PARKER HALE 5C aperture sights ......

[Mk VII]

the 7A was a product-improved version of the 7, for BSA Martini-Francotte actions, principally the 12/15.

[Baal]

I'm going to have to buy myself one of these sights one of these days for my DCRA Long Branch. Is the PH-5C good for 7.62 or should I hold out until I can find a Parker 4/47?

[Badger]

Some associated material in the MKL for this thread, extracted from the Technical Articles/Research for Milsurp Collectors and Re-loaders section. ...

A.J. Parker Parker Hale Sights (Model PH-5A, PH-5B, PH-5C, 8/53, 11/47 "Twin Zero")

Parker Hale Sights, Adjustment and Use

1940 Parker Hale Service Section Catalog (Publisher: Parker Hale ... Format: 126 pages)

Regards,
Doug

[rgg_7]

Parker Hale made an excellent sight however they were all hand fitted so you will get variation. The 5c's with the small knobs are set up for 303 1/2min adjustments. The ones with the larger knobs are 1/4min and hence for 7.62. AJ Parker, a direct competitor, sold the TZ47. They identified the 7.62 sight with this info stamped at the rear of the base behind the elevation scale. Otherwise the TZ's appear identical however the lead screws are quite different.

I agree with Peter.....lots of variation and it's a hair pulling exercise to repair one of these.

[gravityfan]

A couple of posters have mentioned the PH5CD.

I have a PH5DC - anyone know what this might signify?

Cheers.

[rgg_7]

I've gone through some of my Parker Hale catalogs to clarify sight numbers;

Catalog No62 ( 1962)

p79 5c is listed without eyepiece and 4 optional eyepieces. Base sight is 1/2 min movements.
p79 5c/d is listed. same as 5c except 1/4 min movements for 22 cal training. Designated for No7, 8 and 9 rifles.
p80 7a BSA Martini's 6, 8,12 and 12/15.

Catalog No70 (1970)

No listing for 5c,c/d, d/c or d. p84 has a notation stating that the 1200TX 5e sight would be modified for the No4 action. I believe this variation was introducted in 1972 for the Enforcer program and sold as a No4 sight as well. The windage release is different on each of these.

I looked through Badger's No39 catalog(1939) that he has posted on line. No mention of the 5c's or variations. I believe that this model was introduced post WWII. If folks could look through their catalogues it should reveal further info.

The PH5dc is the sight I was referencing. This was the last of the production in the 1960's. It should had an aluminum base and scale on one side.

The 5d sight was introduced for the No8 replacing the 5c/d. Anybody know when?

Interesting topic.

Ron

[Surpmil]

One more reason why the Central sight drove them off the field of battle in disarray, never to return.

Why someone didn't just make up a simple bracket to secure to the rear pad mating surfaces with a single spring and thumbscrew, onto which a Central sight could be fitted in the usual manner, I don't know.

There, it's my idea and no one better try and pinch it!

[Peter Laidler]

You've totally lost me Surpmil! If you mean mount a sight base onto the No4T rear pad and secure it with a single 1/4" BSF screw, then you can't because the mounting/securing screw would foul the elevating arm lead screw big time. I'm sure that it's easier and simpler and cheaper to adapt an existing sight idea, such as they've done.

Given the quantity of P-H sights required for any (Military and civilian) No4T shooters would be limited to, maybe a couple of dozen, it wouldn't be economic to tool up for yet another base configuration. In any case, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, I would imagine that the SR(b) rules stated exactly what sight you could use

What do you mean by central sight?

The variations are mind boggling and I seem to have one of each here.................! These sights are like Mk5 Sten butts. You could have boxes of all the bits but not the CORRECT bits to make up one serviceable butt!

[Mk VII]

Central was an Australian sight makers, whose products we hardly ever see here.

[tbonesmith]

[/COLOR]Central sights are target sights made in Australia for range use. They have been made up until last year as T-Mac sights, and are essentially the same as they been for decades with a change to the thread of they eyepiece adapter to accept (more recently) larger and adjustable filters and apertures. They fit many service rifles with a lever arm metal thread to different pates that fit to the receiver top or side.
They are still the predominant choice for full bore target shooters in Australia, as plates are made and adapted to fit them to modern top of the line target rifles.
I've heard that they may be made again in the future too.
Funny that an old one in good nick, is as good a brand new one, and 1/2 - 2/3 the price. I use one on one of my No4's and it's great, we used them on school target rifles, and they were fine, and those sights must have been going every weekend for decades, as they were the ones that came off the .303 target rifles when they were done with. Great sight!!