Enforcer Numbering - Another Observation...

[Peter Laidler]

It might be the bleedin' obvious Simon P, but are you an MG fan/owner? MGCC or MGOC?

[Simon P]

It might be the bleedin' obvious Simon P, but are you an MG fan/owner? MGCC or MGOC?

MGOC, One 1971 MGB & one 1979 MGB GT. Did have a Speedwell racing Austin Healey Sprite (midget) as well. The GT is good for shooting as the rifles fit in the back. Are you into MGs as well?

[Brit plumber]

I can probably help with how the Police destroy weapons. My Dad used to have to take confiscated and surrenderd weapons to Penrith Police Head Quarters for Guilotining. They removed any wood work, and then just chopped the rest as is. Sometimes Bolts and mags were removed to make it easier to get the wood off etc. Other than that, there was no further stripping or salvaging of parts. The removed wood was then put into a wood burner. Sad I know, my Dad told me of all sorts of historical weapons being destroyed, however, some of the bobbies were a bit more savvy and if a weapon of intrest was being surrenderd, the savvier desk Bobbies would call intrested and Licenced parties and if the surrenderer was happy to give it to a new owner (Usually in exchange for a bit of pocket money) then a deal was done, saving it from the chop.

He also told me of Deacs (Dewats), air guns and toy guns being handed in, and once they were handed over, thats it, it had to be destroyed.

I was told recently by a dealer, that the Police don't destroy weapons anymore, but PAY to have them destroyed, and it costs £10 a weapon! He went on to tell me that when they have these Knife amnesties etc, they can't afford to have them destroyed so sell them off! And thats how this dealer buys some of his stock.

[Simon P]

We share the old Admiralty building next to our large engineering workshops near Earls Court with the Met Police, we used to get frequent visits from them and the British Transport Police to destroy all manner of weapons including their faulty extending batons & handcuffs, we had to countersign there paperwork confirimg destruction.

These weaons were either cut with the gas torch or put under the blacksmiths hammer.

This was all done free of charge.

We even used to melt down fake £1 coins for them as well.

The only weapons they never brought in for destruction were official Police weapons.

[Gnr527]

This gets interestinger and interestinger

Three threads running on this - or is it 4? - a bit like D & C's Enforcers

Alan - how many Enforcers did D & C take delivery of please?

They recorded the numbers of 4 destroyed (124, 139, 670, 269)

You have 6 currently in circulation - plus possibly mine

Plus 'all the rest' that were destroyed

Looks to me as if somone(s) has been a naughty boy or a silly boy? - policeman or joe public?

And just one final observation - why an earth would someone fake an Enforcer and not a 4T? - when you look at the differing values?

John

[Alan de Enfield]

D&C Police received 32 Enforcers (in third place behing the MET & Manchester Police)

[Thunderbox]

Twhy an earth would someone fake an Enforcer and not a 4T? - when you look at the differing values?

John

Apart from convincing engraving, Enforcers are very easy to build: all of the component parts are extremely common items from the civilian gun trade or - these days - eBay. 4(T)s require quite a bit more attention to detail, and genuine military parts are now rare.

A gunsmith-built 7.62mm Enfield target rifle that is perhaps 90% identical to an Enforcer can often be bought at auction in UK for £30-100 (sadly, the decline of UK shooting sports means most "first generation" target rifles are only worth scrap/component value). A few screw-on bits and a bit of engraving and it can be worth c.£1,400 as an Enforcer...

[Hal O'Peridol]

I posted more pics of my Enforcer in another thread, perhaps we could get some other pics of the side engraving on other Enforcers to compare by serial numbering series and also by build date? I would HATE to find out mine is a fake, but if it is, better to find out here. There must also be some tells elsewhere on the rifles.

[Alan de Enfield]

....., perhaps we could get some other pics of the side engraving on other Enforcers to compare by serial numbering series and also by build date? ..

1st pic Ex Devon & Cornwall No665
2nd pic Ex Hong Kong Police No669
3rd Pic Charnwood assembled 'Bitsa' No684

[andya1thomas]

perhaps we could get some other pics of the side engraving on other Enforcers to compare by serial numbering series and also by build date?.

Heres a pic of ex-D&C 644 issued in August 1982, apart from fitting a new PH5E4 and an extractor claw, I have not had a need to take the wood off to have a look at the markings, the engraving on the charnwood 684 looks almost Identical to mine ! Id hate to find mine was a fake