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The A.G. Parker and Parker-Hale "CMT" Rifles

See also the Parker-Hale_TARGETSCOPE , the Parker-Hale_Dewar_rifles and ParkerRifling, A.G._and_A.J. Parker_and_ Parker-Hale

plus Parker-Hale Service Rifle Target Sights

It is almost surprising that there is still a market for these rifles so many years post the First World War. Only the relative cost of the more modern TARGET RIFLES such as the BSA Model 12, can have kept the Martini-Henry and Martini-Enfield conversions in production.

The CMT 1, and CMT 2 ( Converted Martini TARGET RIFLES )

This 1925 advertisement is for A.G. Parker & Co.'s "C.M." rifle, which is fitted with an optional folding rear-sight - the No.3 - actually manufactured by Parker-Hale ( See Parker-Rifling for details)

below: the similar 1933 advertisement in the Parker-Hale catalogue for what has become the CMT. 1.

now increased in price by nine shillings to £4-4s-0d ( £4.20)

The CMT2 ( Converted Martini TARGET RIFLES )

below: the 1939 advertisement for the CMT 2

Below: the CMT 3 rifle advertised in 1947 immediately after the Second World War

Who would have thought that such rifles were still marketed, even marketable, after more than half a century of significant rim-fire rifle development. Other than post-war material shortages, only the fact that the totally obsolete Martini rifles and spares were available can explain this slightly extraordinary situation.

After the W.W.II, there were very few .22 rifles available in the U.K.

American rifles were almost unheard of at this time and could only be expensively and especially imported.

The only .22 rim-fire target and sporting rifles advertised, even by 1947, were converted S.M.L.E. rifles ( the Enfield No.2 rifle), the above C.M.T. 3 conversions of the Martini-Henry - now very long in the tooth -, the BSA 12/15 target rifle, the brand new BSA Ralock semi-auto sporting rifle and the BSA Sportsman rifle.

By 1951, the Martini-Henry conversions were sensibly no longer on offer. The only TARGET RIFLES available were the above mentioned BSA Model 12/15, the BSA late Model 13 and the newly introduced BSA Martini International. Of sporting .22 rim-fire rifles there were only the BSA Sportsman models of which the "Sportsman Ten" had been replaced by the "Sportsman Fifteen".

For equivalent rifles, of British manufacture, to the Parker and Parker-Hale Martini-Henry conversions,

see the W.W. Greener rifles.

See also the Parker-Hale_TARGETS cope , the Parker-Hale_Dewar_rifles and ParkerRifling, A.G._and_A.J. Parker_and_ Parker-Hale

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