Parker Hale sporter?

[Peter Laidler]

You could just do what plenty of others have done and that's make it into a No5 look-a-like. Nothing wrong with that and simplicity itself to do. Woodwork is readily(?) available opr easily convertable. Got yourself a cheap battle rifle. GREAT value too

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[TCS-5]

Yes, a No5 conversion.

Thanks for the confirmation Peter.

John

You could just do what plenty of others have done and that's make it into a No5 look-a-like. Nothing wrong with that and simplicity itself to do. Woodwork is readily(?) available opr easily convertable. Got yourself a cheap battle rifle. GREAT value too

[ssj]

Looks like a fairly early gun that was possibly done by PH, though someone could have screwed the barrel on from another gun. The PH guns I have seen have all been (or were in their day) first class pieces of work. Hence the "quality" of the wood repairs make me wonder. Could the FTR B be an indian refurb stamp? and then someone's replaced the barrel later on?

[TCS-5]

ssj,
But would they go to the trouble of matching the S/N? The barrel, action and bolt all have the same S/N stamped on them. They look as built.

[Thunderbox]

I doubt its a PH sporter, although the woodwork has the profile of the basic sporter. None of the finish looks appropriate for a PH. Even on their base models they usually reblued all of the metalwork. AJ Parker did a few identical but "un-reblued" rifles, but they seemed to have used selected donor rifles with existing good blue finish - ie BSAs and early Maltbys.


If the barrel is numbered to the rifle, then its likely that the conversion was done by a private owner. The PH foresight ramps were commonly available as a mail-order part anyway.


PH and AJP rifle:




PH foresight assembly:




PH Supreme grade No1:

[Brian Dick]

My guess is early BSA post war FTR. The markings on this one aren't common. I've seen Maltby FTR markings in the same spot that were also early post war and are uncommon. ROF Maltby didn't last long post war before they were closed down. 1946 if memory serves? The round markings present are the original Maltby inspectors marks. Mid to late wartime production ROFM rifles all sport them.

---------- Post added at 01:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:38 PM ----------

New barrels are coming on line this year. It might be worth a proper restoration since the bolt is matching and existing woodwork pretty tired.

[TCS-5]

New barrels are coming on line this year. It might be worth a proper restoration since the bolt is matching and existing woodwork pretty tired.

That's very tempting... But I have to a tight budget at the moment. A No5 clone is doable tho.

BTW, how is the PH front sight attached... actually, how is it best removed?

[Brian Dick]

Heat, it's soldered on. There is probably a screw under the blade so remove it and you'll be able to see.

[Mk VII]

Looks like a De Luxe to me. The foresight tunnel has been taken off or fallen off, as they usually do.

[TCS-5]

MK VII,
Sure looks like what I have. 22" barrel and "remodeled military woodwork employed". Just like the ad says. And very well done woodwork I might add... at one time at least.

Though the 5 rnd mag was lost and replaced with a newer 10 rndr. Mag follower has "M/56" stamped on it and an electro pencil S/N on the bottom that doesn't match. Sure wish I had a 5 rnd mag! Would make a great hunting rifle.

I suspect the damage and repair to the butt stock and fore stock was done on this side of the pond. As well as the extra coats of varnish.... Spent the last few hours of the day removing varnish from the metal. It shows no one has molest the action since most of the screw heads were filled with varnish... Almost as good as cosmoline for preserving metal!