Early Parker sight?

Good grief Ian! I hope you aren't going to use that mole wrench to adjust the sight!:eek:

Patrick
:wave:

LOL - not ever! Actually the sight functions perfectly - clicks are sharp and distinct and the folding mechanism is solid, as are the windage and elevation settings. All in all very useable (when I find the right rifle to mount it on) will this addiction ever end?

:confused: There are a couple of interesting features, 1. the windage arm is similar to a late model 9E or 9G. with the large adjuster, 2. The address is more likely young Alfred just after his unexplained split with the Hales, the original premises not being as large as Ickneild, (1900's) Whittal (1920's on) or Bath st. (A.J. 1940's-1950's)
Remembering that BSA had relinquished it's existing No.9 series stock to Parker-Hale, and that young Alfred was the real brains and had a hand in developing this series, it seems likely that this sight may be one of the first produced before the TWIN ZERO, giving it a rough time frame of about 1925-1927.
My reasoning toward this being his is that the brand AGP and PH were firmly established prior to this time, the 1950's REGENT was marked similarly, also by the son.
I would love to be further enlightened.

One of the things that strikes me about this sight is the way the scales are engraved directly into the arms - with the #9 (I've only seen as early as a 9c) the scales are applied to the arms, on plates; this makes a great deal of sense in a mass produced sight, (and from a users perspective) but not so much in a small production shop. I'm going to take the mount plate off later to see if there's anything under the hardware that could help, all #9's I've seen have been marked in or near the bottom attachment. Additionally, the mount plate itself is specifically designed to mount a #9 to an SMLE, Metford plates were standard for this series of sights.

:wave: In regards to the mount plate that is confusing you, this plate was made and designed by young Alfred, and came into use around 1924-5, basically the backplate for the No.5 and 5a sight. These were seen with 5 types of markings, PARKER, AGP, PARKER HALE, BISLEY WORKS, and this one ,Alfd. Parker.
This type plate was first used on the 9c, for the SMLE, the 9b requiring a slightly different mount. First listed in 1924 in The Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs catalogue as PARKER, and remained so marked until about 1930 when other markings began to appear.
As we know the breakup with the parent company PARKERHALE was around 1924-26, the Catalogues of PARKERHALE, then mainly controlled by A.T.C, A.C. and S.C. HALE, suddenly dropped references to a lot of the sights previously listed. By 1938 it was only the SportTarget range being offered, Whereas the catalogues of Alfred Parker, having used the address of Joseph Parker, (unknown relationship-hotelier/publican) then Regent St, and finally Bath St, was still listing varieties of the other sights with his name stamped on them. One must assume that the fight over patents was won by the young A.J. Parker.

Hi Ian, just in case you haven't seen it and might be interested try this for a browse; Aperture Sights | The Lee Enfield Rifle
I'm still collecting photos and you've come up with a variant I haven't seen before, nicely done. That mount with the long leg is the best one to have, its a bit more rigid that ones without, hence a fair affect on accuracy.

I like the reasoning of moffat.2008. My explanation pushes the date extremely far back. His gives a plausible time fit with the mounting plate.

Patrick
:wave:

It is very possible that this sight dates to the "break up" period, one thing that the photos don't convey well is that this sight is, well, 'rough'. It's a long way from the precision you might expect for a precision sight, there are file marks under the finish in several locations and otherwise square edges are slightly off. I'm not sure the mounting plate (like the Iris) is a good way to date the sight, since the plate was sold seperately. This is of course one of the joys of virtually anything 'Parker' - I also have a Parker stamped No4 Mk2 complete with TZ 4/47 sight, with no military markings at all, and the documentation that these rifles were even produced, is scarce to say the least. I read somewhere that when the plant closed down, all of the records were piled up outside doused with gas and set on fire, so we may never know.

What a testament to the makers of many of these old sights that most of them, used for decades on end, then mothballed for further decades, come out again and with a fairly light duty cleanup/service, function pretty close to, if not as well as modern world class "match" sight. More of them!

:wave: Ian, in reference to your No.4, is the rifle stamped PARKER, or is there some other means of identification, and what is the build date?
A.J. Parker listed brand new No.4 Mk.2 rifles and special purchase ex government rifles for the target fraternity in his 1953 catalogue. No. SR11 was as received from the Ministry of Supply, selected, adjusted and tested, barrel lapped, fitted with TZ Model 4/47 sight for 33 pound 10 shillings.(why has'nt this bloody computer got a pound sign?)