Parker Hale M85 Serial Number Checks & Provenance on Manufacture (Records)

[mforow]

thanks Gil, any information whether this rifle was used by the army or police forces or if it was marketed for civlian use
thanks, miche

[Lee Enfield]

thanks Gil, any information whether this rifle was used by the army or police forces or if it was marketed for civlian use
thanks, miche

I'm not Gil, but the M86/M87 was marketed to Military, Police and Civilian purchasers.

The only military adoption of which I'm aware was Canada as the C3A1.

Numerous M86/M87 rifles for sale in recent years claimed (Mostly UK) police provinance.

[Gil Boyd]

Thanks mate for filling in. Apologies I was away in deepest Africa visiting my son whose in the Army there so out of comms for a good few days.
All sorted and answered absolutley spot on.
There is no detail other than if recorded by PH staff as to whether it went to a UK or Foreign Army for use I'm afraid.

[Lee Enfield]

Thanks mate for filling in. Apologies I was away in deepest Africa visiting my son whose in the Army there so out of comms for a good few days.
All sorted and answered absolutley spot on.
There is no detail other than if recorded by PH staff as to whether it went to a UK or Foreign Army for use I'm afraid.

Any sign of serial number 02134c ?

[Gil Boyd]

Lots of M86/M87's recorded sold to all Forces especially Lincolnshire Police/Precision Sports/France/Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police each in full detail either side of that number 02134C all produced around 1987/1988.
Sorry not on file.

[Nigel]

I'd like to clear up what the correct layout is for the M85 rifle and transit chest contents as I have seen some differences. The two pictures are taken from an early article that appeared in Guns Review on the M85 and also Parker Hale's own leaflet on the M85. The layout is clearly different in both but which is right or at least which is more common. Perhaps those fortunate enough to have transit chest can post pictures in the hope of clearing up this anomaly.

[Gil Boyd]

Nigel,
Sadly I have seen so many variations now, its hard to provide you with a correct layout, as it was a definite "optional" request from all services as you can imagine. Some wanted scopes included, others wanted night vision, also bipods off and housed etc.
I did this drawing which sadly isn't my original many years ago which gives the "USUAL" layout on ordering if that helps.
I found it far easier and more satisfying to place mine in a large PELI rifle case which offered more protection, one image below.

[Nigel]

Thanks Gill - I probably should have posted this on the normal thread - my bad. The good news is that someone has just given me a pile of old Gun Review magazines and I have the issue where they tested the M85 plus there was an original M85 colour sales brochure in the same pile.

[Gil Boyd]

Nigel,
I do have that, but that wasn't the definitive layout......however, as I say it is a personal thing and many units that ordered the rifle had various layouts to suit. This was more the L96 layout with cases and roll mats rolled up in the space below the rifle. So there's 3 variants all foamed on a different theme. Apologies for the tilting M85 image can't seem to right it. The colour PH page image is the luxury layout.......for those that could afford a strong arm as "everything" was in there!!