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Parker-Hale Muzzle Loading Rifles

by David Minshall

Parker-Hale Rifles
Serial Number Survey

Commencing in 1972 with the Pattern 1861 Artillery Carbine, Parker-Hale introduced their family of muzzle-loading rifles. The final list of rifles in their catalogue was:

  • Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket (Three band Enfield)
  • Pattern 1858 Naval Rifle (Two Band Enfield)
  • Pattern 1861 Artillery Carbine (Musketoon)
  • Volunteer .451 cal Percussion Target Rifle
  • 'Whitworth' .451 Military Target Rifle

The following notes are an initial attempt and pulling a history fo the rifle production together. there are many gaps in information for which I seek assistance. Please write to me if you can offer assistance or information.

The brief chronology below summarises when the Parker-Hale muzzle loading rifles were introduced.

  • P/61 Artillery Carbine was introduced 1972
  • P/53 Enfield Rifle Musket was introduced 1974
  • P/58 Enfield Rifle was available in the US in 1975 and the UK in 1976
  • .451 Volunteer rifle (Rigby rifling) was introduced c1976
  • By 1983 the Volunteer had been changed to Henry rifling and the Whitworth was available

Besides the 'basic' list of rifles outlined at the top of this page there are some know variants;

The Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket was produced with both the original 1:78" twist three groove rifling and as a variant with 1:48" twist three groove rifling. The latter appears to have been primarily an 'export' model for the American skirmishing market and is a not a reproduction of a British service rifle.

The Volunteer .451 cal Percussion Target Rifle was originally sold with Rigby style rifling. This was later changed to Henry rifling. Both 33" and 36" barrel length versions were made.

The Black Powder newsletter of the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain (MLAGB - www.mlagb.com) provides valuable information as to the introduction and developnent of the Parker-Hale rifles.

News of the introduction of the P/61 Artillery Carbine was published in the December 1972 Black Powder newsletter. The first advert for the P/53 appeared in December 1974. The P/58 appears to have been available in the US at least as early as 1975, but not in the UK. The first advert for the P/58 appears January 1976. It is noted that Roger Hale was firing prototype model P/53 and P/58 rifles in MLAGB Championship and Warwickshire Branch meetings in 1974. There is a letter from Roger Hale published in 1975 referring to development of a .451.

 
last updated 5 September 2005
© 2005 DB Minshall
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