Having stirred up the pot :
it seems that so far its 2:1 to Parker Hale fitting the woodwork.
Enforsore and his Home Office document = Parker Hale
Peter Laidler & major XXX = Parker Hale (or some contractor but not Enfield)
Thunderbox = Enfield.
Thunderbox - do you have any documentory evidence or first hand knowledge to support your proposition ?
AM Stevens website shows the "recently declassified" Home Office Specification (GSR ?) which states :
The nominated weapon is based on the Service L39A1 Target Rifle, produced by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield and modified by Parker-Hale Limited of Birmingham - who fit a suitable telescope sight target sights and alternative butt. (Figs 10-14)
Since the basic rifle. and its ammunition, are Service Stores, both are produced to MOD written detailed Specification, with full MOD Quality Assurance before acceptance.
As supply has to be arranged with MOD it is proving necessary to collate all orders through the Home Office to enable a single production order to be placed on RSAF through MOD Sales Supply Organisation.
Some of the factors leading to the choice made are given below:
a. No other calibre of rifle ammunition was available made in the UK.
Alternative calibre's would be of commercial quality obtained through the importers of the make selected with no guarantee of continuity of quality and supply.
b. Many police officers are already familiar with the No. 4 Rifle on the action of which the L39A1 is based.
c. No commercially supplied rifle in 7.62 mm or other calibre is available in quality so tightly controlled, while of the weapons examined, in 7.62 mm calibre none surpassed the selected rifle in performance.
d. As a Service weapon, Service assistance in relation to maintenance and spare parts is readily available for the L39A1 Rifle.
e. High Accuracy 7.62 mm ammunition, provided for the Service Sniper and as issued for the Bisley meetings will remain available, in consistent quality from MOD, for the foreseeable future.
History
The L39A1 Rifle is converted from the .303-in Rifle, No. 4 Mk 1/2 or Mk 2. It was introduced into the Services to meet the requirement for an accurate target rifle for competition purposes.
Description
The rifle is a magazine fed, hand operated, bolt action, single shot weapon. High accuracy is obtained by the careful selection of good actions, suitably modified to accept 7.62 mm ammunition, to each of which is breeched a heavy 7.62 mm target barrel. A magazine holding 10 rounds is fitted. The military fore-end is shortened, and a hand guard is provided. On test each rifle must make a satisfactory group of 10 rounds within an area 2.6" x 2.6" at 100 yards, or proportionately at other distances.
Adaptation for Police Use
To produce an effective weapon for police use - modification and additions include:
1. The substitution for the military butt of one of greater length, with a pistol grip and higher comb to suit the telescopic sight. (Fig 10)
2. The fitting of mounts for a telescope sight. (Fig 14)
3. The provision of a Pecar telescope sight, with "roll-off" mounts. (Fig 13) 4. The fitting of supplementary iron target sights comprising a model 5e Parker-Hale back sight. (Fig 11) The transverse arm to the latter may be inserted when the telescope is removed, so that iron sights may be used in an emergency, or the rifle can be used, for practice, as a target rifle under NRA rules.
Technical Data
Calibre 7.62 mm
Length overall 3 ft 11 and a half inches
Weight (without telescope) 10 and a half lbs.
Length of barrel 27.5 inches
Number of grooves 4
Pitch of rifling 1 turn in 12 inches
Twist of rifling right hand
Type of Sights back sight - adjustable aperture
foresight-tunnel, interchangeable elements
Sight range (iron sights) 200 - 1200 yds
Magazine Box type, 10 rounds in two columns
Muzzle velocity 2850 ft sec
The Pecar Scope (Description) :-
The Pecar Model V2 - S Telescope is designed as a rugged, high quality sight for hunting rifles. The technical specification is given below, but the tube is of steel, sealed against the ingress of moisture and with coated lenses. Magnification is adjusted by a ring, forward of the eyepiece, from 4X to a maximum of 1OX, the field of view and illumination reducing as the magnification increases. The high power is primarily of value in ensuring positive identification of the target. Covered drums for adjustment of elevation and deflection are Provided, movement being controlled in clicks of 1 minute of angle. The saddle which carries the drums and reticle is removable, and interchangeable units are provided, with sixteen alternative reticle designs.
Technical Data
Make Pecar
Model V2 - S
Length 355 mm
Weight 455 gm
Magnification Variable - 4X to 10X
Field of View at 100 metres 4x - 31 ft
6x - 24 ft
8x - 18 ft
10x - 16 ft
Object Glass diameter 50 mm
Eye relief 80 mm
Reticule Interchangeable - 16 patterns available.
7.62 mm Ammunition
Any 7.62 mm Service cartridge., Ball,, Tracer, or Blank, may be fired in the Police Rifle.
It is, however, the intention to use high accuracy Service Ball ammunition as issued for use by the Service Sniper. This is identical to the high accuracy ammunition supplied by the Ministry of Defence to the National Rifle Association for use at the 1970 and 1971 Imperial Meetings at Bisley, where many new records were set up, and which resulted in reductions in the size of target scoring areas for 1972.
Ancillaries and Cleaning Kit
Recommendations are given in Appendix A on ancillaries and cleaning kit to be provided for use with each type of weapon, The Police Rifle, with its telescope sight is a precision arm and must be treated as such. When not in use it should be kept in an appropriate gun case, preferably thickly lined with plastic foam, and containing enough space to accommodate not only the rifle with its sights, but also cleaning equipment and one or more cartons of ammunition. A rifle cover should be provided to protect the weapon when it is taken any distance from a vehicle in which it has been carried in its case. Good cleaning equipment is essential, and that recommended is of the type which has proved itself at Bisley and elsewhere all over the world.
I dont have any answers myself - just questions, I'd like answers and it seems almost as if the Enforcer is an unwritten, unknown story.
Hopefully "stirring the pot" and some healthy debate and discussion may go part way to writing that story.
Keep the information coming.
