Enforcer - "Happy Days"

[Alan de Enfield]

The fog is clearing -

* The forend (which is un-numbered), currently fitted to my Enforcer is a No4 Mk1 forend modified to a MK2 by splicing in wood into the 'cut-outs' left by the tie plate and rivet. The 'proper' forend (which is numbered to the rifle) is the 'spare' and is a true Mk2 for the screw & nut and probably original to the rifle, but for some unknown reason was changed over.

* Two of the magazines are 'correct' Enfield magazines with the Ministry of Suppy CR mark, the other is a copy.

* The forend and handguard was manufactured by an outside contractor who also took standard PH butts and modified them to fit the No4 action. AM Stevens (on his website) quotes as follows :
"The most visible differences between the L39A1 and Enforcer are the one piece (Monte-Carlo) Buttstock - a modified commercially produced buttstock - with an integral cheek piece and the Parker Hale 'Target' sights in addition to the Commercially produced 'Scope'. The modifications to the buttstock and the production of the fore-end wood were done by Colin Moon of Brighton. Colin Moon remembers being impressed with the quality control imposed when making Enforcers, with more parts being sent to the 'scrap bin' than being passed on to the next stage of producton at the factory".

"Simon" in a previous post regarding Enforcers stated :
I have some home office documents that give the production outline for the Enforcer.
When the enforcers were 'made up' at the RSAF Enfield and latterly Nottingham they were shipped to Parker Hale as actions and barrels only Parker Hale fitted the woodwork Pecar scopes and bases (if ordered) and the guns were shipped, I understand from a Police Armourer that once the guns got to them, they inspected them engraved, or sent for engraving the scope, eyepieces and magazines fitted bipods if necessary (Harris BR notched legs with skinny rubber feet 70's style as in the picture below) and numbered up the woodwork (if their force policy dictated this to be done so some were not engraved).

So to summarise my 'research' :

1) Enfield manufactured the Barrels and actions and supplied them to PH.
2) Colin Moon manufactured the forends and modified standard PH butts and then supplied them to PH.
3) PH assembled the woodwork onto the barreled action, added the bipod, (or was it the Police Armourer who added the bipod ?) scope mounts and scope (if required) mounted the PH5E sight and supplied the complete "Enforcer" to the Home Office / Police.


Peter - are you still in touch with Major George S ? Would it be possible to confirm this chain of events ?

Simon - is there any chance you can expand on your "Home Office" information - maybe even scan it and post it on the forum ?

I have 'cut & pasted' bits from several sources but has anyone got the DEFINITIVE answer on how these rifles were bought into being ?

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.

[Simon]

I have some home office documents that give the production outline for the Enforcer.
When the enforcers were 'made up' at the RSAF Enfield and latterly Nottingham they were shipped to Parker Hale as actions and barrels only Parker Hale fitted the woodwork Pecar scopes and bases (if ordered) and the guns were shipped, I understand from a Police Armourer that once the guns got to them, they inspected them engraved, or sent for engraving the scope, eyepieces and magazines fitted bipods if necessary (Harris BR notched legs with skinny rubber feet 70's style as in the picture below) and numbered up the woodwork (if their force policy dictated this to be done so some were not engraved).[/I]



Simon - is there any chance you can expand on your "Home Office" information - maybe even scan it and post it on the forum ?

Alan,

I would love to corroborate your points but it wasn't me who made that statement. I've got a feeling it may have been Enforsore.

Cheers,
Simon

[Thunderbox]

Alan,

I think you're reading too much into the rather scanty documentary evidence relating to Enforcers.

I am sure that the rifles were more or less complete by the time they left Enfield, albeit they were assembled using some PH parts. The reason I say this is that the forend and its markings are identical to L39A1 items, and must therefore have been fitted at the factory. Enfield had developed the Enforcer to meet a contract specification (as detailed on Steven's website) and would probably not therefore allow a third party to assemble the rifles - perhaps risking quality issues, etc.

Since Enfield had typically met the Enforcer specification in the cheapest possible way (by tarting up an L39A1), I doubt that they allowed Parkers much of the profit margin - the butt, PH5E4, Matchmaker and scope mounts are all simple screw-on items that didn't require any specialist contractor to sort out.

[Alan de Enfield]

Alan,

I think you're reading too much into the rather scanty documentary evidence relating to Enforcers.

I am sure that the rifles were more or less complete by the time they left Enfield, albeit they were assembled using some PH parts. The reason I say this is that the forend and its markings are identical to L39A1 items, and must therefore have been fitted at the factory. Enfield had developed the Enforcer to meet a contract specification (as detailed on Steven's website) and would probably not therefore allow a third party to assemble the rifles - perhaps risking quality issues, etc.

Since Enfield had typically met the Enforcer specification in the cheapest possible way (by tarting up an L39A1), I doubt that they allowed Parkers much of the profit margin - the butt, PH5E4, Matchmaker and scope mounts are all simple screw-on items that didn't require any specialist contractor to sort out.

Yes - I guess I am trying to extrapolate the "Enforcer Story" from little snippets of information - I have been bitten by the Enfield bug and try to find out as much as possible about each model / Mk that I own (and may even be a bit anal about it).
Not putting words into your mouth but are you suggesting that :
a) If the L39 woodwork is identical, that Colin Moon made the L39 woodwork as well as the Enforcer woodwork ?
b) Enfield fitted the woodwork to the Enforcers ?
c) Parker Hale just 'screwed on' the sights and butt ?

There seems to be so little knowledge about these rifles.The amount that we know about 100 year old LE's in comparison to 30 year old Enforcers is incredible.
There must still be people out there who were involved in the Enforcer programme, where are they ?, who are they ? how can we find out the 'true' story ?

[Thunderbox]

a) Colin Moon was certainly one of the MoD contractors who made top handguards and Envoy/No8 forends (as he is still doing), but I don't know if he also converted the No4 Mk1 (L42) and No4 Mk2 (L39, Enforcer, 7.62 CONV) forends - this would have been easily done by Enfield itself.

b) I'm certain that Enfield would have fitted the forend and handguard - they were doing the same work on L42, L39 and Envoy. They were a rifle factory, after all! The forend is numbered in the same manner & font as an L39; ergo it came off the same work bench...

c) I'm personally sure Enfield also screwed on the butt; why would they send out half a rifle to be completed? Since Enfield also sourced Matchmaker foresights (as sent out with L39s and fitted to Envoys) and PH target sights (as fitted to Envoys), I see no reason why they shouldn't have attached these bits to the base rifle.

I can imagine Enfield not wanting to bother with fitting and calibrating a 'scope, so perhaps this was the work that was contracted out?

[Gnr527]

An interesting and informative thread - another thing that has always niggled me - some Enforcers have the handguard 'shaved' to permit clearance of the scope objective - others dont. Some Enforcers seem to have been supplied with 4 - 10 Pecars, others not, others are fitted with differing scopes(aftermarket?). Who did the 'shaving' and subsequent refinishing?

Would Enfield have supplied rifles --- with sights, but with or without Pecar 4 - 10 scopes/boxes/bipod brackets/bipods/slings --- (all alternatives?).

When and who numbered scopes to the rifles?

Presumably Enfield invoiced the Home Office/ Police Forces for their goods?

Simon - do your records give any delivery note details?

Alan - you question whether you are anal - with luck this has a way to run yet!

[Enfieldlock]

I am certain the 'scopes were fitted at Enfield, 100pc. The topwood was consequently shaved before fitting. Unshaved ones could be a later replacement.

[Alan de Enfield]

Alan,

I would love to corroborate your points but it wasn't me who made that statement. I've got a feeling it may have been Enforsore.

Cheers,
Simon

Apologies - you are correct - I've looked back at the postings and it was Enforsore.