Fultons of Bisley - old catalog

[Mk VII]

A scan of an old catalogue that I got round to doing. Not sure when this dates from - before 1971 when decimal currency began. No mention of 7.62mm conversions yet so before 1970. A new N0.4 Mk.2 would cost you £26-0-0 and a secondhand Mk.1 £20. The dollar would have been at $2.80 to the pound sterling until 1967, and then $2.40.

ImageShack - Fultons Catalog

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[Strangely Brown]

James,

By 1970 they are only offering "reconditioned" No.4 Mk1/2's with a note saying that Commonwealth countries will continue to use the .303 for the next 2~3 years.

No prices other than a small slip in my edition saying prices are yet to be revised and reprinted, however the catalogue has doubled in price to a massive 4/- by 1970.

[CINDERS]

This is from my 1957 Parker Hale catalogue the prices were pretty cheap in 1957 except for the Special model No.1 MkIII at $22 pound which was a heck of allot of money, with some No.4's at $35 pound no that is comparable to todays prices.

This catalogue must have belonged either to a club or gun dealer as all the parts within have hand written prices on them like the whole lot!

[Alan de Enfield]

Parker Hale 1940 catalogue.

Brand new BSA No MkIII at £11
Refurbished BSA No1 MkIII at £8 (Or secondhand / used at £6)

[Surpmil]

Refreshingly frank remarks about the limitations of the rifle on the first page. Might be true to say that an element of discontent with both the rifle and the NRA rulings is discernable?

Given that according to a clipping from the mid-1930s that I posted elsewhere, the No.3 (Patt.14) rifle could be bought new from the W.D. by NRA members for about £3 at that time, these prices for an SMLE were no bargain.

[Alan de Enfield]

Refreshingly frank remarks about the limitations of the rifle on the first page. Might be true to say that an element of discontent with both the rifle and the NRA rulings is discernable?

Given that according to a clipping from the mid-1930s that I posted elsewhere, the No.3 (Patt.14) rifle could be bought new from the W.D. by NRA members for about £3 at that time, these prices for an SMLE were no bargain.

Parker Hale also offered the Pat 14 in 1940 at £9

[Surpmil]

I have Catalogue No.10j from 1933 and that page is identical except the prices.

The "renovated" rifles were £ 7-0 and £8-15 at that time.

Funnily enough, the P14 only features as a sporter with the receiver ground off as per the Remington Mod.30 and offered in 7.92x57 at £8-8

The action is not even identified except as "an improved Mauser Pattern", but the stock is a typical cut down Patt.14 with plugged marker disc hole, and the bolt and safety are unmistakable.

Also offered in 9.5mm "rimless Mannlicher-Schoenauer" with a 270 gr. slug for a Pound more.

[Strangely Brown]

The list of Fultons directors shows an, H Light. He was a family member whose son John (Robin Fulton's cousin) went on to establish Brindles Sights in Lightwater near Bisley



L to R,
Arthur Fulton, H Light, Unknown, Robin Fulton.

Edited to add:

Mr Light also ran the bar in the South London Rifle Club which formed the rear of Fultons shop, his son John told me that on summer evenings he would sit outside the South London with a bottle of lemonade and packet crisps and watch the ladies play tennis on the courts behind the club.
The site of the tennis courts is still visible as the flat area at the back of the South London for those of us who pass it on a regular basis.

[Surpmil]

Presumably the photo refers to those prizes having been won with rifles Fulton's set up or at least sold?

Interesting question as to how they got the use of that location in the first place, and how no other gunsmith did likewise?

Mr. Light looks to be of an age in 1947 that probably made a skirt above the knee a thing of constant wonder and enjoyment; even without the visual opportunities of a vigorous match.

[Strangely Brown]

Interesting question as to how they got the use of that location in the first place, and how no other gunsmith did likewise?

The Queens Prize money of £250 from GE Fultons win in 1888 must of put him on the map and made him a minor celebrity of the period.
Fultons business was at Staines for a while and the building they now occupy was the NRA office although I'n not sure of the dates the NRA moved out and GE Fulton moved in.

Yes, I think it's an educated guess to suggest the blackboard refers to, "Fulton Regulated" rifles.

John Light (junior) the maker of Brindles sights died about 7 years ago at the age of 89, he apprenticed on airframes at Brooklands and went to work for the family firm converting P14 sights to fit No.4's. He told me he felt he was worth more than Arthur or Robin were paying him at the time so he went solo and founded Brindles. He also did a stint as the NRA armourer at one point.

Very much a one man band and I have to wonder what he might have achieved with more help for his business, he was a delight to know!