A question for our brothers in New Zealand

[Brian Dick]

I acquired a target regulated No.4Mk.2 in 7.62 from a former 1982 USA Palma team member last year and it has me stumped. The story goes that the rifle was traded to my friend in 1976 at Camp Perry by a NZ Palma team member named Maury Gordon. He was about 60 years old at the time. There were supposedly 22 built by GE Fulton & Sons at Bisley for the NZ Palma team. This one has a small number 6 stamped on the left side of the body. Colin at Fultons couldn't find a record of these rifles in their ledgers. It has the most intricate adjustable single stage trigger I've ever seen on a Lee Enfield, a Canadian 7.62 barrel and is set up as a repeater with an original Enfield 7.62 extractor and magazine. Can anyone elaborate about these rifles or point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance for any help provided. Brian

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Perhaps the experts are awaiting photos?
I know I am.

[Woodsy]

Morrie (Maurice George) Gordon was a well-known NZ target rifle shooter who won the Gold Medal in the 1974 Commonwealth Games. He also won NZ's premier shooting trophy, the Ballinger Belt, three times. He died in 2016 aged 90. I am sorry but I can't shed any light on the rifle but will make enquiries.

[Strangely Brown]

It has the most intricate adjustable single stage trigger I've ever seen on a Lee Enfield,

Could this be a Brindles trigger?
The late John Good who made them was a cousin of Robin Fulton and had previously worked in Fultons before becoming the NRA armourer at Bisley.

Brian if you have any pictures of the bedding on that rifle I would be very interested in seeing them.

[Bindi2]

I would also like to see the trigger assembly. This sounds like a very interesting rifle.

[Brian Dick]

Bear with me gents as I'm up to my armpits in alligators. It's hard to find time to enjoy my own rifles. I promise that I'll get it carefully disassembled and do some detailed photos soon. Thanks for the comments.

[Warren]

Brian: when you are up to your assh*le in alligators, it is hard to remember the initial objective is to drain the swamp.
I used to use that on my answering machine and several people just hated it.
Nice to have too much business and it shows you are doing a good job.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

shows you are doing a good job.

But the suspense is killing me.

[Brian Dick]

Hi Warren,

I'm slowly winding down all the long-winded restorations I got hit with during the covid nonsense. The last two No.4T's for a client in Texas sport REL telescopes that were serviced by you! I finished his Indian owned '44 LB. A sow's ear to silk purse job for sure. It damned near killed me but shoots 1 moa at 100 yards with Mk.7z if the nut behind the bolt has his shite together. The FTR Savage Mk.1 is almost done with just a phosphate and paint/bake job remaining to finish the metal and then fit new wood. I only paint Suncorite 259 in an outdoor paint booth and the weather has NOT been cooperating. I'm working on my badly neglected website and although it ain't fancy, I'm finally starting to get stuff out for sale. It will only get better with time as I morph out of the long-winded repair work and back to selling. It's been a long time coming. Perils of the one-man-band. ATB.

Brian

[Brian Dick]

HoH,

The rifle looks like a Fultons regulated 7.62 No.4Mk.2. It's the internal trigger mods and forend bedding that are unique. I promise I will get the pics up when I can take the time to carefully disassemble it again. Maybe on the weekend. I serviced it gently and range tested it last year when I bought it from my friend. It's definitely different. It still has his ranging stickers on the wood and a Canadian Palma sticker from Connaught since my friend used it at the 1982 matches there when he was on the USA Palma team. Most would remove them, but I wouldn't do it.

Brian