7.62 No4 MKI conversion question

[Brit plumber]

Parker Hale sold a quantity of No4 Mk2 actions, or perhaps whole rifles, at some point in the 60s, as several in the 1954/55 range have turned up here as genuine DCRA conversions. I've had two over the years. The marking being thus:

Parker-Hale
Birmingham

Small stamping right on the barrel ring top centre.

I see!

[enfield303t]

Hello all, I am new and the owner of the No4 Mk1 that Bearhunter is refering to. The conversion is very well done, has full wood and yes the markings are a little strange. I will hope to have pictures for all to see very soon. Had made arrangements to have some taken tonight but Rambo is not feeling well so hopefully tomorrow. The original owner was from the Victoria area and sold quite a few to a friend who was willing to sell this one to me. It is marked with what appears to be part of a star and the no 1. I have seen the other low serial numbered rifles and all are marked the same, they do not appear to have been done by the original owner unless he was very skilled. I think all shot VERY well and believe I might have seen the owner several years ago at the airport in Victoria, I think he was home from Bisley. The mag does not serial number match but the bolt/gun does with a quite low number. Believe me I am not a expert, it seems to me that Bearhunter found this one to be interesting due to the odd markings. The stock is Marked Z F. Again hope to have photo's soon.

[Surpmil]

A bit of info on the ZF marking here: marking on Enfields? - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

[Peter Laidler]

Oh no...... the dreaded ZF mark! Hopefully not ANOTHER with a changed butt or an escapee from the Zimbabwe Forces.........

[bearhunter]

Feedback please ...

I'm trying to help out another new collector.

I really think the rifle in these pictures is DCRA 1. The time frame of initial aquisition is correct and all of the parts are correct. I would be a wonderful thing for the present owner of this rifle to have stumbled accross such a find. He has just started putting a collection together with his son and they have both become addicted to Lee Enfields.

[enfield303t]

Photo's of the gun have been taken and appear in the post above this one. The bolt also has the star 1 on the top of it.

[Badger]

Oh no...... the dreaded ZF mark! Hopefully not ANOTHER with a changed butt or an escapee from the Zimbabwe Forces.........

Regards,
Badger

[Surpmil]

Looks like you've got DCRA conversion No1! Pull off the handguard and see if those marks are duplicated on the barrel reinforce, and post a photo if they are please.

That's the Parker Hale marking I was referring to below the conversion markings BTW.

As for the ZF mark, probably that's a long butt that was put on for no other reason than that it was long, but who knows for sure. I'd hate to think Parker Hale was selling ZF rifles...

You've got a pristine looking Long Branch maple forend. Probably chosen for its hardness/rigidity and possibly weight.

[enfield303t]

Thanks to all for the information and thoughts on the rifle. I just read a article on a different DCRA conversion number 692 and the pictures show the idential "star" that my rifle has. Now the most intersting piece of the story as it has been related to me. The owner from the Island picked this and the two other low number rifles from a large batch that were for sale. He took it because he thought it looked like it might be a "good shooter". This story was related to me today from my friend Rambo who called the original owner about the gun. What are the odds of him picking up and purchasing the first one built?? As Bearhunter said I do love Lee Enfields and yesterday purchased my 12th since May/09. Also if Bearhunter wants to he can tell you about a interesting No5 I have, purchased from the same person that sold me this gun.

[jona]

I suspect it is not a DCRA conversion, but a gunsmith special using a Canadian Arsenals 7.62 barrel. DCRA conversions had a new serial number stamped onto the top of the bolt handle and a matching number stamped onto the receiver's right side just behind the barrel. A number of CA barrels were sent to England. It looks like Parker Hale got hold of at least one of them.