Parker Hale M85 Serial Number Checks & Provenance on Manufacture (Records)

[Gil Boyd]

Yes, your rifle started as a hunting rifle and has been converted into a target rifle using a heavy 308 barrel, C3 stock and C3a1 magazine.

It was an easy conversion as it already utilized the c3a1 / Parker Hale "Super Clip" magazine system and bottom metal.

Deckerhead,
Have to agree with Lee Enfield on this occasion. These "made up" PH rifles are sometimes very difficult to conclusively identify. Its only a combination of lots of similar identifiable parts that assist us. M85/86/87 & 1200TX's have been chopped and changed so often even the PH engineers haven't got a clue what they are looking at via photos most times.
I am assuming you have spoken to the previous owner as to where he acquired the bits from, to help you, as he may be the one who acquired them?
If it shoots well enjoy it.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[deckerhead]

Deckerhead,
Have to agree with Lee Enfield on this occasion. These "made up" PH rifles are sometimes very difficult to conclusively identify. Its only a combination of lots of similar identifiable parts that assist us. M85/86/87 & 1200TX's have been chopped and changed so often even the PH engineers haven't got a clue what they are looking at via photos most times.
I am assuming you have spoken to the previous owner as to where he acquired the bits from, to help you, as he may be the one who acquired them?
If it shoots well enjoy it.

Thanks for the help Gents. The previous owner bought it this way and had no build info, just lost interest I guess ? Yes I love this rifle and in my opinion its one of the nicest C3 clone builds I have seen. Original glass is impossible to get here , so I decided on a 10X42 SWFA Super Sniper with Burris 20moa rings (nice clean classic look). Should have it in about ten days. Will post pics.

[bcd8238]

Hi Gents, I acquired this one several years ago and have no idea which model it is. It looked good and spoke to me so I parted with $450 AUD for it. I've searched the web and found many variants, of which, none appear the same. I hope you can see enough detail in the pictures, if not, I can take some more. The rifle is a single shot and is chambered in 7.62 NATO, proofed to 20 tons, as is the bolt. The serial number is J1130 and 130 is electropencilled on the underside on the bolt shroud. The LHS lug on the bolt is very much longer than a standard Mauser. The receiver top had nothing stamped in it and has had a skim taken off to level it out. The drillings for the base mount are not evenly spaced with the front holes being further apart. The holes are tapped for 6 x 48 screws. I have the original rear peep sight for it. The barrel has been replaced at some time and has the markings "The G M Ayling Target Rifle" Mr Geoff Ayling was a Tasmanian Shooter of some repute, shooting in Commonwealth Games and the winner of the Royal Kalternberg Cup in 1980. The stock has had the bedding removed to be replaced and you can see the outline of the cutout for the magazine well. There is a stamping in the barrel channel "EFS" Any ideas on this? I would really appreciate any information on this rifle.

[Lee Enfield]

Hi Gents, I acquired this one several years ago and have no idea which model it is. It looked good and spoke to me so I parted with $450 AUD for it. I've searched the web and found many variants, of which, none appear the same. I hope you can see enough detail in the pictures, if not, I can take some more. The rifle is a single shot and is chambered in 7.62 NATO, proofed to 20 tons, as is the bolt. The serial number is J1130 and 130 is electropencilled on the underside on the bolt shroud. The LHS lug on the bolt is very much longer than a standard Mauser. The receiver top had nothing stamped in it and has had a skim taken off to level it out. The drillings for the base mount are not evenly spaced with the front holes being further apart. The holes are tapped for 6 x 48 screws. I have the original rear peep sight for it. The barrel has been replaced at some time and has the markings "The G M Ayling Target Rifle" Mr Geoff Ayling was a Tasmanian Shooter of some repute, shooting in Commonwealth Games and the winner of the Royal Kalternberg Cup in 1980. The stock has had the bedding removed to be replaced and you can see the outline of the cutout for the magazine well. There is a stamping in the barrel channel "EFS" Any ideas on this? I would really appreciate any information on this rifle.

I think you got a good deal on your rifle.

The stock marking is actually "SILE", the stock manufacturer.

Is the bottom of the receiver solid?

You have an M.84 single shot action, with what appears to be the original stock.

[bcd8238]

Hi Lee Enfield, yes the receiver is a solid base affair. I agree, I reckon I got a great deal on this rifle, especially seeing as how great they shoot. I had a small idea that it was probably a good target rifle, but reading the posts from Gil, stating how well they do shoot, has made me very happy. I think you may be right about the barrel channel marking, it is a bit hard to read as it is covered in black sealing paint.

I really appreciate the responses to my post and thank you all for the information supplied. Up until now, it had been a safe queen, one of those project rifles that you get to someday. It has now been promoted to first place for a clean up and rebedding. The original bedding was not a snug fit to the action and allowed some forward backward movement when the action screws were loosened. When time permits, it will be off to the range for a good work out to see what it can really do. I am quite confident that it will perform well outside my skill set.

I do have a picatinny rail that will fir the screw positions and have a Schmidt and Bender 3 - 12 x 50 PM11 scope that I would like to fit to it. I already have a set of Arms Co 34mm QD rings for it. I would like to know if anyone has found or fitted a cheek piece to the butt what doesn't require drilling or screwing. As I said previously, I do not want to modify the rifle away from original in any way that cannot be undone.

[GunnerOne]

Gil hello,

Your work on the archive of information on Parker Hale rifles is really appreciated, before finding this forum I didn't really expect to find any meaningful information on these rifles.

My own rifle is serial number 00178F, it has an olive green stock and it came to me without a scope, although I have acquired a contemporary Swarovski Optik ZFM 6x42 scope - its the moving reticle one (ZFM 84?). I also have the original test target and some of the same ammunition used for the test - Norma 308 Win Match 168grain.

One of the other guys at our club has serial number 00340F, it has a black finished stock and again the rifle was purchased without a scope fitted.

Neither of us are the original owners. During the course of ownership we have both acquired the PH transit cases.

Any information that you have concerning the rifles would be gratefully received :-)

I can forward some photographs if they would be of use/interest.

Many thanks and best regards, Austen

[Gil Boyd]

Hi Austen,
I can tell you that your rifle 00178F was produced on the 27th August 1987 by Bill Smallwood. It shot a 15.2mm group @100 yards with 10 rounds.
It was fitted with a Green NATO STOCK and was sold to Home Sales UK with no scope fitted.

The rifle 00340F was produced on the 17th January 1990 by Bill Smallwood again. It shot a 18.0mm group @100 yards with 10 rounds.
It was fitted at that time with a Green NATO STOCK and was sold to a H.Krank with no scope fitted, clearly had a stock change to black in its history.
Hope this helps