7.62 No4 MKI conversion question

[bearhunter]

I saw a No4 MkI, 7.62 conversion yesterday. The conversion was done by Parker Hale of Birmingham as stamped on the upper receiver.

It has a PH5C rear sight and is in over all, very good condition.

There is one other marking on the right side of the receiver, it's either part of a star or an arrow, with a number 1.

The only other markings on the rifle are all on the left side and the bolt. No4 MkI is very faintly on the left pad where the rear sight is screwed on and there is an M47C as well as an A prefix four digit serial number. The bolt, is matching.

The storey on it is that the rifle came from an older fellow on Vancouver Island and there were several included in the package. The previous owner was quite frugal as he only had one sight that he shared between several rifles and the rifles all had windage and elevation indications for them for this sight. Now, the conundrum, the other rifles all have the same markings with higher numbers stamped beside the star/arrow. I believe the highest number is 42.There are still a couple of them left, without rear sight and I am contemplating purchasing one, if I can get the owner to sell it.

My quuestions are, I) is the rifle likely a club rifle 2) could it have been built for an organisation similar to the DCRA in the UK 3) is it possibly military or police issue?

I suspect that it is a club rifle. I will ask for some pics, any idea of value and what would the difference in price be for a rifle in mirror condition without the rear sight?

Information

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[Strangely Brown]

What configuration is it in; Heavy barrel as per an L39A1 or Envoy, or a typical DCRA conversion with full length woodwork?

[No4Mk1(T)]

What configuration is it in; Heavy barrel as per an L39A1 or Envoy, or a typical DCRA conversion with full length woodwork?

What he said. Any idea what part of the Island they came from?

[Surpmil]

It sounds like the old gent had a number of DCRA conversions, which was very common among the more serious target shooters in the 60s and 70s. The numbers you saw would be the conversion serial numbers if they are stamped on the top face of the bolt handle, barrel ring and barrel reinforce. These have been discussed here and elsewhere online. At least one person is compling a list of serial numbers to see what can be learned from it. (Not much other than highest number seen as the rifles were whatever the owner sent in)

[bearhunter]

It is in standard full length wood configuration. It retains the 303 magazine and looks very much like the DCRA converted rifles.
There isn't a number stamped on the bolt handle, like on the DCRA rifles. Only the same A prefix, four digit number as on the butt socket. The numbers are located on the back of the bolt.
There aren't any C broad arrows etc. I was told the fellow was interested in international competition and is now about 80 years old and has a strong english accent. I don't know anything else.

I really don't think these are DCRA rifles but they would certainly qualify in the matches. Remember, the number stamped on the receiver ring is "1".
The other numbers are no higher than 42. This fellow would have had to be the very first fellow to get a DCRA rifle.

I don't have my books right now so I can't check anything out. I've lent them all to the owner of said rifle. Who, built the DCRA rifles? Are you saying that they were sent to England then sent back again? I was under the impression that SA and CA did the conversions on them in Canada.

[Mk VII]

Are there British commercial proof marks on the barrel? (if not it wasn't done here).

[Surpmil]

It is in standard full length wood configuration. It retains the 303 magazine and looks very much like the DCRA converted rifles.
There isn't a number stamped on the bolt handle, like on the DCRA rifles. Only the same A prefix, four digit number as on the butt socket. The numbers are located on the back of the bolt.
There aren't any C broad arrows etc. I was told the fellow was interested in international competition and is now about 80 years old and has a strong english accent. I don't know anything else.

I really don't think these are DCRA rifles but they would certainly qualify in the matches. Remember, the number stamped on the receiver ring is "1".
The other numbers are no higher than 42. This fellow would have had to be the very first fellow to get a DCRA rifle.

I don't have my books right now so I can't check anything out. I've lent them all to the owner of said rifle. Who, built the DCRA rifles? Are you saying that they were sent to England then sent back again? I was under the impression that SA and CA did the conversions on them in Canada.

If there are no conversion numbers or the stylized maple leaf proof mark, then this is probably just a Long Branch / C.A.L. (Canadian Arsenals Ltd.) barrel fitted to a regular No4. The mag didn't matter as it was all single loading for target work anyway.

As for the "serial numbers", it sounds more like someone was serial numbering rifles he owned or worked on - a local amateur gunsmith perhaps? There were quite a few very competent "amateur" gunsmiths among the DCRA shooters - and of course some less competent folks who went at it hammer and tongs, at least that's how it looks when you see the rifles, but one has to bear in mind that the only thing 90% of the target shooters cared about was performance, not looks.

The DCRA conversions were all done at Long Branch/C.A.L. AFAIK, there was no equivalent program in the UK. If you wanted a conversion done there, you paid a gunsmith to do it or did it yourself.

If you have an opportunity to speak to the original owner, I'd suggest asking him what he thought of the accuracy of the 7.62mm rifles.

[Brit plumber]

Surely if it was stamped Parker Hale, then they carried out the conversion (Unless some dealer faked it).

[bearhunter]

It's definitely not a Long Branch. I will try to get som pics up. I have to get to the rifle first.

[Surpmil]

Surely if it was stamped Parker Hale, then they carried out the conversion (Unless some dealer faked it).

Parker Hale sold a quantity of No4 Mk2 actions, or perhaps whole rifles, at some point in the 60s, as several in the 1954/55 range have turned up here as genuine DCRA conversions. I've had two over the years. The marking being thus:

Parker-Hale
Birmingham

Small stamping right on the barrel ring top centre.