there any known documentation or photos?
Well the obvious references to PH M83? but I suppose there must be loads of Militaria with that number attributed to it!
IMHO a PH M83 is no more than a 1200 TX rifle used for target shooting and called that for ease, but as I don't know the history of each number and how they were attributed, (as clearly even those working for PH are confused) is left to history!
Not my expertise that one! I have asked Bill Smallwood to see if he can come up with an acceptable answer for you.
Parker Hale built a M83 for sale in the iron curtain countries. It was a 7.62x51 4 shot target rifle. Only seen pictures however it was built on the square top receiver like the M86 and had a 1200TX barrel , bottom metal and L81 sights. There's a couple pictures on the net however not much detail. Ron (Canada)
I believe, after speaking to Bill, that it was there as M82 because it fell in the sequence of numbering at PH at the time, but Roger Hale clearly never filled it with a "real" rifle.
I went through the records, and there is absolutely no recording of what can be called an M82 in the registers, lots of (prototypes) but no M82's.
One would therefore suspect if indeed there are a small few out there numbered as such they would bring a good price!! Bill might dig up some more info.
Leeds is only 3-1/2 hours from 16 AAB...just nip up for an afternoon...
M83 at RA:
#1 - PR.5918
#2 - PR.546
#3 - PR.5920
#6 - PR.547
M85 at RA:
#107F - XII.11375
#00243F - PR.7091
#781-48581 - PR.13252
M85 Replacement at RA:
#1 - XII.11219 (purchased from York Guns)
Quote:
Object Title
Centrefire bolt-action magazine sniper rifle - Parker-Hale
Centrefire bolt-action magazine sniper rifle - Parker-Hale
Date
1971-1999
Object Number
XII.11219
Provenance
Purchased from York Guns, 18 December 2000
Physical Description
A bolt action rifle with a Mauser type locking system and bolt, the cocking handle of which has an oversized black plastic knob for ease of use.The receiver has no iron sights fitted, but is machined with a raised dovetail for the fitting of a military pattern scope.The receiver is black finished. The rifle is fitted with a neavy bull barrel, which is fluted for cooling. It has a rectangular compensator at the muzzle. The barrel is matt-black finished. A ten round box magazine is fitted underneath the receiver, and this is removeable by means of a locking catch by the triggerguard. The stock is of black composite, and has an adjustable chheck comb that can be raised to suit the shooters preference. The base of the pistol grip has a rotating wheel that is used for resting the rifle on the ground when using a bipod, for which a quickly detachable slide mount is provided. [The bipod is not present]. Recoil pads are fitted to the butt, and these can be removed or added to
Firearms/Artillery
Serial Number Serial No. 1
Calibre
.308 in _ (7.62 x 51 mm)
Inscriptions and Marks
PARKER HALE LTD BIRMINGHAM
Associations
Places Britain
Notes
This example is the first prototype sniping rifle of the new generation rifles designed to replace PArker Hales M85 rifle. However, the factory was unable to complete testing before they became insolvent. It is not known if any other examples of this rifle survive.
You haven't travelled the A14 recently...........anywhere north of Cambridge is chocker block until the 8 lanes are finished, as they close the complete road from 10pm to 6am every night........chaos with lorries stockpiled at 6am for miles!!
Interesting 0107F went to Northumbria on the 15th October 1986
0243F went to SAS Hereford on the 5th November 1986
Clearly found their way to the museum.