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

[Jacob]

Hi Gil,

Do you have any info for CGP0005 if you have records for that line?

[desperatedan]

Hi Jacob,

Apologies for jumping in before Gil or John reply but I wonder if you've seen the info Holts published on that rifle when they sold it in 2020? The below is from their catalog listing.

'A RARE 5.56x45mm NATO CADET GENERAL PURPOSE TARGET / SNIPER PROTOTYPE BOLT-MAGAZINE RIFLE, serial no. CGP0005,
23 3/4in. unsighted nitro barrel, fitted with a Pecar Berlin Variable 4-10 telescopic sight, no safety, folding bipod, detachable magazine, synthetic stock with camouflage effect finish, weight 12lb. 15oz.

Provenance: the1980's saw the adoption of the 5.56x45mm Nato cartridge as the second standard service rifle cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-Nato countries. One of the forward thinking military research establishments of the time proposed a 5.56mm sniper rifle so that every member of the squad in the field would use the same ammunition. Unfortunately a lack of suitable ammunition at the time meant that this concept was dropped. The appearance a few years later of the Australian-made 62gr SS-109 projectiles together with the new F1 5.56 cartridge cases later prompted a conversation that would see the creation of this rifle. Parker-Hale had done some preliminary development work on a Cadet General Purpose rifle for school cadet work. The MOD dropped the proposal leaving Parker-Hale with a few prototype actions but no barrels. Greg Matthews was a former rifling subcontracter to target rifle manufacturers MAB Engineering and consequently had a few 10" twist Delta blanks available. These were sent to England and the result was a 5.56 CGP target/sniper prototype capable of 0.5" groups at 100 Metres.'

[Jacob]

Thanks Desperatedan, I have seen that before, I bought the rifle from Holts a few years ago! Would be interested to see what info is on the PH records if it's on there.

[Gil Boyd]

This is number CGP 0004 in the photo below

Reference CGP 0005 AT ENTRY 542 in trhe records it simply says: 5.56mm Alloy Bipod NO SAFETY in M85 Jungle Stock no scope fitted. Australia for tests Page 67 in Bill Smallwoods Cambridge Book in the records

[Jacob]

Thanks Gil!

I was also given this article about the rifle when I got it too. I have also added a photo of mine.

[mrclark303]

Very nice Jacob, a smart looking example....

[mossin]

Anything on M85 00225F

[dovolski]

Hello Gil,

Do you have any information on Parker Hale M85 Ser: 00324F?

Thank you for doing this, this is a very helpful service to the community!