1853 Enfield...what do I have here?

[USMCGrunt]

Years ago, I bought a used 1853 Enfield reproduction rifle. Now the dealer that sold it to me told me that it was a real Parker-Hale and I'm not sure if that was right or if he wasn't really sure and went with what he thought was right. On top of the barrel is a single line stamp in front of the rear sight saying "PARKER-HALE LTD. BIRMINGHAM ENGLAND", on the lock in front of the hammer is the "Parker-Hale" stamp and behind the hammer is the British crown with "P-H" underneath it. On the right side of the buttstock is a circular "PARKER HALE LTD" cartouche. So far sounds legit. However, on the tang of the trigger guard is stamped, "MADE IN ITALY"? All of a sudden it's not sounding like a real Parker-Hale but maybe a Euroarms or Armi Sport rifle instead. The only other marking is the "316XX" serial number on the side of the barrel. So any idea what I really have here?
It's not so much a matter if it's a real Parker-Hale or not that's important but I need to know what kind of sear spring I need to get. My hammer was catching on the half-cock notch so I took the lock apart to clean and debur the lock and reshape the notches but in putting it back together, the sear spring broke!:cursing: I went to the Blockade Runner and they have sear springs but apparently there must be a difference between the Euroarms and Armi Sport springs as they both have different numbers. Any idea which one I would need? Just how much difference is there between these springs from these two makers? Thanks.

 

[badpenny]

the PH was made in birmingham for years.the tooling was transfered to italy some time back.

 

[bubba.50]

my enfield musketoon is similarly marked. supposedly, the locks & barrels were still English made in Birmingham England & the stocks and fittings were Italian made to reduce production costs. for what it's worth & have a good'en friend, bubba.

 

[TFoley]

the PH was made in birmingham for years.the tooling was transfered to italy some time back.

Yup this is what happened - P-H did not use Italian parts while they were still producing the guns. When they sold out, all the bits they still had to hand, including MANY rifled barrels, even a few Whitworth hexagonal-bored barrels - went to Italy. In general, the Italian wood is substantially better than the English stuff, at least, on all the Italian production guns I've seen here.

My Musketoon #1361, is an early one, and a genuine P-H, is is my Whitworth.

tac

 

[USMCGrunt]

Well, thanks for the help on this. Sounds like my Enfield is an Italian built Parker-Hale then? Would that be an accurate assumpition?
As far as a sear spring goes, what maker should I look at buying from that would work with this rifle, an Armi Sport or Euroarms sear spring? I really want my baby fixed up and running again!

 

[Zonie]

I may be wrong but I wouldn't expect there to be very much difference in the two Italian sear springs.

If they are not a simple drop in it should be pretty easy to modify them to fit.

About the only thing that could be wrong is the size of the screw hole or the length of the small tang that sticks out the side to engage the slot in the lockplate.

 

[TFoley]

I may be wrong but I wouldn't expect there to be very much difference in the two Italian sear springs.

If they are not a simple drop in it should be pretty easy to modify them to fit.

About the only thing that could be wrong is the size of the screw hole or the length of the small tang that sticks out the side to engage the slot in the lockplate.

Sir - if he has a real P-H lock then all the P-H parts are intended to be interchangeable, as they were produced using the original patterns and gauges. In case of any real difficulty, the OP should get in touch with me, or Henry Krank's in Pudsey, Yorkshire, where they have a good stock of real P-H parts.

tac