ENFORCER 298

[Steve1152]

I just picked up on this thread. I hope someone can help and give some detail on Enforcer serial number 053? Any information on provenance, authenticity and issue date would be much appreciated.

Thanks Steve

[Gil Boyd]

Steve,
Enforcer rifle S/N 053 was allocated to Bristol Police on the 4th March 1974

[Steve1152]

Gil

Many thanks for the information. Hope all is good with you.

Best wishes
Steve

[Alan de Enfield]

Gil

Many thanks for the information. Hope all is good with you.

Best wishes
Steve

If you do buy it, I'd be very grateful if you'd confirm its location (not your name and address) and details as to if it has its scope, bipod and anything else (transit case etc) as I have been keeping records as to the location of these rifles for several years now, I have quite a few listed but for the Bristol Police ones (they purchased 4 rifles) non of them have their current locations listed on my spreadsheets.

I have undertaken FOI (Freedom of Information) requests to various Police forces and the information returned is 'interesting' to say the least. One force told me that had guillotined their rifles as they were not allowed to sell them to the public, but, I know of 5 of their rifles, still live, and still in use in various countries around the world.

I asked another force how many they purchased and what serial numbers they were and was told they could not divulge that information as it would allow criminals to clone the rifles and then the Police would be held responsible for any one shot with that rifle - what was so funny is that I have copies of the Enfield Factory Sales Ledgers which details every rifle serial number, to which Police Force it was despatched, the date it was despatached on and even the delivery note number.

Bristol Police purchased Enforcer numbers : 034, 053, 056 & 179

All despatched on 4th March 1974 on AIN (Advice Inspection Note) number 444151/10

[Steve1152]

Hi Alan

Yes I will no problem

Regards

Steve

[Gil Boyd]

Hi Steve,
All's good mate, stay safe

[Steve1152]

Hi Alan

I got my hands on the Enfield Enforcer 053 now in my gun cabinet. Its now located in Rainham Essex. The Enforcer has matching serial numbers on bolt, Pecar 4-10 scope, underside fore-end Stock. Complete with correct PH 5E Target sight (Matching Numbers) and matchmaker foresight. It does not have a bipod or the facility to install one. As I understand it not all Enforcers were equiped to install a bipod. It is in very good order and has very good barrel bore scoped and gauges a tight .30.

Regards

Steve

[Gil Boyd]

Steve,

Yes absolutely correct, some Forces opted not to have the bipods, where most did.
If you want one there are several dealers out there that will accomodate you.

[Steve1152]

Gil

Thanks for the confirmation. I want to keep the Enforcer original and correct. As it wasn't issued with a bipod I will not mess with it and leave it how it was issued.

Regards

Steve

[Alan de Enfield]

Hi Alan

I got my hands on the Enfield Enforcer 053 now in my gun cabinet. Its now located in Rainham Essex. The Enforcer has matching serial numbers on bolt, Pecar 4-10 scope, underside fore-end Stock. Complete with correct PH 5E Target sight (Matching Numbers) and matchmaker foresight. It does not have a bipod or the facility to install one. As I understand it not all Enforcers were equiped to install a bipod. It is in very good order and has very good barrel bore scoped and gauges a tight .30.

Regards

Steve

Many thanks, I'll update my records. You'll not regret it I believe they are a vastly undervalued member of the Enfield family, with less than 700 actually built by Parker Hale. 767 were ordered and components made but these were never assembled and sold off as components and assembled by dealers.
Some years ago I was talking with an RFD 'up-North', who had recently bought a gun-shop / dealers and on opening a locked up small back room foud all sorts of goodies, including, at least enough components to make a dozen Enforcers that the previous RFD had bought at auction when the Enforcer parts wers sold off.

The Enforcer was purchased as the basic rifle with the PH5E/4 sight only as standard.
The scope, bipod, & transit case were options, and whilst most were purchased with all options several were not, and the plan was that when funds allowed they would purchase the accessories, and buy the make / model that the local armourer preferred.

As I'm sure you are aware the UK Tax year ends ~ 6th April, and for all Government departments, if they do not spend all of their budgets before the end of the year, their budget the follwing year is reduced. I would speculate, that as yours were ordered / delivered in March they were ordered to 'finish off the expenditure budget' but maybe there were insufficient funds to purchases the rifles and all their accessories, possibly planning to buy them the following year but it never happened.