Factory Mods or Bubba?
Over the years several rifles have shown up that do not conform to the standard pattern of the EAL rifle. These variances have included various sight systems and scopes as well as checkering. There are likely 5 explanations to these variances...
1. There were production irregularities which required slight modifications (see checkering section below).
2. There have been claims that EAL would provide rifles with modifications as per a client's specific demands. It is not known if any modifications were carried out "in-house" at CAL, EAL, or a sub-contractor.
3. There is the possibility of presentation rifles made at Canadian Arsenals
4. There is the possibility of "lunch box" rifles. These were rifles that may have been assembled from parts by workers at Canadian Arsenals and/or EAL
5. The most likely explanation at this time however is that the majority of variances are the work of Bubba and his crew! Remember though...while we use the term Bubba derogatorily, there are also many talented gun smiths and skilled back yard amateurs who could have modified these guns to make them the way they are. Furthermore, rifles in military service may have had alterations made by serving members and weapons techs as a means to keep these old rifles going!
Below are several pics of some variances. If you are looking at purchasing a non-typical rifle there is nothing wrong with this....just bear in mind that without providence or official documentation it is a case of caveat emptor!
Calibres other than .303 British?
A 22 Hornet EAL Rifle?!? That's right...you are not misreading this. There are rumours that there are EAL rifles out there which were factory chambered in 22 Hornet. According to Wheatfield:
There is also a .22 Hornet version however I have only heard of two, seen one and have a couple parts off one. The company that made them is long gone and EAL would not talk to me when I contacted them in person many years ago....it appears less than 20 were made
It is unknown if this was a conversion based on a surplus .22 calibre Lee-Enfield barrel (there were certainly alot of these kicking around) or on a .303 British action.
OK....how about a 22 EAL rifle? This one (pics below) turned up on the EAL Facebook group. While definitely made up of some EAL parts it is highly unlikely that this was an approved factory built rifle. Note the milling and shape of the receiver and lack of Jostam pad. Also, note that the receiver is wiped. It is likely that the barrel is a cut-down C No 7 barrel and the receiver was confirmed to be a 22 receiver. Furniture is likely from an EAL
The Williams rear sight. Several EAL rifles have been located with the Williams peep sight affixed mid barrel.
Other Rear Peep Sights. Several rifles have been seen which sport the rear peep sight. The peeps are seen either mounted on the right or the left of the receiver.
Other Non-Peep Rear Sights
Unknown rear sight (possibly Marbles buck-horn) which appears to be in the same position as the original Express sight dove tail.
EAL converted to have buckhorn rear site.
On #2269, the rear peep ears appear to have been ground off and this rear sight added
Photo at right shows removal of original battle site.
The "factory scoped" rifle. Many EAL rifles sport numerous holes along the left side of the receiver. With the charging bridges gone, the option for a "No Drill & Tap" mount does not exist. The most common hole pattern encountered is that of the Parker Hale A-29 mount. Other hole patterns seen include the Weaver, Echo, and the Tasco mount -the latter being produced in Australia by Lynx.
Fig. 1 Parker Hale mount
Fig 2. Echo Scope mount
Fig. 3 Weaver mount
Fig. 5 Early Weaver mount (#48401 side mount)
Fig. 7 Custom mount with Weaver base
Fig. 9 Pachymar Low Swing scope mount
Fig. 4 Tasco (Lynx) mount on a No.4 receiver
Fig. 6 Williams side mount
Fig. 8 Custom side mount with Tasco rail.
The factory checkered rifle. Several rifles have appeared over the years with checkering on the butts and/or fore stocks. It is unknown if these were done at the factory or potentially by the retailer - perhaps as a deluxe model. The reality is that they were most likely embellished by their owners over the last 60 years - however there appears to be the exception with the "triangle" on the fore end (read about this below)!
#6340 (below) also appears to have been chequered at some point? Note differences between the rifle above and this one with regards to the style of chequering.
Now.....on the rifle below, only the fore stock has checkering. Seven rifles have been observed with this triangle pattern 5628, 5714, 5871, 5875, 5878, 5907, and 5944. The dark patch is a block of wood inserted to replace the missing tie strap it appears. It is believed that this checkering was actually "factory" done in an attempt to conceal the replacement block inserted into the tie strap of earlier (Type B) fore ends.
Front Sights. A few rifles have been noted to have differing after-market front sights.
A Lyman front ramp and blade
Butt Spacers. At least one butt (possibly two) have shown up with a white spacer between the butt and the Jostam pad. It is unknown if this was bubba or some sort of factory upgrade.
Fakes? It seems strange but it appears that some people like the EAL so much that they have effectively copied them using non-EAL Lee-Enfield rifles and parts. Understandably, over the years, missing bolts, rear sights, mags, swivels, and even butts (sans Jostam pads) have been routinely replaced by those from military rifles. However fakes imply a deliberate attempt to "reproduce or "copy" key EAL attributes - notably the EALs unique receiver, fore ends, and later sporter pattern butts. Sadly these can be sold as "original" to unsuspecting buyers.
As mentioned above in the case of the ".22 calibre" EAL, non-EAL receivers have been altered to take on the EAL profile. Care must be taken to observe the receiver profile and the serial number markings to include font size, spacing, and format. Suspicious cases of what appear to be serial number re-strikes have been noted on late Type C rifles which may or may not be original.
Lastly, with the advent of stock duplicators and the increased value of the EAL rifles, reproduction wood is also surfacing. At least one fore stock has also appeared which seems to be a modern creation. Note the inletting and early swivel used on a reproduction fore end (left) and compare it to the original Type C fore stock at right.
