Parker Hale 2 band

[dyepro]

Hello, hope to gain some information from you experts.

I was just handed what appears to be an unfired Parker Hale 2 band reproduction.

- It simply says Parker hale on the lock
-31 1/2” barrel
- Only 3 digits in serial number
- Parker Hale LTD Birmingham on top of barrel
- BP under a crown on the plug

Under barrel after disassembly

-90GR BLACK POWDER .451 560GR BULLET
-What appears to be DB with a 2 underneath in a circle
-Another BPCrown

Questions

-Why the 3 digit serial? From my research most others have more digits.

-Possibly made by Whitworth?

-Manufacture year?

-Any value? It’s unfired and shiny no accessories and interestingly, missing the front sight.

Appreciate any insights.

Cheers

S

 

[tiriaq]

Parker Hale reproduction of a Volunteer rifle. Most of the PH repros were of three varieties of .577 service arms.
Yours, with checkered stock and .451 caliber is much less common. Perhaps that explains the serial number.
The Whitworth reproduction would have a hexagonal bore.
The more common .577s bring several hundred dollars. I think yours would command a premium.

 

[dyepro]

Parker Hale reproduction of a Volunteer rifle. Most of the PH repros were of three varieties of .577 service arms.
Yours, with checkered stock and .451 caliber is much less common. Perhaps that explains the serial number.
The Whitworth reproduction would have a hexagonal bore.
The more common .577s bring several hundred dollars. I think yours would command a premium.

Thanks very much!

I found this document on Birmingham proof marks.

 

[cdnrokon]

does the serial number have a H or a R H=Henry rifling R=Rigby great rifles very accurate .....missing front sight will be a negative with the collectors but if you are a shooter not a big deal.
they lack a tang for a tang sight I ran a globe with spirit level on the front of mine... could not bring myself to drill and mount a tang sight directly into the wood at the wrist on the stock so I sold it. I would say 600 for it ...if it was complete in orig box with all the paperwork ...1500

 

[tacfoley]

You might find a front sight from Peter Dyson here in UK. If you have difficulty doing so, I'm more than happy to help you out with other folks here in UK.

Your rifle was proofed in 1978, making it a very early example. Here in UK I'm a collector of P-H serial numbers for David Minshall, competition secretary and international champion BP shooter of the MLAGB. I think you'd be safe telling us what it it - there can't be many people wanting to steal it for nefarious purposes.

The rifle usually came with a Lyman bullet mould, Sergeant's multi-tool and P-H patch. Sometimes, but not always, a push-through bullet sizing die, too. As it's almost midnight here, and peeing down, I'm not going to my loading shed to check the mould number, but if you are interested, I'll do it in the morning.


...and after shooting through the Whitworth rifle -


Mr Minshall runs Research Press, and has a large number of very learned and brilliantly-researched articles on the care and shooting of these fine guns. Your's is known as the .451cal Volunteer, and is by far the most sought-after model of two-band P-H rifles in muzzleloading circles. The barrel is heavier than the .577 version, and the smaller bore makes it even stiffer.

I have two P-H rifles - a .577cal Musketoon artillery carbine from 1974 [1187], and an early Whitworth] from 1980 [420].

 

[tacfoley]

This is one of Mr Minshall's excellent and VERY valuable articles on the management and shooting of this rifle.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...target-rifle-help-wanted.185959/#post-2713952

 

[tacfoley]

'kay - here's a good bullet that I use - 535gr multi-groove Lyman 457121BV -



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