Parker Hale 303 no 1 Custom

Started by newf, September 24, 2009, 07:58:54 PM

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newf

I just got this gun and know very little about it. Hope you guys can help. It is in decent shape but TLC needed. I am planning to do a complete disassembly and thorough cleaning. Should I be doing this and is there anything I should be wary of. I plan to take it apart piece by piece, give it a good cleaning and oiling and simply put it back together. I'm not a gun expert but I treat my firearms very well. This is my first rifle. I was going to buy new but this was much more appealing. It has EB in a circle with a 2 underneath which from reading the post above means it was built in 1979. Was this gun built on an Lee Enfield action? The scope mount was custom made by a local gun smith in Nova Scotia, Canada as the previous owner kept losing zero with an aftermarket one. Can I still get an original Parker Hale scope mount?
 
*** Added New Photos of markings ***
 
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s204/Newf-Fred/303001.jpg
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Thanks for any help received,
Fred

Alboy

The P-H experts will be along shortly but I just want to say I really like this rifle, does it have any sisters at Home?
 
Where is Home.
 
Welcome to THL
Alboy
BLACKPOWDER WATERFOWLER
KATY TEXAS PRAIRIE
 
THIS TOO SHALL PASS

newf

I love this gun as well.  I was prepared to buy new but loved the look of this gun.  No sisters at home, this is my first rifle ever.  I'm originally from Brigus, Newfoundland.  http://www.brigus.net/  I now live in Toronto, Canada.
 
Fred

branxhunter

Hello Fred, greetings from Australia.
 
Now I am not one of the previously referred to Parker Hale experts, but that looks to me to be a sporting conversion of the military SMLE .303 action as used by the British and Commonwealth military forces. It looks like it is in very good nick, particularly the stock. I have never seen one of these Parker Hale .303 conversions in the flesh over here, but I think they are the best looking sporting conversions of the SMLE action around. I particularly like the neat job that has been done on the magazine - it looks to have had the bottom cut-off so as to better match the contour of the stock. Keep that in mind - if you want to increase your magazine capacity you should be able to pick up an unmodified Lee Enfield magazine fairly easily. Well bought.
 
Looking forward to see how it shoots.
 
Marcus

22hornet

I really like those Parker Hale .303 sporting conversions, being a fan of the Lee Enfield action. Of all of them the No4 action was the best conversion.
The scope mount could have been done to look abit better, not sure if it is a factory Parker Hale mount or not. But as they removed the charger bridge I suppose that is the best style of mount to go with. Brithunter will be able to tell you more.
If you search the P.H. threads you will see a few more of these rifles.
But one really good rifle. :biggthumpup:
Can't wait for the range report.
"Belief:" faith in something taught, as opposed to "knowledge:" which is awareness borne of experience.

sakorick

Hello newf. Parker Hale made the finest Enfield conversions bar none. They are a tribute to the rifle itself........wished I could get my hands on one like yours. Beautiful rifle ....enjoy it. Regards, Rick.
Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

LvrLover

Never been a fan of SMLEs, but that one would probably be an exception. Very nice fit and finish.
"Live free or die: death is not the worst of evils." General John Stark

gitano

Best-looking conversion of a SMLE I've ever seen. Nice rifle.
 
And welcome to THL.
 
On a side note, especially since your pictures are hosted at photobucket, if you use the "IMG" format instead of the "HTTP" format, the pictures will be "live" in your posts. (Folks won't have to click on them to see them.) It's not a big deal. Just a matter of convenience. If you want to continue to use the http format, no one, especially me will be offended. I offer these comments not to "correct" or offend, just in case you didn't know.
 
Here is an example of the difference it would make in your post:
 
Here's the http option:
 
http://s122.photobucket.com/albums/o266/paulskvorc/Caribou%20camping%2009/?action=view¤t=IMG_0337-1.jpg
 
And here's the IMG option:
 

 
I look forward to more of your posts.
 
Paul
Be nicer than necessary.

newf

Hi Gitano,
  Thanks for the heads up.  It's a great looking gun.  Just waiting for the experts to jump on here and give me the low down on this gun.  
 
Fred

sakorick

Quote from: newf;97462Hi Gitano,
  Thanks for the heads up.  It's a great looking gun.  Just waiting for the experts to jump on here and give me the low down on this gun.  
 
Fred

The expert is a chap named Brithunter. The rifle was built using a Enfield action and since it's polished out so nice the letters and numbers are obviously obliterated. I would guess that it's a newer action perhaps a number 4 Mark 1 or 2. Unfortunately Skennerton does not list these variants like the Santa Fe models. I am suprised it was made so late. I would have expected 1950's rather than late 70's. I also suspect it has had major trigger modifications as well as the magazine. Very little is original Enfield ....the bolt has been streamlined, new barrel, none of the original hardware...pretty much a new rifle. Regards, Rick.
Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

Brithunter

Hi All,

     Now I have looked at all the photos and will readily agree that it's a beautiful rifle. May I thank you for the lovely clear photos. The one of the proof mark clearly shows the Private View mark and now what I am about so write will surprise if not shock a few of you:-


The code E...B in a circle dates the rifle as 1979.


Yes Rick P-H did these conversion until very late and as has already been pointed out it's a No4 conversion and the polishing has removed the original marking from the left wall of the action.
Go Get them Floyd!

newf

#11
Hi Brithunter,
Thanks for your reply. I found this site after I got my gun. It is a great site. I have read the full thread of "Parker Hale Unvieled" Found the info very helpful.
 
-Can you be sure that this is a NO 4? What version is it? It's registered in Canada as a Parker Hale 303 NO 1 Custom. I have attached three more pictures of markings I found but the second one is only a partial mark.
 
-Why is the bolt (firing mechanicism) 2 stage?
 
-How do I remove the firing pin?
 
-How do I remove the hood from the front sight?
 
-Will the magazine accept gun blue?
 
-Can I get an original scope mount for this gun? Is it 1 pc or 2 pc? The one that came with the gun was custom made for the original owner. I don't care for it much. I would like to get an original or a good aftermarket replacement.
 
Thanks very much for your help,
Fred Spurvey
Toronto, Canada
 
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s204/Newf-Fred/ParkerHaleNO1Custom303010.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s204/Newf-Fred/ParkerHaleNO1Custom303011.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s204/Newf-Fred/ParkerHaleNO1Custom303.jpg




Brithunter

Hi newf,
 
Quote-Can you be sure that this is a NO 4? What version is it? It's registered in Canada as a Parker Hale 303 NO 1 Custom.
[/COLOR]
 
Yes it is a No4, now you don't really expect the licensing people to know anything about guns do you :eek: ?, the left wall of the action gives it away as a No4. The profile of the No1 is totally different. Of course P-H machined away the lugs at the rear of the action that held the rear sight and charger bridge.
 
QuoteWhy is the bolt (firing mechanicism) 2 stage?
[/COLOR]
 
It's not .................. it's the trigger which is two stage as it was a Military design. They can be made single stage but in all honesty I would leave it two stage. The trigger can be worked over to give a nice clean break. May I suggest you get a-hold of the books on the No4 by Steve Redgwell a fellow Canadian. He was an armourer with the CAF.
 
QuoteHow do I remove the firing pin?
[/COLOR]
 
This requires a special tool to unscrew the firing pin. In all honesty unless it's broken or the coc-king piece is damaged I would leave it alone. They are very robust :biggthumpup: . However Steve's book explains it all.
 
 
QuoteHow do I remove the hood from the front sight?
[/COLOR]
 
The fore sight hood just slides off. It's a spring fit and if your not going to be using it Rick is always looking for them.
 
QuoteWill the magazine accept gun blue?
[/COLOR]
 
It should do as it's just steel and looks to be the std P-H conversion with a flat plate at the bottom of the cut down No4 magazine. The rifle can also use the std 10 round No4 magazine but not the No1 magazine as the ribs at the rear of the magazines are different.
 
QuoteCan I get an original scope mount for this gun? Is it 1 pc or 2 pc? The one that came with the gun was custom made for the original owner. I don't care for it much. I would like to get an original or a good aftermarket replacement.
[/COLOR]
 
Sorry but I have never seen the side mounts for these Customs, not in person :shy: , the P-H mount for these is #29 but that's just the mount it still requires the rings and due to P-H dovetail size that really mean P-H rings.

 

On another note I just discovered that the P-H one piece mount I brought some while agao is a #26 and it fits the Remington 740/742 and 760 rifles. Hmmmm you live and learn, now if I could find what I did with the box it came in and locate where I had put those P-H sporting aperture sights ( a couple of P-H 16's ) :Banghead: must have a sort out sometime.
Go Get them Floyd!

sakorick

Great job BH. I thought it was a No4 too. For Fred.... Brownells make an inexpensive jel cold blue that is named 44/40 instant blue that will touch up your mag nicely. You can find them on line. They are located in Montezuma, Iowa. Regards, Rick.
Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

newf

Hi Brithunter,
Thanks very much for your continued help. The more I learn, the more I want to learn about this gun.
 
Quote:
-Can you be sure that this is a NO 4? What version is it? It's registered in Canada as a Parker Hale 303 NO 1 Custom.
QuoteYes it is a No4, now you don't really expect the licensing people to know anything about guns do you :eek: ?, the left wall of the action gives it away as a No4. The profile of the No1 is totally different. Of course P-H machined away the lugs at the rear of the action that held the rear sight and charger bridge.
[/COLOR][/SIZE]
 
 
What version of No4 is it. Is it a MK1, MK1*, or mk2 or something else? Here is a link I found that to me indicates it is a MK1.
http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=2250
 
 
 
Quote:
Can I get an original scope mount for this gun? Is it 1 pc or 2 pc? The one that came with the gun was custom made for the original owner. I don't care for it much. I would like to get an original or a good aftermarket replacement.
QuoteSorry but I have never seen the side mounts for these Customs, not in person :shy: , the P-H mount for these is #29 but that's just the mount it still requires the rings and due to P-H dovetail size that really mean P-H rings.

I'm not sure I understand your answer above due to my limited knowledge of this gun. Can I use the P-H mount and rings or am I limited to the sidemount? What are my options for mounting a scope on this gun?

My brother just called to say he bought a 303 Enfield possible a No4. I will get some photos for identification.

Thanks for your help and I'm sure to have more questions.

Thanks Rick and the rest of you guys for the imput. It has really helped me to learn more about this gun.

Regards,
Fred

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