Enfield Trainers No 9s

[5thBatt]

Here are pictures of my No9 picked up a couple of years ago (along with 2 No8s with the same serial number) at the NZDF auction.

[Peter Laidler]

I found a load of these backsights in the armoury cupboard at my sons old school Cadet Force.

[Promo]

S/N of my No. 9 was A479, P-H'57 marked. Sold it this year. Also featured a AGP barrel.

[Gnr527]

I found a load of these backsights in the armoury cupboard at my sons old school Cadet Force.

If the school are selling them I am in the market for one (it'll save me defacing the No 5 rearsight I've just bought).

On another note I made reference to a barrel I have assumed was sleeved by A J Parker. Its on a 'latterday' No 9 with some history which I am trying to trace down.
No marking on the barrel crown which has rounded finish but the knox is stamped with an AJP stamp. Would AGP, Parker-Hale and AJP all have had sleeving machinery and access to .22 liners (were they common?)? Or is it likely that one, or the other, sleeved barrels for all three?
There is reference in the above works to later copy No 9s by 'a well-known Birmingham gunsmith' and I am fairly sure that others have also been produced.
Any details known out there?

John

[WallyG.]

Presuming 3000ish is correct... I have A2964 1960... That is 36 rifles away.

[Peter Laidler]

All the No7 and 9 sights I had and saw were based on bog standard No4 Mk1 sights and not No5 spec sights. Some were marked 25YDS and others 25Yds/yds. The line on the sight leaf and slide aligned at a click below the 400 yard mark.

I put a couple on 'that' auction site together with a few of their matching P-H sights as that was a condition of certified/accountable/verifiable disposal

[harry mac]

Sme pics of my No9 Mk1.
Low serial number, sleeved barrell with Parker AGP marking, matching wood, german import marks
Where to find any navy markings?
Attachment 27784Attachment 27783Attachment 27785Attachment 27786

The naval marking you ask about is staring right at you. Notice the inscription on the receiver doesn't say "No9", it says "N.9". N in this instance stands for Naval, or so I believe.
If not, then feel free to pelt me with rotten cyber-veg.

[Buccaneer]

The naval marking you ask about is staring right at you. Notice the inscription on the receiver doesn't say "No9", it says "N.9". N in this instance stands for Naval, or so I believe.
If not, then feel free to pelt me with rotten cyber-veg.

I have borrowed a "No9" from a friend to take some photos and realise that it does actually have No9 engraved on the action and not N 9 as shown on other rifles and also in Skennerton. The rifle looks right but is in "mint" condition with hardly a mark on it which a little worrying, the hand guard is not fluted and neither the forend nor the bolt carry a serial number. I think it could be a "clone" but before I break the good or bad news I would value other peoples opinions. Phots to follow.

[Peter Laidler]

I published the NoD specification of these rifles on this forum a year+ ago and they were definately N9 rifles and not No9's as this N9 was not part of the old Number system but a Naval nomenclature. They were N9's and anyone with a No9 probably has a what is commonly and politely called in Enforcer circles, a clone.

As I said, some of those No7's and N9's at my sons school had PH sights fitted but the standard 25YDS marked sights were on an oily shelf with a label attached, giving the original rifle number.

When small arms repairs for the Navy and RAF fell under the wing of the Army, these Navy and RAF Cadet training rifles would find their way through the big Field/Command workshops so while they weren't common, they were always around. I was reminded a week or so that a whole heap of N9 boltheads were made available (from Naval Ordnance stores in Gosport(?) to correct needy CHS in the N9's due to the fact that there was no spec laid down (or didn't appear to be available anywhere if it was known.........) so the UK MoD Army workshops in discussion with 14 MAG/REME Inspectorate just used the .22" No8 spec on the basis that they were all now using the same spec issue ammunition anyway.

Anyway, there's another few bits of useless info for any budding future author who wants to fill in a few gaps.

I might have mentioned it before, but the Navy were notorious for their lack of technical info regarding their small arms. They came - when it was avaiable - in BR's. When we used to overhaul Navy Lanchesters at the big Base Workshops on the Ayer Rajah Road in Singapore, we had very little technical info, even accuracy or zeroing data. Plenty of spares but their kit always came knee deep in rubbish paperwork

[Peter Laidler]

Just spoke to Brian at BDL re something else and he says that he's got two of the correct 25yd backsights for these No7's and N9 rifles. Don't all rush at once.................