The number on your Parker Hale sight and all associated parts is a serial number so you do not mismatch the parts onto another sight.

Remember at someplace like Bisley you might well have 100 shooters. Parts can be accidentally swapped on a bench.

If you had a few rifles it was common to transport the rifle with the elevation/windage arm removed to reduce the possibility of damage if dropped or otherwise damaged.

When reassembling the parts back to the rifles you just compared the numbers to make sure they went back into the right sight base.

And why is this important----????????

Because the sights were hand fitted. One sight arm just might not fit another base with ease and might be so tight it would take quite an effort to lift or drop the arm for elevation adjustments.

Regards
Terry
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