Enforcer questions...

[Alan de Enfield]

Well people more learned than me will be able to tell you for sure! Also ones I've seen have one oval around all the words - not two - is that what's on your early one (the number 183 springs to mind) Alan?

I'm not sure anyone knows the 'cut off' date for the changes in engraving, but it is generally thought that up to 200 used the "All text in one oval" (see pic 1)
200 - 400 used two lines of text in "Two ovals" (see pic 2)
400 upwards used text engraved / stamped directly onto the action with NO oval (see pic 3)

I have 134 and 483 and they fit into the correct sequence - as does 'Spinecrackers' (possibly one of the last "Two Oval" versions.

[spinecracker]

I will try and get access to Enforcer #391 and see what that has. That rifle happens to be an 8 hour drive from me, and I am trying to get photos out of the owner, but I might have to do a road trip, dang it! Still, I could do a detour to Yosemite - it is beautiful this time of year . The owner of #391 and #395 apparently has some Enforcer spares that he has not catalogued yet. When I know what he has, I will let you know.

The more data we can get to Alan regarding the Enforcers still out there, the better.

[Simon P]

I have 208 and it is in the oval

[Alan de Enfield]

208 - Highest yet in the 'oval'

Any advance ?

[spinecracker]

Got to shoot #395 today, using the AJ Parker TZ 4/47 sight that it came with. Boy, I am blind using that thing lol. Still managed to get a 1/4" grouping at 100 yards, but the groups opened up to 1" at 200 yards, partly because the (in)famous Washoe Valley wind was beginning to blow (gotta love those sudden 25mph side winds lol) and my lack of familiarity using the sight. As some people know, the original buyer (who I was helping) backed out of buying the Enforcer, but it was offered to me for a very, VERY good price. I will do a proper range report when I get the rings and can get the scope mounted.

[Alan de Enfield]

Possible lead on the magazine...I feel like Sherlock Holmes lol...

Enforcers 395 and 424 were both sent to the Derbyshire police force. Now if only I could find Enforcer #424 and see what number is stamped on its magazine...

424 was actually a Cumberland Police rifle (not a Derbyshire one)

I have details of the current owner of 424 (he is in the UK), hows your research going Sherlock ?

[spinecracker]

My pardon, Alan. I was going by Simon's response to Karlos' query under the L42A1, Envoy and Enforcer sticky on page 15 or 16(?) ("Rifle No 424 was sent to Derbyshire Police on the 14th August 1974"). If I misread anything, then I apologize. I am awaiting the current owner to let me know if his enforcer magazine is stamped with "395". If it is, I will be happy. if not, then I'm going to have to do some more detectoring lol (and some crying :P ).

[Alan de Enfield]

My pardon, Alan. I was going by Simon's response to Karlos' query under the L42A1, Envoy and Enforcer sticky on page 15 or 16(?) ("Rifle No 424 was sent to Derbyshire Police on the 14th August 1974"). If I misread anything, then I apologize. I am awaiting the current owner to let me know if his enforcer magazine is stamped with "395". If it is, I will be happy. if not, then I'm going to have to do some more detectoring lol (and some crying :P ).

Strange - according to my records 424 was part of a batch of 29 Enforcers that were shipped to Cumberland Police on 8th July 1974.

The mystery of history ???

[spinecracker]

Mystery? No

Pain in the bottom? Yes

I wonder if there are other discrepancies in the records, or did somone just read the wrong line?

[Alan de Enfield]

Mystery? No

Pain in the bottom? Yes

I wonder if there are other discrepancies in the records, or did somone just read the wrong line?

It is strange - I've dug out all my paperwork and in fact have two lots of information for 424.

Cumberland Police shipped 8th July 1974 & Derby Police shipped 14th August 1974. maybe some 'cock-up' at Parker Hale or Enfield, or a cancelled order and re-sold to Derby Police. Guess we'll never know.

To add further 'fuel to the fire' my second Enforcer (483) which I have listed as going to both Northern Ireland Police AND Sussex Police was 'sold on' to The City Of London Police* and was then sold by them to a Firearms Dealer in Hastings called 'Finch Feeds', who in turn sold them onto local Rifle clubs (in the South East of England)

* Maybe 483 was at the famous Iranian Embassy Siege.


In the early days of Enforcer manufacture the Sussex Police could not get enough Enforcers so they purchased some Envoys and the Police Armourer converted the Envoys into 'Sniper Rifles'.
When the armourer retired from the Police he joined a firearms manufacturing company who supplied the Police with A1s and he took the remaining Enforcers and converted Envoys in part exchange.

The deeper I dig into these wonderful rifles and the more I learn, the more I realise how little I know.
The history of these will soon be totally lost as we continue to lose such notables as Chris Barber (Ex Police Armourer and Enfield addict)