Calling all Parker Hale experts…

[Goopy]

Hello All,
New guy here from the U.S. (that’s why I write and spell things a bit differently than the rest of you) and I am acquiring an older Parker Hale in .375 H&H, serial #H 1140. Not too much can be found out about these rifles on my side of the pond, so I figured I’d turn to you fellas. It’s a standard bolt action, marked Parker Hale Birmingham England on top of barrel, chambered in .375 H&H, 24” barrel, nice stock w/schnabel forend, but bears a standard Mauser flag safety. This is where I get confused, I didn’t know that Parker Hale used flag safeties, I have only seen pictures of side mounted safeties. Any tips and/or clues as to model or date of manufacture that you guys can come up with would be greatly appreciated. I’m trying to post some pics for everyone, but am having technical issues..
Regards,
Goopy

 

[VSS]

Hello All,
New guy here from the U.S. (that’s why I write and spell things a bit differently than the rest of you) and I am acquiring an older Parker Hale in .375 H&H, serial #H 1140. Not too much can be found out about these rifles on my side of the pond, so I figured I’d turn to you fellas. It’s a standard bolt action, marked Parker Hale Birmingham England on top of barrel, chambered in .375 H&H, 24” barrel, nice stock w/schnabel forend, but bears a standard Mauser flag safety. This is where I get confused, I didn’t know that Parker Hale used flag safeties, I have only seen pictures of side mounted safeties. Any tips and/or clues as to model or date of manufacture that you guys can come up with would be greatly appreciated. I’m trying to post some pics for everyone, but am having technical issues..
Regards,
Goopy

Both of mine have flag safety. And both have the schnabel forend. Both are the same model: Safari Deluxe.
One in 243, and one in 270.
Lovely rifles!

 

[MAH]

Parker Hale Birmingham England on top of barrel, chambered in .375 H&H

That sounds fabulous.
A piece of history.
Any photos.?

 

[tim@tcs]

I have one with both safeties and both work

 

[Oh6]

@Goopy - If you search for "Birmingham Proof House Date Codes", you should be able to get the year that it was proofed.
A picture of the serial and proof marks should help to confirm.

 

[Goopy]

Sorry fellas, apparently I locked up the tool bar trying to post pics. Put me in a deer blind or along a hedgerow and there is meat in the pot, put me in front of a computer or an iPad and I’m sure to muck it up….

 

[Goopy]

All I have to offer right now is the description I gave at the beginning. I’ll have to have my kids show me how to rectify this silly electronic machine.

 

[harrygrey382]

Solid left sidewall or thumb notch?

 

[Goopy]

Solid

 

[welshwarrior]

Sounds like a PH Safari often made on military not commercial action. Rugged reliable rifles if you don’t want it send it to me.

 

[Kalahari]

No thumb notch, a commercial action I would have thought.

David.

 

[welshwarrior]

No thumb notch, a commercial action I would have thought.

David.

Missed that reply thank you.

 

[tim@tcs]

Hopefully it was one of the commercial FN receivers rather than the Spanish ones which did sometimes come with misaligned scope mount grooves

 

[waterford103]

Hopefully it was one of the commercial FN receivers rather than the Spanish ones which did sometimes come with misaligned scope mount grooves . I have one of these . Safari 1200HV ,corrected with a picatinny rail (mint otherwise ) .

 

[Goopy]

I think I figured out the picture thing…

 

[VSS]

I think I figured out the picture thing…

Lovely!
Looks like the military action to me, with cutaway on left hand side.
Identical to my two, except mine don't have the recoil bolt running through the woodwork. I think that's only fitted on the bigger calibres like yours. And mine ard stamped with the words "Safari Deluxe" on the left hand side of the action.
Apart from that same stock, same action, same safety, same iron sights etc. Pretty much a match.

 

[Kalahari]

Definitely thumb cut. Military action.

David.

 

[Goopy]

Great! Am I assuming the model would be 1100M? It’s not marked anywhere.
How do you like them as performers, shooting wise? They seem to look like well handling rifles.

 

[Kalahari]

Pretty under rated in the UK. As long as it groups, enjoy a real classic

David.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Great! Am I assuming the model would be 1100M? It’s not marked anywhere.
How do you like them as performers, shooting wise? They seem to look like well handling rifles.

I had no complaints with the performance of mine. I had a nice .270win shot around an inch at 100yds with factory ammo. Can't really complain it cost me just over £100 a few years ago. Only sold it because I got a to good to refuse deal on a Sauer 202. My mate had/has a 243 with 100g PPU it was awful, however he tried PPU 90g half MOA with it. It really does depend on how they have been looked after and the amount of use.
Fell out of fashion and prices fell according, they have a good following elsewhere in the world.
Still used to build dangerous game rifles by some as far as I am aware (probably not as many as twenty to thirty years ago though).