Question about getting an aperture sight for a No.4

[Rumpelhardt]

Is there a source for TZ4 or Parker Hale 5c aperture sights other than online auction sights or does there age relegate them to these auction sites? I'm a little hesitant to spend much more than $50 or $60.00 on eBay or other other online auction sites.
Thanks for in advance any help.

Information

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[rgg_7]

The auction sites have lots of selection however you need to watch the quality. I've seen everything from incomplete to like new in the box....priced accordingly. If you buy from an auction sight ask if you can return if not to the advertised quality. Repairs are almost as much as buying the sight. An other option is the gunshows. A 3rd would be to ask on this form. You need to set your limit and folks will respond according.

[newcastle]

Going rate for the windage adjustable sights seems to be in the region of $150 or thereabouts with all attachent screws etc.It's been that ways for a couple of years now with occasional drops. I would think $50 - $60 is a little on the low side. I got a couple of Ph5C's at pawns stores in teh sticks a few years back but that was luck.

[Rumpelhardt]

I understand that the price is going to be around $150.00. I would rather buy from an established business with a known history when spending that much. I have been bitten twice on eBay in the last few years. Both times by people with 99.8 and 100% feedback. That's why I limit my purchases to around $50.00 on auction sites and I don't buy from anyone with less than 99.8 feedback though I have found that this doesn't mean a whole lot.there.

[Peter Laidler]

I had a few of these sights, removed from my sons school Cadet Force No4 target rifles when they were withdrawn by the MoD in the early 90's. The sights were all well oiled up, wrapped in oily cloth and numbered to the rifle and in superb mechanical condition as the upper arms had been kept separately and safe and therefore out of harms way and damage. I advertised them on that auction site as well as I could not really knowing anything about them except that I'd put the upper arms and bases together to get the very BEST mechanical match that was possible. In some/many cases, my 'match' using a dial test indicator and a surface plate was better than the supposedly 'matching numbers' of the original arms and bases. I explained that they were all 50 or so years old and had been used every summer since they were new. I washed every one out in trichloroethylene, stripped and new balls/springs fitted where necessary.

I also learned that the school also had some privately purchased telescopic sightless No4T’s too that they returned to the Army or disposed of at the same time plus 1 (and half the bits for another) P-H 5 sight adapted for the No4T bodyside. They also had a few of the specially marked ‘25 YDS’ No7 and 9 rifle sights too

I soon learned that these things were sort of highly collectable and priced accordingly but selling them was like pulling teeth! The questions were endless, even down to how much wear there was, backlash, matching numbers, etc etc........ In fact you name it, I was asked about it. I was only doing the school Cadet Force Officer a favour - in return for 10% - and was glad to get rid of the things eventually. On that basis and experience, I’d suggest that you decide before you look, exactly what you are looking for. If you want a brand new, boxed, sight for a wall queen (or do they call it a ‘safe queen’…….?) then that’s fair enough, but be prepared to pay a lot of money. If, at the other end of the spectrum, you want one to strip for its spare parts value, as I did with two or three, then you’ll still have to pay good money. But if you want a good, used slightly worn sight then remember that they’re all 30+ or so years old now and expect to pay VERY good money. The MOST important thing about these sights is to ensure that there is absolutely no backlash whatsoever in the lead screw mechanism and if there is any side play or ‘wiggle’ in the arm to base, then it is a mere fraction. After all, backlash will show(?) in your score but the slightest fore and aft wiggle won’t show at all

I also learned that P-H would refurbish and recondition these sights but would not sell spare parts, even if you gave them a serial number. The serial number was not a serial number at all, but a mating/matching number for the base and arm. They would state in their correspondence (that I saw with the sights I sold off…….) that there were so many variables (you can say that again P-H………) that only their specialist works were capable of ….blah blah blah and on it goes. They would not refurbish/recondition the later aluminium bases though. Even P-H (and AGP) would mate mis-numbered bases and arms together during their mega expensive overhauls and you can still see when an old number has been barred through or lined out and re-stamped or god forbid, overstamped. That I learned was also the death knell to a sale.

There, that’s my experience with selling about 20 of these blooxx things, starting at £10 each. I still have a couple and enough parts for another couple but from where I’m sitting and experience, $50 wouldn’t even open the door. We have a saying here. It’s like shopping at Marks and Spencers ( a high quality shopping chain)…………you get JUST what you pay for.

[Rumpelhardt]

I'm not asking where can I buy a Parker Hale 5c sight for $50.00. I'm asking if there is a place that sells them other than online auction sites. I know that these sights will cost me in the $150,00 range. $150.00 is more money than I personally feel comfortable spending at an online auction site. I would rather buy something like this from an established business.
Sorry if my question was unclear.

[rgg_7]

I'd suggest you do some research on Ebay or other sites. Your buget is significantly low...for $150 you will get a parts sight or a good rebuildable one. For $250 you will get a good functional sight; most likely mismatched and wear on finish. For $350 and up you will get very good or rebuilt sight. New in the box commands a premium. To this you need to ad eyepiece and fixing screws. A pair of fixing screws is $33.00 + shipping and a couple folks are reproducing these for sale. You will pay more for an AJP TZ sight than you will for a Parker Hale.

I do concurr with Peter....the sights are all hand fixed and best left to a skilled person to work on. Each is different. You get what you pay for!

Where to buy? Guess folks can list their experiences.

Ron

[paulseamus]

Rumplehardt

Try Helston Gunsmiths. They stock a range of Parker Hale Sights and accessories.

http:\\Supply of firearms, machine guns, weapons.

Paul

[RJW NZ]

Hi Rumpehardt, the best places other than ebay are gunshows, and gun auction sites where there is less traffic, also online forums like ours with classifieds, try enfield resource for links to all of those. The only cheap ones I see where I am have usually lived a second life rusting in the bottom of the tool box, best of luck, they are out there ...

[Peter Laidler]

There's a couple on that site now that you can gauge the depth of the water from. Just punch in Parker Hale. I don't know how you'd find the AGParker sights. Maybe there aren't any on offer................ But the little TZ twin zero sights certainly looked very good.

Incidentally, there was a good thread on these sights on this forum a year or so ago as I recall and it included some truly superb info for anyone wanting to rebuild one