Navy Arms to make the Parker Hale Enfield?

[NorthWoodsTrekker]

I received an email from Navy Arms today saying they we're bringing the Parker Hale Enfield line back. I did a bit of Googling and couldn't find much more than what is on the Navy Arms site. The ad says:

"The finest Enfields ever produced are back, and better than before with American Walnut and U.S. Bone-Charcoal color case hardened furnature."

Which, to my way of thinking, makes it sound like these are going to be made with the PH machinery as produced in the 1970's by Parker Hale. However, as I understand it, the PH machinery was bought by one of the Italian firms (Zoli, then Pedersoli?) so these NA versions are either Italian rifles made for NA, or all new rifles made by NA on their own machinery, or from the original machinery bought from an Italian firm. Unfortunately the website says nothing either way and I'm just speculating.

I have a 1970's PH 2-band Enfield and would love to pick up a PH Whitworth.

 

[Captjoel]

Pretty sure Navy Arms always just imported their guns and rifle's and had them stamped with their logo. Sounds like very good news, as long as the quality bar is set high as were the English produced Parker Hale rifles.

 

[DeeDubya]

If they do and keep the original twist at 1-48 they are a fine rifle and shoot PB well too even with the shallow rifling as long as you keep the charge moderate.

 

[Zonie]

Navy Arms has always been an importer.

With this in mind, I suggest that when they say things like, " with American Walnut and U.S. Bone-Charcoal color case hardened furnature", they are not really saying the guns are made in the U.S.

They are just saying the walnut is "American" walnut and bone material used in the color case hardening came from the U.S.

I'm betting the guns are still going to be produced in Italy.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Navy Arms has always been an importer.

Zonie is correct. When Navy Arms was still in business, their products were always made in Italy. This started with Val Forgett with the assistance of Bill Edwards looking at various companies capable of doing the work to a standard of quality and at a cost acceptable to the American buying public, they decided on Italian makers who were hungry for business in the depressed era after WW2 with workers who were capable of working to a high standard at what by American standards was a low cost. Well, Navy seem to be back in business now, it will be interesting to see how "Jr." does with his latest project.

With this in mind, I suggest that when they say things like, " with American Walnut and U.S. Bone-Charcoal color case hardened furnature", they are not really saying the guns are made in the U.S. They are just saying the walnut is "American" walnut and bone material used in the color case hardening came from the U.S. I'm betting the guns are still going to be produced in Italy.

No doubt about it, American labor is still higher cost than that found in Italy, which is experienced in gun making and doing quality work using modern methods.

 

[Grumpa]

Spot on! in every detail. We, who shoot our replicas, are entirely indebted to those two men. Navy Arms Company derived its name from their first replica - the 1851 Navy Colt.

I read a few weeks ago about the coming Enfield offering, almost posted it here myself, but didn't want to knock another interesting thread off the Forum Index at the time.

I became excited about the prospect of this "new" Enfield myself, especially if it is made on the original Parker Hale machinery which, if I recall, was based upon the Patent Model of the rifle in the Tower of London.

However, Artificer posted recently that the Enfield had a rather unpleasant kick, as compared to the Springfield rifle, and several posters agreed with him. I don't know.

Also, my Great Grandfather carried an 1842 musket, and then the new Springfield....

Decisions, decisions, decisions. :grin:

Thank you, Val Forgett and William B. Edwards*, for making all of this possible. :hatsoff:

*Civil War Guns Stackpole Co. Harrisburg Pennsylvania copyright 1962

PS: As evident in all this discussion, Navy Arms is back!

 

[poordevil]

I have the P-H Musketoon. I bought it new in 1974. I remember it has English Walnut and bone charcoal case hardening. The Italian copies had European Walnut (from Turkey) and was pretty blocky in the stock. Not as nice as my English made.

I hope these new made , with American touches will be as nice as I am picturing.