Results from Reno Gun Show.

[newcastle]

After hours of wandering, highlights were a beat up Ishapore 2A1 for $600 (oddly enough it didn't sell). There was a BSA sporter with 30 inch barrel which I couldn't afford (but will track as I save), a .22LR Lithgow No.2 Mk 4 which I got beaten to by 45 minutes and after all this I came away with a Sported 1943 Faz NO.4 Mk 1 with perfect barrel. It has an A suffix, and was FTR'd in 1949 at Fazackerley. All metal intact, cost $140 and I think I have neeearly all the parts there to return it to Military Configuration. Also a No.1 Mk5 for $2260 which also hadn't sold as of the sunday afternoon.

I saw a sported No.4 being sold as a "parker hale sporter". it had a 2 groove barrel, several Savage parts and the seller assured me that it was a PH sporter made in the early 50s' though only the front sight indicated an link with PH. Question : Did Parker Hale make sporters in the 1950's and if so did they mark their sporters in any way apart from the PH on the front sight???

Lowlights were the jackasses behind tables that wont bother to speak with anyone as soon as they know you're based in CA.

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[spinecracker]

I was there, too. I was looking for Long Branches, but was disappointed. Did you see the person in the bigger hall near the entrance selling a No.4T with a transit box and an obvious reproduction scope? i didn't even bother asking the price. There were 2 other No.4Ts there with mismatched scopes and brackets going for, I think, $2350 and $2700. I hope no one bought the No.5 Mk.1 that was selling for $850. I ended up walking out of there with a .303 ruptured case extractor, a brass pull-through and, for some reason I still can't quite fathom, a Russian 1946 M44 (pic on the soviet forum).

Yep, I saw plenty of jackasses. Funnily enough, none of them asked me where I was from, even though I have a British accent. For all they knew, I could have been on vacation from ol' Blighty.

Next big show in Reno will be in November, I think. Will you be there, Newcastle?

[newcastle]

Should be up there. I only saw one T with chest n eveyrthing and the scope looked OK from where I was but as I wasn't in the hunt for one (specifically I'm broke) I didn't bother inspecting. it was a T less telescope though.

[bigduke6]

Also a No.1 Mk5 for $2260 which also hadn't sold as of the sunday afternoon.

Do you remember What was the condition was like regarding the No1 MkV ?

[spinecracker]

I looked at the No.1 MkV but my wife wisely dragged me away....

Although I didn't look too hard or for too long, the rifle looked to be complete, in good condition, not too many dings and metal work in good condition and not monkeyed with. I don't know how much No.1 Mk.Vs sell for in the US at the moment, but I had to wipe away a little drool (I do not know much about No.1 Mk.Vs, so please take my comments with a pinch of salt). I have chatted with the seller before. He is a long-time collector of Lee-Enfields, and he did invite me to see his collection. I have yet to take him up on his kind offer, but one day soon...

[Thunderbox]

I saw a sported No.4 being sold as a "parker hale sporter". it had a 2 groove barrel, several Savage parts and the seller assured me that it was a PH sporter made in the early 50s' though only the front sight indicated an link with PH. Question : Did Parker Hale make sporters in the 1950's and if so did they mark their sporters in any way apart from the PH on the front sight???

Parker Hale (and AJ Parker) did make a lot of sporting rifles based on the No1 and No4 rifles. PH also sold a lot of "sporting ramp foresights" as accessories, so these have often ended up on bubba's gun.

Parker Hale did not mark a model name or any identifying marks on their sporters. Usually the rifles were blued, and often a new number was applied to the receiver and bolt. Bolts were often replacements (so Savage or LB cocking pieces can be common) and often were polished bright.

PH sporters usually came in three grades:

Standard: military wood cut down (i.e. a standard No4 butt)
De Luxe: Monte Carlo butt by Sile of Italy with bakelite caps, forend with basic chequering
Supreme: Monte Carlo butt and forend by Sile, this time with "ivory" and "ebony" caps on both.

A "De Luxe" (top) and "Standard" (bottom) No4 sporter by Parker Hale:



A "Supreme" No1 sporter:




A Parker Hale add-on foresight ramp:

[newcastle]

yep this PH was a put together. ir none ofthe above and standad military stock with brass buttplate. on the No.1 MkV, it was for sael buy the time I saw it, by Mike of Krauseworks on san mateo CA, he said he bought it there. he has a goodly number of LE's at all time and though a bit pricey I would recommend him as someone to do business with.

[spinecracker]

Thinking about it, I need to make sure I get to the show before Newcastle next time....nothing like healthy competition from a fellow Lee-Enfield collector lol.

Take it from me, the scope on that No.4 T is a recent reproduction, and looks exactly like the examples that have been shown on this forum.

[RJW NZ]

Those PH sporters are no doubt about it a nice rifle to use.

[newcastle]

I'm interested in getting a couple of sporters but thus far all I've found are sporters which could be returned to mil config so that's what is happening to them.