Whitaker Special

[harry mac]

I have heard of these Hart and Whitaker conversions, but I'm not overly familiar with them. Do they command good prices in the UK, and how do they compare with summat like an Envoy or L39? What barrels do they use, and were any made as repeaters?

[bigduke6]

Harry, All built as single shot (maybe a few variations, IE customer preference etc) barrels I've seen were Schultz & Larsen. Price wise can vary from peanuts to something that won't sell..........

They are a steal to anyone starting off in Target shooting, same as the P14 / P17 conversions....... problem is folk starting off are give wrong advice and go for something with all the bells and whistles plus an expensive scope. Is a shame as a lot of old target rifles will still do the job but just not wanted.

[Peter Laidler]

Agree with everything Geoff says with the addition that if you get a bog standard L39/Envoy you might pay more but you'll get your money back plus some, it's an officially recognised member of the family as opposed to a bitzer and they're a bit more versatile to boot.

I have heard that their accuracy is, well....., anything from '....better' than a No4T to something out of this world! But I wonder how they'd fare in a just-short-of-a-laboratory sort of test. You know, Enfield rest to eliminate the human factor, same ammo, etc etc

[Strangely Brown]

Firstly sincere apologies for my absence over the last year or so; I had a spinal fusion three years ago which was followed by a knee reconstruction last year, after which I guess I just wandered off and didn’t visit the forum.
I have however been fairly busy on the research front regarding Whitaker’s & Hart’s.

Simon’s Hart rifle is an interesting one with a past; it was sold to Geoff Hart by Christopher Whitaker (Bert’s son) as a No.4 action along with two others in April 1978.
Christopher also sold six rifles which were a mix of .303 & 7.62mm No.4’s along with a P17 in 7.62mm.
This information makes Simon’s Hart one of the very first produced by Geoff who mainly specialised in making target rifles with Shilen actions.

We forget that these rifles (Whitaker’s) were all produced between 1973 and 1976, and in Geoff Hart’s case between 1978 and the early 1980’s. Between them Bert & Geoff produced no more than 150 No.4 conversions, which coincidently were not all based on No.4T actions.
Prices and demand for No.4’s and T’s was not great during this period; my brother was forced by Sussex Police to put his rifles up for auction because he was working in Africa at about the same time. His No.4 which was stamped RHKDF (Royal Hong Kong Defence Force) went for £17!

The last offerings from Geoff Hart had seen the No.4 action taken as far as current technology will allow with additions like a Brindles trigger and Shultz and Larsen barrel.
Given the low numbers produced and the quality of work, especially in Geoff Harts case these are rarer than most other Enfield’s, sadly though there is little appetite in the world of collecting for what are regarded as modernish target rifles.
However in the world of target rifle development they will eventually see the accord they deserve along with the men who had the vision to do the conversions. Who both incidentally were both winners of the NRA Grand Aggregate in their time.

Just an opinion of course……..

[Roger Payne]

It was about 1992/93 that I drove down to see Geoff & when he sold me the last four 4T actions he had, so if he stopped setting up rifles in the early 1980's they must have been lying around for a while.

I am sure that eventually these rifles will be more generally appreciated & this will be reflected in their monetary value - their time just hasn't quite arrived yet......

So maybe now is the time to buy one.

ATB.

P.S. Hope you're now firing on all four cylinders again Strangely.

[Surpmil]

Sad to think of the information that must have died with that gent!