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

[MikeVee]

It's been a good while since my last post on this rifle, M85 0299F back in post35! but it's taken THAT long to get it in this shape as life kept getting in the way but I'm happy with the result. I bedded the action last weekend and she's ready for some range work, hopefully it'll shoot as well as I'm expecting as some effort has gone into it and I think it's a damn fine rifle. I'll report back with a 100yd target when I get a chance to shoot it, hopefully sometime soon. The scope is a 12x42 S&B with 7.62mm BDC turrets 100-600m not sure of the bullet weight they're calibrated for but my max elevation will be around there somewhere I guess, can't remember the range of MOA on the turret the mo. I'll be shooting 150g SMKs, see how that goes.
Thanks again Gill for putting me on to Bill at Norman Clark, a helpful and patient chap indeed, couldn't have completed it without all those spare parts!

Yours is the first I have seen of this weapon and accessories. The steel case, glass, sights, bolt, and bipod are so we'll designed and rugged. Please tell me is that bipod available for sale in the U.S.? Thanks

Information

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[Gil Boyd]

Can't find one of those carry cases anywhere. Tried mst Police Forces now in the hope, but I suppose its like most things, the guy running the Council tip is making a fortune selling them on to non riflemen!!!?

[Roy W]

Can't find one of those carry cases anywhere. Tried mst Police Forces now in the hope, but I suppose its like most things, the guy running the Council tip is making a fortune selling them on to non riflemen!!!?

Do you mean the Green metal transit cases?

[desperatedan]

Yours is the first I have seen of this weapon and accessories. The steel case, glass, sights, bolt, and bipod are so we'll designed and rugged. Please tell me is that bipod available for sale in the U.S.? Thanks

They're still listed on the modern day Parker Hale successor business website here - Parker Hale

They also list their US distributors on the site - see Distributors link on the bottom of their website pages.

[blurrededge]

Hi MikeVee, personally I'm not sure where you could pick up a bipod, fortunately, that was the one thing my M85 had when I first got it. I can say it's a very good bipod, as is well known. Pretty sure I've seen them on Ebay but they could be knock offs so couldn't vouch for the quality. Mine has Parker Hale Birmingham stamped on the side of the socket so look for that marking I would suggest.
Gill, I'll pm you with the name of chap that I know had a brand new chest a while back, he may have moved it on by now, you may have already tried him, I'm guessing you probably have but just in case!

[Roy W]

If it's the metal transit cases, I know where there are a few

[blurrededge]

It may be your lucky day Gill....... Fingers crossed!

[Steve1152]

Hi Gil

Can you help me with a Parker Hale C3A1 serial number 00341G with a 10X USO matched numbered scope to rifle. Wold you have any information on this rifle?

[Gil Boyd]

Steve,
I can confirm that that rifle was sent back to Parker Hale under the total refurbishment contract W8466-7-EHB17/01 DATED the 26th November 1987.
All weapons including yours were returned to Canada by the 31st December 1989.

The sad tale is I have the actual contract from the Parker Hale left overs after the destruction of thousands of historic files including the finer detail of how each rifle was shooting before they were returned to Canada. So thats the best I can do I'm afraid.
If you would like a copy of the three page A4 contract I can send you a copy. PM me your email
Gil

[desperatedan]

Gil

Apparently the story goes that this one didn't make it back to Canada and remained in the UK.