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

[Gil Boyd]

The BNP is the stamp for BRITISH NITRO PROOF a commercial requirement for export, and the F after the rifle serial number ie 00299F stands for Field as disclosed earlier on the M85 rifle thread.
The 308 WIN is straight forward but the the crossed flags normally stands for British Empire or Dominion Proofs, just searching for the F D na dhte 3 and will report back

[blurrededge]

Thanks Ron and thanks Gil,
The action and barrel are both blued and there's no other markings on the barrel at all. I kind of extrapolated the date of 2000 from proof info I have and finding stuff online but Birmingham proof date codes after around 1997 seem a bit hard to track down. TBH I've only looked for proof date codes on Enfields in the past with no probs, this new stuff's a bit of a mystery.
Matt.

[sd4f]

The 308 WIN is straight forward but the the crossed flags normally stands for British Empire or Dominion Proofs, just searching for the F D na dhte 3 and will report back

That crossed swords stamp is related to the Birmingham Proof House, it dates and identifies the inspector who did the proofing.

This link should clear it up on how to date the proof;
Proof Date Codes

Now it has the 'D' at right, I'm not 100% sure, but I think it indicates which series of years. Since letters can only denote 25 years ('I' wasn't used), I think the 'D' means 1997-2022 and I would hazard a guess that the 'F' denotes that the barrel was proofed in 2003. The '3' below is the inspector number.

[blurrededge]

Thanks for that link sd4f, I'd also come across it hunting around for info. The D at right of crossed swords representing the next block of years makes sense, the only bit I felt sure about was 3 being the inspectors mark.
Even with my rifles build date of 99 an 03 proof seems late for a factory rifle, I spose I was assuming a 2000 proof because it made sense but I'm sure your right (alphabeticaly) with F being an 03. Perhaps a rebarrel, or maybe it knocked around a while before being sold off as PH went through it's death throws.

[Gil Boyd]

Just to reiterate the F stands for FIELD nothing more nothing less, it has nothing to do with a year at all I'm afraid. It was a series of letters plucked from Roger Hales head!!

[blurrededge]

Just to reiterate the F stands for FIELD nothing more nothing less, it has nothing to do with a year at all I'm afraid. It was a series of letters plucked from Roger Hales head!!

We're refering to the F in the proof mark Gil, just to the left in the crossed swords marking.

[Gil Boyd]

Ahhhhaaaaa..............I'm looking between two rifles as we speak from this thread.
They are centre punch marks from the Rockwell tests underneath the front end of the action by the magazine.
The FD is in fact the proofer at the proof house and the 3 stands for the year he did it, which is in this case 2003.
I was trying to go backwards and forwards on the threads so hope you are following the responses.

The 7mm MAG relates to a Magnum Calibre and we were scratching our heads as to whether someone has changed a barrel at some stage and rechambered it.
Just checking other papers out and chatting with Bill for a second opinion on this and we are both scratching our respective heads now ha ha!
It is in our opinion that this is in fact an M87, which can be identified by the front locking lug on the bolt, as it is longer than the Mauser. This is the locking lug with the extractor slot through it...............M87 for definite.
Must put these glasses down in bteween replying, I mean the ones with drink in..........afterall it is Christmas party day!

[Cold_Zero]

Just purchased 02094C in .243. Any data in the working notes on this one?

Many Thanks
Cold Zero

[rgg_7]

Anybody got a detailed picture that they could post of a C3a1 mount on a M87. Looking to see detail from top view and right side. Picture from a real C3a1 would be fantastic. Ron (Canada).

[Cold_Zero]

Images links are not displaying, will need to follow the links directly to page.




https://www.flickr.com/photos/canadi...n/photostream/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/world_...9W4GzL-9W1TT8/





https://www.flickr.com/photos/world_...9W1BcZ-9W4rVh/

---------- Post added at 04:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:16 PM ----------

The first link takes you to a large photo, need to scroll to the rifle. Once on the page you can select a lower resolution photo as well to see where the rifle is in the picture.