Parker Hale T4

[8udr]

I recently purchased a Parker Hale T4 unseen from an auction. It didn't cost big money. It says Parker Hale T4 on the barrel. However it isn't like any Parker Hale T4 I have ever seen before. When I was a schoolboy I took part in several Imperial Meetings at Bisley and used T4s alleit in the early 80s. I have searched the internet and can only find T4s with magazines, also it isn't in any Parker Hale catalogues I have. Mine has an internal .303 magazine and the trigger housing has been cut and welded. It is built on an original No4 Mk2 1952 Fazerlakey action, the original serial number is still present and blued over. It has a four digit serial number stencilled on the action and no number on the bolt, I believe T4s have three digit numbers.
Is this a proper T4 or a No4 someone has put a Parker Hale barrel on for themselves?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Thunderbox]

Its a self-build or gunsmith one-off of some sort, using a spare T4 barrel.

The Parker Hale T4 and its AJ Parker "Excel"rival both retain the magazine well, converted to the Enfield 7.62mm magazine.

The nearest Enfield "sub-species" to your rifle would be a Whittaker Special. However, Whittaker also cut off the butt socket and installed the action into a one piece stock.

[mack]

Very interesting rifle. Looks well done and seems to be authentic. Nice find.

Thunderbox, do you have any pictures of the Whittaker rifle. It sounds interesting and would certainly be worth the a look, if you wouldn't care to post some pics. Thanks in advance.

[Thunderbox]

Very interesting rifle. Looks well done and seems to be authentic. Nice find.

Thunderbox, do you have any pictures of the Whittaker rifle. It sounds interesting and would certainly be worth the a look, if you wouldn't care to post some pics. Thanks in advance.

I haven't got a Whittaker here at the moment - although a friend has about eight of them (ex club target rifles). I'll try and get a few photos to post.

Whittaker actually cut up quite a few 4(T) rifles - so you often find them with the pad holes on the sidewall. I understand there is a bit of a cottage industry going on in re-attaching a butt socket and turning these very butchered rifles back into 4(T)s...

[Mk VII]

Looks like the forend has been opened out and then patched up along the barrel channel. Quite a lot of work done by somebody, and quite well by the look of it.

[8udr]

Looks like the forend has been opened out and then patched up along the barrel channel. Quite a lot of work done by somebody, and quite well by the look of it.

The forend comprises four pieces of wood, two horizontal beneath the barrel and one on each side. Someone went to a lot of bother if this is a oneoff. It has the fat and chunky feel of an 80s target rifle however the genuine Parker Hale sight bases make me think it has always had glass mounted on it.
If anyone looks at page 76 of Sniper by Peter Brookesmith the rifle in the photo has a four piece forend as well although there are several faults in the picture and I don't think it is a M85.

[adrianc]

hi i saw a similar rifle at a gun auction in Cardiff earlier this month Welsh Arms i think it was item 171 also Ive got a T4 and it doesn't look anything like your's