This rifle is not to be confused with the .22RF Pattern '14 - which rifle is

the A.G. Parker .22RF conversion of the SMLE (Short Magazine Lee-Enfield) rifle

CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO VIEW CONTEMPORARY VIDEO OF
The Pattern '14 No.3 Rifle, the SMLE No.1 Rifle and No.2 Rifle, the No.4 Rifle and the FN-SLR Rifle and the EM2 Bulldog precursor to the current SA-80 Rifle, and Service Rifle Target shooting at BISLEY CAMP RANGES Post WWII

Below, the receiver body LHS shows the Broad Arrow marking of the British Government's acceptance,

the 'Sold out of Service' opposing arrows stamping and the proof marks 

Below left is the front of the receiver of a .303 P'14 rifle; to its right is the .22RF modified receiver. It can be seen that over half-an-inch of the bolt-head shrouding section has been cut away - almost up to the gas vent. The bolt body has had the .303 extractor - with its integral extraction claw - removed along with the extractor ring. A narrower .22RF extractor lever has been fitted inside the bolt lug; a very neat and effective conversion.

..................................

The standard P'14 rear folding leaf sight remains in position, but there is

an additional fitment of the Parker-Hale 5B target sight especially

produced ( originally by A.G.Parker, whose" Bisley Works" markings

are on the windage arm), for the Pattern '14 rifle for target use. The full-

bore P'14 was a most accurate service rifle, which led to its use as a

sniper rifle in the First World War ( in scoped Pattern 14 Mk.I* (T)

form), again early in the Second World War (as the scoped No.3 MkI*

(T) ) and also as a popular target rifle from about 1935 when they were

first released for civilian use. Post WWII their use became almost 'de

rigueur' in competition. This situation held good for many years, until

specialist commercial TARGET RIFLES were designed and offered to the

civilian market. In the mean time, many target conversions of the P'14

were undertaken by various companies. Special stocks became

available, special barrels, sights, and a host of ancillary equipment.

..........

Above, a Parker's six-hole - variable aperture - rotating disc eye-piece is fitted to the 5B rear-sight.

Calibration of the 5B sight on the Pattern '14 is for the Mk. VII .303 round. Not relevant with the .22RF cartridge.

There is no provision for small-bore use other than the option of the minute-of-angle scale on the LHS.

  Below:

The A.G.Parker " Parker Rifled " sleeve outline diameter

................... can be clearly seen on the muzzle crown

After the barrel had been bored to the sleeve outer diameter clearance size, the sleeve was normally soft soldered into the barrel, sometimes with an olive at the crown, not evident in this image.

Above right, is an advertisement from the 1935 catalogue of A.G. Parker first illustrating the .22RF P'14 conversion alongside their more common SMLE conversions. The P'14 falls midway between the economy SMLE option and the brand new BSA .22RF SMLE - which was fitted with a specially manufactured solid barrel.

To view the drawings (S.A.I.D.)

for the No.3 rifle and components

click on either of the adjacent images

CLICK ON THE '>' START BUTTON ON IMAGE BELOW TO RUN VIDEO & COMMENTARY

Thank you for taking the time to view this page. We hope it has been of interest

Click here for Chronology of Enfield genre Training Rifles, Adapters & Cartridges

Return to: SITE MAP or MENU PAGE or TOP of PAGE