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I'm planning to acquire one! Ideally, a No. 4, Mk. 1. I shot these in the army cadets 40 years ago and have recently had the opportunity to have a go with a couple of member's rifles at the club and I'm now keen to acquire one for myself.

I have two questions that I've not been able to find answers to. Firstly, I thought that the No. 4 Mk 1 had a square-ish end to the cocking piece? Was that always the case or did some have a round-ended cocking piece?

Second question is about rear sights. Are all the Mk 4 rear sights interchangeable? One of the rifles I'm interested in has a battle type rear sight and it would be good to know if an adjustable rear sight can be fitted without modification?

Cheers!

Denis

AFAIK I don't think any No4 came equipped with only a battle sight.

Moved to correct forum!!

mag41uk wrote:AFAIK I don't think any No4 came equipped with only a battle sight.

He probably means the 300/600 yard flip up peep sights.

Yes, that's what I meant...and sorry for posting this in the wrong place. Thanks for shifting it.

You might find any of these on the No.4 as they are interchangeable.

The best and most expensive of the factory sights (£45 - £50 on Ebay and online stores) is the Mk1 sight screw adjustable type.

The flip up L sights are around £8

The MkIII and Mk4 can be had for around £15. Of the two the later Mk4 is the better buy. The shaped catch for the ladder adjustment is less likely to catch on stuff.

You will find every Parker Hale sight for the No.4 in the article below. They are designed to fit without modifications.
The PH5C is a popular one for these rifles and I’m sure Fulton’s has a load of them.

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/PH_Service_sights.htm




Sent from my boing using "An application"

Plecotus wrote:Firstly, I thought that the No. 4 Mk 1 had a square-ish end to the cocking piece? Was that always the case or did some have a round-ended cocking piece?

Yes, very early production No.4's had a round cocking piece, and are quite rare to find, as most rifles were subsequently upgraded to later spec etc. and fitted with the Mk. 1* 'rectangular' cocking piece.

If you really are after a Mk.1 you may have to wait a long while as finding a No.4 Mk.1 that hasn't been through a rebuild/refit to later Mk.1* spec, or even to later Mk.1/2 spec are few and far between.

Thank you all for some very useful information. It really is much appreciated.

Turns out is really is an early Maltby production No 4 Mk 1. All the numbers match up and it has a very good, 2-groove bore. Totally unmodified from it's original spec. A deal has been done and I await my variation. Very pleased indeed.

I would check thoroughly that it hasn't been barrelled if you are seeking a complete original rifle especially as such things so far from the dates of manufacture are extremely rare beasts if not almost extinct by now.