Seems a low number....so a very early UF?Attachment 70444
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Seems a low number....so a very early UF?Attachment 70444
Nice piece -- many seem to have been unissued, then sold off as surplus. Supposedly these were part of an RAF purchase (but in reality were probably meant to keep the plant open more than a real military need).
In 1954, the numbering system changed to the form "UF Axxxxx". Presumably the "UF A xxxxxx" rifles are built to a better finish compared to most of the "PFs".
Previous PF 340,xxx series ends in January 1955. UF 55A xxx begins either at the end of January 1955 or the beginning for February 1955. Earliest packing date seen on the grease packed rifles is March 1955.
I realise that we're only talking about a month or so here but there's no otherwise reason to believe that the year marked didn't start on 1st January. Probably after the Faz or Sterling factory returned from their Xmas break. It is a simple task to change the engraving plate on the machine. Agreed, the PACKING date might come afterwards. A bit like year of manufacture of your car. The year you BUY it might be different...... as we all know from Rover cars that sat in the long grass at the factory and in dealers showrooms for ages.......
Happened with most cars Peter, as I started my Apprenticeship as a Car mechanic before I went into the Shipyard one of the jobs for me was getting the "New Cars" ready for *PDI, for the New Registration year, used to be August if anyone remembers ?
Some of these cars had been there since the last year and one or two had come from from other dealerships which were nearly two year old by the time they left the courtyard with a nice new numberplate on.......
To be honest looking at them before starting to clean them you would think they had been in a scrapyard, all to do with the protective wax that was applied when they rolled off the finish line, used to attract anything in the air, bird S**t in particular.
Used to come up spotless, but only after a lot of elbow grease, as it was summer I enjoyed it, I was out in the fresh air getting some UV rays and listening to the radio, "top tip of the day" always check the windows are up before washing a car.........
* PDI Pre Delivery Inspection.
Yes....... And Rover cars as prime examples. the old style Minis were available, brand new over a year after they ceased production in June/july(?) 2000. When Rover finally went txxx-up, there was an aerial photo in the local Oxford Mail newspaper showing literally thousands upon thousands lined up on the now disused airfield at Upper Heyford with fresh wet rust encouraging grass growing up to the doors. No wonder they used to say that BL/Rover cars were made from water soluble steel!
Good correction.
In the database of PF33x,xxx/UF55 rifles I have the start of production in January 1955 is between PF337209 (12/54) and PF337404 (1/55). The last serial number I have seen is 340,900 or no more than 3,690 rifles and no less than 3,496 rifles. Production range in December 1954 was between PF331,997and PF332,070. So the total production in December 1954 was between 5,140 and 5,407 units.
So the approximate change over date would be around the 20th of January, if the production was linear.
By the way the packing dates on these December to January PF 33x,xxx rifles are in the February 1955 to March of 1955 in this serial range.
I'm fortunate enough to own UF 55 A17XX. After owning at least 4 PF "Irish Contract" rifles, this one is by far the nicest No 4 Mk 2 I've ever owed.
Keith
I once owned UF55 A25 It was a DCRA 7.62 conversion and was stamped "PARKER HALE BIRMINGHAM" in two lines on the receiver ring. So, it was out here early enough to get sent in for conversion at Long Branch as it had the conversion number, which I forget unfortunately, stamped into the bolt and receiver/body.
I'm not getting the significance of the Parker Hale Birmingham stamp on the receiver ring. I have a UF 56 No.4 Mk.2 that has this stamp. What does this indicate about my rifle?Quote:
Originally Posted by Surpmil
Parker Hale and others were permitted to purchase small quantities of new rifles from the Ministry of Supply.
Thanks for this info. Do you know if PH was also permitted to take their pick of the litter of FTR weapons? The reason I ask is that I've owned two FTR rifles (both Maltby) that then had an over-stamp over the FTR electro-engraving. One, definitely a PH rifle, is overstamped: "No.4 Mk1," and the other (probably a PH rifle) is overstamped "No.4Mk1*" (no this is not a Long Branch or Savage."Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
From what I can gather, PH also seemed to get hold of the pick of the litter when it sporterized a number of Enfields after the war. Is this true?
Here is a list of other low number UF55A rifles that were sold into the trade:
UF55 A 47 Used, set up with a Parker Hale No 5C, located in New Zealand
UF55 A 49 Used, modified to 7.62 target config, in Canada
UF55 A 52 Used P-H regulated, in NZ with replacement 2 groove barrel
UF55 A 73 Used, P-H, Regulate4d by Fulton, in UK
UF55 A 86 Used, converted to heavy barrel (in Canada with sales mark)
Start of Irish numbers:
UF55 A 152 Listed as having been sold to the Irish republic in 1955
UF55 A 2xx Unissued, bought in 1991, most likely Irish contract given date sale
UF55 A 316 new with matching serial numbered bayonet
UF55 A 495 Un-issued, rear sight replaced with 5C sight
UF55 A 541 Un-issued
UF55 A 574 Un-issued with match serial bayonet (script not Irish marking)
UF55 A 630 Un-issued
UF55 A 668 Very well worn, not Century marked, U.K. Cadet rifle?
Data collected in efforts of understanding the Irish sale rifles.