Parker Hale Enfields versus the Original

[Tiger_rifles]

Seeing that 53rd OVI stated he does not mind if someone "hy jacks" his thread, I would love to hear how a Parker- Hall Enfield compares to an original.
I picked up my PH used back in 1984, and it has a 4 digit serial number.

Thank you very much for all the information on the Euro arms and Armi sport Enfields, I really had no idea, (have not really used my Enfield since getting a de-farbed Mdl 1842.). Thank you Gentlemen.
Paul.

[Blair]

Paul,
The Parker Hale (PH) Enfield was a copy of the 4th Pattern Enfield as was made by the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF). This was the equivalent to the National Armory to the British as Springfield and Harpers Ferry was in America.
The P-1853 4th Patern Enfield was a fully interechangeable firearm. The first such pattern arm made in the British Military.
The original Pattern Arm for this firearm was on display in the Tower of Loundon Museum. It was loaned to the Italian gun maker of Euroarms to make moulds and the castings and other various parts. Parker Hale took those parts and finished them out using British Whitworth threads as were used on the original weapons.
PH are very well made firearms and except for the threads are interchangeable with the Euroarms Enfields.
Very few (if any) of the RSAF made 4th Pattern Enfields saw service in the American Civil War because they were the newest and best Military firearm the British had in their inventory at that time.
Blair Taylor

[Tiger_rifles]

WOW! S&%Ks to be me!
I love this old P-H Enfield so i do not want to butcher it up too much, but what would be the best road to go?
I am willing to change out the bands for the more correct screw down type.
Would also be willing to go with the solid style with band springs.
Where could I locate these items? Also i have an extra P-H lock plate, is there anyone that could restamp it? What would be the most correct stamping? Is it also correct to replace the lockplate screw washers from rounded to squared off ends?

I also have an older P-H Mdl 1858 2-bander that someone "Confederized" (removed the blueing, started to remove the stock finish, etc...)
What's a good option for this? I know 2-banders are not allowed anymore but what about a good Living History/display piece, maybe Cavalry????
Thanks for all the Help Gents!

[Blair]

Paul, You may want to start a new thread on this subject.

I do some of the type of work you are asking about.
You might start with checking out my website at
http://www.customizedcwguns.com
I guess the best suggestion I can give you is that you need to decied just what it is you want done, then see if that fits into what your pocket book can stand.
Generally speaking reworking a firearm you already own is cheaper than buying a new one. This of course depends greatly on what has to be done to the weapon. The more parts and pieces that have to be replaced the more it will cost. In the case of the Parker Hale, they aren't being made any longer. So, you may want to leave it as is? But that is up to you and one of the things you have to decied.
Many of the parts to do the diffrent types of work your asking about are available. Some may take months to get debending on who you go to and they still require fitting and finishing.
You may contact me by e-mail if you wish at BTAYLOR18@cfl.rr.com I can give you more details.
Blair Taylor

[FifthVA]

Paul,
I just had a 1970's Parker Hale defarbed by Todd Watts. You can contact him via the Blockade Runners Sutlers. He did an absolutely phenomenal job on my gun.

The easiest defarb for the PH Enfield is to make it a reproduction of a London Armory Company made Enfield, which was used in the Civil War (mostly by the South). It is the easiest because you don't have replace the barrel bands, lock plate screw estuchions or the rear sling swivel.

One of the great things about a PH Enfield is the stock does not have to be recontoured like an Armi Sport or Euroarms Enfield.

The basic defarb is:
Strip existing finish off the stock, refinish with boiled linseed oil
Remove PH stock cartouche and restamp with LA Co. cartouche
Remove existing stamps from lock plate and restamp with appropriate LA Co. stamps.
Grind down hammer to remove lines and feathering (LA Co. guns had plan hammers).

Gary Acord

[Jim Mayo]

I turned my early PH into a Birmingham gun. Wish I had gone the LAC route as suggested above. Lot less work.

[Tiger_rifles]

Many Thanks to all of you for takeing the time to share your knowledge with me. Seems i have a lot to think on. I have given some thought to what Blair stated, just put it up on the wall , but I don't know if I care to buy another rifle when this one is in such good working order. On the other hand, I like to pay respect to all parties involved and hit the field with a weapon as close to original as possible.
Again Gentlemen, many Thanks!
Paul.

[Blair]

Paul,
You have a defarbed '42. These, in the smooth bore are the perfict firearm for reenacting.
Your not shooting a projectal so you have no need to worry about how accuracy will be effected from shooting blanks.
Blair Taylor

[Tiger_rifles]

I know what you are saying Blair, it makes perfect sense! But I have had this P-H Enfield for almost 25 years! It was the first real re-enacting musket I had, **** its the best re-enacting FRIEND I ever had! I would love to take it out to the field again, mostly thinking of all the 145th's of 1864 and 1865 that will be coming up soon. Just looking in the mirror this morning I can tell you I will be Dead or too OLD for any of the 150th's!

But you are right,(my common sense says so also), my 42 will suite just fine!
Thanks again, paul.

[Craig L Barry]

...just like yours, serial # 04437 that I fitted with an original LACo 1861 lock assembly. It dropped right in. Todd Watts has it at the moment to put the London proof marks and stock stamps on it, which I am finally getting around to doing. I was conflicted as it is at least 25 years old, it is an excellent reproduction and very well made, if you think about it, the P-H is kind of a piece of history in and of itself if you know what I mean...There are many campaigns still left in it. To address your question, it is not that difficult to produce a 4th type LACo out of one of these vintage Brit Parker-Hales, because that is what they are copied from. However, as Blair suggests the 4th type LACs would be relatively rare. I know of only a few 4th type LACs with confirmed US Civil War provenance in private collections and they all have late war dates. Or you can do the more common Type III, by putting square earred washers and contractor sling swivels on it with an early date (like mine), along with the proof marks/stock stamps.

One slight correction to what is posted above, some of the P-H parts will interchange with Euroarms and you can see the P-H stamp right on the bridle of a Euroarms lock assembly. However, the lockplates vary slightly and not all of them interchange. The earlier Euroarm lock plates are slightly larger than the ones marked LONDON ARMOURY and LONDON ARMORY.