Enfield enforcer questions

[Bigwagon]

Interesting that he says it's built on a No.4 Mk 1/3 action, not a 1/2. But there is no photo of the bolt side to verify. Weren't most sniper and 7.62 conversions built on Mk. 1 type actions?

[Buccaneer]

I take it you know where it hailed from?

An interesting question, I don't know what police force it was issued to but I do know some of its history.
When I got it it and several others had been through Parker Hales hands and it had been converted to their T4 configuration with the heavy target barrel and T4 wood work but no target sights just the scope. It still had its numbered action bolt and scope so I decided to get it back to the correct configuration.
I found a gunsmith who had a correct and as new barrel so that was fitted and sent for proof, I was also able to find a complete set of wood work from Enforcer 207, so I can only assume that that rifle is no more.
It is now complete with its Harris Bipod and the correct PH5E4 target sight, its not an original rifle but as so few of them were made and even fewer survive it was worth the effort to get it back in one piece.
I spoke to the RFD who originally sold the rifle many years ago and he seems to remember having at least three of them in the PH T4 configuration, he also says that he remembers up to nine being converted in a similar way and wonders if PH were trying to update the Enforcer but had no luck in convincing the powers that be as none appear to have been used which is why they all appeared onto the open market.

---------- Post added at 04:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------

Weren't most sniper and 7.62 conversions built on Mk. 1 type actions?

The Enforcer was not a sniper rifle it was to be issued to Police Marksmen (I don't think there were any women if there were I apologise), the Police Marksmen were very good but they were not and did not like to be called snipers.

[Peter Laidler]

Last line Buccaneer. No....... They LIKED to be called snipers but, alas, they were just good shots. There is a vast difference

[Gil Boyd]

Ha Ha Buccaneer....................you have learnt the Peter Laidler and Gil Boyd lesson, Police lads were indeed "Marksman" not snipers, as they would like to be called!!.

It was only in latter years that many attended Sniper courses due to pressure from the ex service influence joining the Police to do so, but nevertheless, the courses were constructed completely differently to the Army courses for good reason and the applications civvy Police were constructed under Home Office Guidelines and run by Devon & Cornwall Police. (RM influence) thats why many ended up poor shots lol (ex PARA joke)

Your rifle 158 was one of mine in Cambridge Police issued on the 23rd of August 1974. It was probably handled by me at our Police HQ, the newly built Hinchingbrooke Park HQ and sorted and sold as cast, as we had too many when all the old Boroughs and Cities became Cambridgeshire Constabulary from the old Mid Anglia and other areas within what is now Cambridgeshire.

1974 was certainly a busy year in terms of Enforcers, we pooled them in from Ely City Police/Mid Anglia Police/Cambridge City/Cambridge County/Huntingdonshire County/City of Peterborough/Soke of Peterborough so they were all (17) on merit and usage sorted and selected for continuance in service.

The only ones I have recorded fitted with scopes were those 3 sold to Mid Anglia Force on the 3rd April 1974, so it goes to show not all had Pecar scopes on them or were not tied to a specific rifle at the time.

It was sad to see the end of such a great "Force" but Cambridgeshire it was, and still is, with more Firearms trained officers now than what you can shake a stick at.

I do remember Suffolk Police were also well blessed with Enforcers as were the Met.
The gold cup has to go to Abu Dhabi Police who bought 30 odd and it would be interesting to see where they all ended up, as well as Hongkong Police who bought a similar number.
My records stop at 767 so one has to realise it was a sort after rifle of the time and for good reason in 7.62!!

[Btl1994]

Well at least with the info in this thread it makes me feel more confident about the rifle. Still have to see if funds will allow me to purchase and bring her home.

[Gil Boyd]

Go for it, the value daily increases on this rifle that only a few were produced. They are an investment.

[limpetmine]

I seem to recall something about 3 of them built on the No. 4 Mk1* receiver.

Interesting that he says it's built on a No.4 Mk 1/3 action, not a 1/2. But there is no photo of the bolt side to verify. Weren't most sniper and 7.62 conversions built on Mk. 1 type actions?

[Peter Laidler]

Some of them did attend MoD 'inspired' courses as Gil says, but there weren't many (sorry to disagree a bit there Gil.....). Also it was a bit of a money spinner as their forces paid a lot of money for their attendance.

[GeeRam]

Back in the late 70's I was first taught to shoot at a Met Police run small bore club, by a Met.Police D6/D11 instructor who had been the first to operationally deploy a Met Police Enforcer during the Balcombe Street Siege. Forty years on though I can't remember if he was one of the original cadre of D6 Instructors that were trained by the Army at Small Arms Wings of School of Infantry in the late 1960's, and my father is no longer around to ask confirmation.

[Peter Laidler]

The police were very difficult people to teach firearms according to those who did. Generally, they simply 'taught the teachers' in such things as I recall, the baton gun and the like. Their doctrine was totally different and as such, the aggression that was needed when live fire was required was said to be, er....., found wanting. Nothing wrong with that in the normal course of events but when the going gets tough .......... The same applied to ex soldiers that were now cops I hasted to add simple because they'd returned to a non aggressive environment - and as a result were a bit older too. Not just older, but wiser too. And maybe it shouldn't be said but in the Army you were always surrounded by your close pals when things got tough