PH 5 sight for SMLE, NOT 5A

[muffett.2008]

5 predated the 5a, and was made about 1926 - 28, it was the sight that was responsible for the breakup of Alfred G. Parker and his son Alfred J. Parker, who left the company and started his own business.
A.G PARKER- Bisley works, became Parker Hale in 1930, after settling the dispute over sight copywrite with A.J. Parker, the original designer.
The Hale connection was an inter marriage one, but the Hales worked their way into management positions that eventually saw the breakup of the original company.........quite a convoluted story, but interesting enough for the serious sight collector.

[browningautorifle]

could even be a 3?

It's marked 5 on the back of the bridge...

[Gil Boyd]

age concern I meant 5

[green]

Thank you all for the info, I always assumed it preceded the 5A. Now was there a version of the 5A without the A suffix. I believe the A suffix was added to distinguish the A from the B . The B was put in production c1935 when the P14 was first allowed in competition.

[Gil Boyd]

green,
Did you find that link useful.
Its a bit of a tester trying to remember in what sequence these came into being, even for ex PH engineers, because there were so many, and on top of that, PH had internal problems to sort out too, so some of these sights sadly, certainly in my mind, are a haze as to what dates they all came in or out of favour for the sportsmen on the ranges who loved them.
All variants still fetch good money on fleabay, so keep hold of what you have as they too are going up in price!!

[green]

Gil, the link to that site is useful thank you.

[Gil Boyd]

green,
It works fine my end try it again:

Service and TArget Rifle Sights ~ Parker-Hale and B.S.A.