DCRA No4 7.62 Conversions

[Wayne/sk.ca]

Information requested on these rifles to add to my log of approximately 100 of the 2000 or so that went through the conversion program in 1963. If you have one and care to share the data on it, I would be grateful. Basicly what info I require is the conversion number, make, model and serial number. The conversion number is usually found on the right side of the breech end of the barrel, right side of the front receiver ring and on top of the bolt handle, along with the stylised arrow proof mark. If you want to see the entire file, I can email the excell worksheet.

 

[woodchopper]

I have number 692

Its built on a 1942 Savage No4 Mk1/3 FTR in 1952

serial 27C2###

 

[cantom]

Conversion # 1618. Built on a 1943 Long Branch No 4 Mk 1*. s/n 42L7###.
Lead weights in forend, PH sights.

[/IMG]

 

[Heavy_Dark]

conversion # 1775. built on a 1943 Long Branch No 4 mk1*. s/n 29L1###

 

[myenfield]

Longbranch 7.62

Conversion # 624, sn 93L8***, built on "C No. 4 Mk I*, Long Branch, 1950" receiver.

Once replies have stopped coming in, how about posting to offer up your final results?

 

[Forty4Forty]

Conversion # ???, sn 70L61**, built on "C No. 4 Mk I*, Long Branch, 1944" receiver.

Sorry no idea of conversion number and rifle not available for a few months.

 

[Karl]

Dcra

Conversion #1341
Built on No4 Mk1 ROF(F) 10/43
s/n HB708**

 

[farmnut]

#1795,
LB No4Mk1* 41L2###

 

[maynard]

IIRC a friend of mine told me if you sent your #4 to Longbranch for this conversion, back in '63 it would cost $39. Then again if you made $40 a week back in 1963, you had a great paying job.

 

[Bren Mk1]

DCRA No 4 7.62

#934 Long Branch CNo 4 Mk1* 1950 94L59xx, horinzontal laminated wood marked CA

 

[#4mk1(T)]

#1831 built on a 1943 Long Branch No4Mk1* SR# 24L5###
Fitted with Parker Hale 5C and set up as a single shot as most (all???) were.

Rifle is bedded using the “center-bearing” method with 2 small dabs of glass at the back, one under the barrel just forward of the receiver ring and one under the center of the barrel. The barrel channel is opened up so that the barrel free-floats from the center forward. Interestingly enough there is two signatures on the underside of the upper rear hand guard presumably from the armors that did the work on the rifle.

 

[Wayne/sk.ca]

Many thanks for all the input thus far guys. Even at 100 or so entries thats only a 5% sample, so there may well be many more interesting or unusual conversions still unaccounted for. I really don't know how to post the list here, so anyone who wants to see it may ask,via email, and yee shall receive.
Regards, Wayne

 

[beltfed]

Fitted with Parker Hale 5C and set up as a single shot as most (all???) were.

I believe that comment is fairly accurate when refering to the civilian club guns, but not all. It is my understanding a number of them were converted by the military to 7.62mm Nato, complete with extractor and Stirling mag.

Mine is (off memory) conversion #1249, based on a 1944 LB, Canadian Arsenals and Army marked.

 

[Lee Enfield]

I have the coolest one. Conversion # 1234....!

 

[NAA]

I have #713 built on a 1944 Parker-Hale.

Bottom one in pic below:

 

[Stevo]

I have #713 built on a 1944 Parker-Hale.

??? Parker Hale never built No4's.

 

[Vimy Ridge]

Proud owner of #575, No 4 Mk 1*, Long Branch 1943, 30L46XX

 

[NAA]

??? Parker Hale never built No4's.

Okay, then maybe someone can explain why on the top of the front of the receiver, just under the stamp that says 713, is stamped [in very small script] "PARKER HALE" and under that "BIRMINGHAM". On the left side of the receiver flat is stamped "No. 4 Mk. I" and under that the serial number "36579". On the left side of the grip, in the metal just above the trigger guard is stamped "1944".

The other No. 4. in the above pic is a .303 Brit. It is stamped "PARKER HALE" and under "BIRMINGHAM" and then under that "REGULATED BY FULTON". On the left side of the receiver flat is stamped "No. 4 Mk1. On the left side of the grip, in the metal just above the trigger guard is stamped "M1943" and the serial number "19266".

I'd post some detailed pics but #1 son dropped my digital & it's outta commission right now.

Both have Parker Hale "PH-5C" target sites installed as in the pic.

Anybody know who made my No. 4's, then?

 

[Wayne/sk.ca]

DCRA 7.62 conversions

You are right, Parker Hale did not manufacture No4s, but they did sell quite a number over the years. The stamp "PARKER HALE-BIRMINGHAM" indicates that the rifle was first retailed by them, probably sometime in the early 1950s. It was either purchased by an individual and imported, or by one of the Canadian importers like Fraser of Toronto or Nelson Coleville of Winnipeg and subsiquently sold to an individual. Then, in 1963 it was submitted to the DCRA's 7.62 conversion programme. There is one other English retailer stamp that may be encountered as well, "ALF.J. PARKER-BATH ST.-BIRM." The "REGULATED BY FULTONS" marking indicates that the rifle was at one time in the shop of Fultons of Bisley for repair or adjustment work. This could have been either before or after the DCRA conversion to 7.62, but has nothing to do with the DCRA conversion process itself. See my last photo above.

One more thing. Any 7.62mm accessories that are attached to your rifle have nothing what so ever to do with the DCRA conversion. When rifles were submitted for this process, all that was required was the barreled action, and that's all you got back; action,new 7.62 barrel attached plus old .303 barrel returned. Stocking up, sights, etc. responsibility of the owner - whoever that may have been; individual, gun club, Military Rifle Association, Provincial RA or the DCRA itself. The addition of 7.62 magazines, extractors and charger guides didn't make them shoot any better.

 

[NAA]

You are right, Parker Hale did not manufacture No4s, but they did sell quite a number over the years. The stamp "PARKER HALE-BIRMINGHAM" indicates that the rifle was first retailed by them, probably sometime in the early 1950s. It was either purchased by an individual and imported, or by one of the Canadian importers like Fraser of Toronto or Nelson Coleville of Winnipeg and subsiquently sold to an individual. Then, in 1963 it was submitted to the DCRA's 7.62 conversion programme. There is one other English retailer stamp that may be encountered as well, "ALF.J. PARKER-BATH ST.-BIRM." The "REGULATED BY FULTONS" marking indicates that the rifle was at one time in the shop of Fultons of Bisley for repair or adjustment work. This could have been either before or after the DCRA conversion to 7.62, but has nothing to do with the DCRA conversion process itself. See my last photo above.

One more thing. Any 7.62mm accessories that are attached to your rifle have nothing what so ever to do with the DCRA conversion. When rifles were submitted for this process, all that was required was the barreled action, and that's all you got back; action,new 7.62 barrel attached plus old .303 barrel returned. Stocking up, sights, etc. responsibility of the owner - whoever that may have been; individual, gun club, Military Rifle Association, Provincial RA or the DCRA itself. The addition of 7.62 magazines, extractors and charger guides didn't make them shoot any better.

So, if neither of my No, 4's were actually made by Parker Hale but stamped 1943 and 1944 respectively, is there any way to determine who the maker of them was? Incidentally, both were acquired from the same individual, who I am told did shoot at Bisley...