GregLaRoche
40 Cal
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2019
- Messages
- 206
- Reaction score
- 67
I received my Parker Hale 1853 Enfield today. It’s not in mint condition like some of the ones I’ve seen on YouTube. The only defects are some worn off bluing and a few tiny dings in the wood. All just the normal signs of use. The bore looks very good. This rifle was shot, but well taken care of. The few blemishes don’t bother me, because I intended to be shooting it often and would almost be afraid to have a mint condition gun.
I saw in the pictures before I bought it, that the barrel was marked Birmingham England. It also had the BP and crown proof marks. This convinced me it was a British made gun. Recently, I discovered that a significant number of British manufacturing and proofed, were installed on Italian stocks. I quickly removed the barrel and searched for a serial number, but I can’t find one. There are powder charges and bullet sizes marked. The only other thing is the crossed arrows and code. An “L” on the left and “O” on the right and a “1” on the bottom. It’s possible that the “O” could be a “C” or “G”, but for the time being I’ll call it an “O”.
I’ve read that the Italian guns were marked “Made in Italy” behind the trigger guard. This on is not. Should I be looking for more of a serial number?
Can someone help me determine the date of manufacture of this gun and perhaps the serial number. Also, that it was entirely made in the UK, as I had assumed when I bought it?
Thanks
I saw in the pictures before I bought it, that the barrel was marked Birmingham England. It also had the BP and crown proof marks. This convinced me it was a British made gun. Recently, I discovered that a significant number of British manufacturing and proofed, were installed on Italian stocks. I quickly removed the barrel and searched for a serial number, but I can’t find one. There are powder charges and bullet sizes marked. The only other thing is the crossed arrows and code. An “L” on the left and “O” on the right and a “1” on the bottom. It’s possible that the “O” could be a “C” or “G”, but for the time being I’ll call it an “O”.
I’ve read that the Italian guns were marked “Made in Italy” behind the trigger guard. This on is not. Should I be looking for more of a serial number?
Can someone help me determine the date of manufacture of this gun and perhaps the serial number. Also, that it was entirely made in the UK, as I had assumed when I bought it?
Thanks