Parker-Hale
Parker Hale is a British arms manufacturer.
history
Company formation
Parker Hale was founded in Birmingham , England in 1880 . Parker Hale produced precision weapons and accessories from the start . The founder, Alfred G. Parker, was a rifleman in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and recognized the need for weapon care tools.
business development
The business developed slowly until the turn of the 20th century. At that time, Alfred G. Parker decided to bring his nephew Arthur TC Hale into the company as a partner. Hale joined the volunteer army and demonstrated considerable skill in the art of target shooting.
conversion
In 1904 the partnership was converted into a corporation , with the shares being taken over by members of the Parker and Hale families. The first catalog of weapons and accessories clearly showed that the company's focus was on developing accessories. With the support of influential military such as Field Marshal Lord Roberts , efforts were made to improve marksmanship , not least because of the failures in the Second Boer War . The efforts subsequently led to intensive training of civilians using target shooting. More and more shooting clubs were created through competitions. Interest in this movement led to the development of small-caliber weapons, which the British Ministry of Defense gave a specification (War Office Miniature Rifle).
Development up to the Second World War
Parker-Hale's success during this period led to the establishment of the small bore movement. Another development was what became known as "Parkerrifling". When the ammunition ministry urgently asked for training equipment with appropriate ammunition in 1914, the company was firmly established with its production facility. The Parkerrifling process, together with Hiscock Parker magazine, made it possible to deliver training rifles for recruits. The demand was so great that the Parker Hale plant was able to produce at 100% capacity. After the First World War , the arms trade collapsed. New products were developed and it was a few years before Parker-Hale was able to operate economically again. The Second World War brought setbacks again, but this time Parker-Hale was able to recover more quickly.
Situation after the Second World War until today
After World War II, Parker-Hale's most important businesses were rifle repair and cartridge production. Nevertheless, the post-war period alone with these business areas did not lead to a sustainable existence, because foreign markets were also opened because material of all kinds was in short supply. Nevertheless, by 1948 Parker-Hale managed to export products far beyond the British borders. The range comprised target and hunting rifles, pistols , shotguns and ammunition as well as telescopic sights , knives, care and cleaning accessories. Parker-Hale is known for its professional quality bipods .
After the Dunblane massacre in 1996 and the related amendment to the weapons law, with u. a. the ban on handguns put pressure on the ailing industry. This ultimately led to the Parker-Hale brand being sold to John Rothery Co Ltd in Hampshire. Today's focus is on the production of accessories and cleaning products as well as Parker Hale bipods . In addition to the headquarters in Hampshire, Parker-Hale is represented in Germany and Austria.