Embedded Files
The use of the EAL rifle by the Canadian military is undeniable. Due to a lack of records however, the specific details with respect to the military use is somewhat less clear.
It is fairly certain that this pattern of rifle was first acquired by the Canadian military as a survival rifle for the RCAF crews and the Mapping and Charting Establishment. While the exact date is unknown, we may surmise that this occurred sometime in the immediate post-WW2 period and prior to 1965.
In the following picture, four SAL RCAF Survival rifles (with magazine) can be seen at far left. Note the retention of the breech cover tie down loop on the front of the trigger/mag assembly and the front sight protector ears. Next we see 13 rifles which appear to be the Type C pattern based on the shape of the fore stock. Lastly at far right you can see what appears to be a Type A pattern however, the use of the Lee-Enfield butt on this one may be "field expedient." While the photo is undated we can safely assume it is pre-unification.
Anecdotal evidence appears to indicate that the EAL was carried on board the Sea King helicopters as at least one owner has stated that he received his rifle directly from an RCAF veteran. Another member of the collecting community offered that "The Hercules aircraft had survival kits on stretchers way up out of reach...Desert, Winter, Jungle/Conventional. They had these rifles inside for emergency."
To date, military use of the Type A and/or B rifle is unconfirmed.
At some point, the EAL rifles were acquired for use by the Canadian Rangers. Again, the specifics of this order are not known however contemporary pictures (see below) seem to indicate the use of the Type C rifle by the Rangers as late as 2015.
Carl Parks, an ex weapons tech with the CF writes:
Some of the EAL rifles that were at CFB Borden had different styles and makes of adjustable sights, some on the left and some on the right, including the knox-form two way flip sight.
CFB Borden RCEME is third line maintenance and a school for Weapons Techs, all under one roof.
These rifles were only left in the system at the time because of the RANGER program.
As per Wheatfield:
"Various Canadian government documents refer to the E.A.L. Rifle military model as NATO stock number 1005-21-8-8-9499 and RCAF number EO.30-65FE. Other RCAF documents list the E.A.L. Rifle as ".303 cal rifle sports model". Rifles in the range of 6280 to 6999 appear to have been issued to Ranger units"
It seems there was a minor typo with Wheatfield's stock numbers - the "8-8" should be "808". Thus, the current NSN for these is:
1005-21-808-9499.
Rifle, .303 Calibre, Lee Enfield, No 4, Mk 1 *. Modified to sporting model for survival kit in accordance W/RCAF EO 30-65FE, 106.68 cm (42.000 in) O/A lg, W/5 shot magazine, stock fitted W/recoil pad.
As they are being transferred to artifact status, a new artifact NSN is also being used:
9915-20-A01-4314.
"Rifle, Enfield No 4 Mk I, .303 cal, modified to sporting model for survival kit, 42 in. O/A LG, W/5 shot magazine stock fitted W/recoil pad"
NB: The rifles are listed as RIFLE, ENFIELD MODIFIED - ARTIFACT.
Type C "Military Contract" rifles appear to bear an inspector mark on the underside of the wrist (see left). Some refer to this mark as the post-47 Government acceptance mark.
At least two late serial number rifles have been observed on the civilian market which bore:
the correct government acceptance mark on the wrist
post-47/military acceptance mark barrel proof mark, as well as the DCP proof (pictured above).
E.A.L. markings including calibre on the receiver accompanying the serial numbers.
This first rifle (in the 6400 range) possessed an unmarked bolt as per other EAL rifles . The pistol grip bore what is assumed to be a "rack" stamp, pictured at left.
The second rifle observed (in the 6200 range) had a serialized bolt however lacked any rack number.
As will be discussed below, later rifles have been observed without the DCP proof. It is thus unknown if those bearing both marks were transitional rifles procured via a distributor for the military or if those without the DCP proof were in fact altered. Read on to find out more!
Recently (Nov 2018 and Feb 2019) two late production rifles turned up on the civilian market.
Interestingly, the rifles bear neither EAL nor calibre markings (see example pic at left). Only the serial number was marked on the left side of the receivers and interestingly, the bolt was also stamped with the serial number as well. The barrels lacked the DCP inspection stamp on the right side of the barrel near the receiver but both did have the post-47 acceptance stamp. Both were also stamped on the underside of the wrists with the post-47 acceptance mark.
Assuming these rifles have not been altered, this seems to imply that the military contract for the Type C rifle (likely Rangers) may have been partially sourced directly from Canadian Arsenals making these variants NOT truly an EAL rifle! This being said, both receivers did show signs of the receiver markings being altered and serial numbers re-applied (see pic above left).
As such, late serial number EALs should be treated with suspicion and closely inspected for tampering.
But why would they be tampered with you ask?
There are persistent rumours that an unknown number of EAL receivers (possibly complete rifles) appeared on the civilian market some time ago. Allegedly these rifles were purchased by a "known milsurp dealer" and had their receiver markings removed in an effort to conceal that they had come from the military. Purportedly, unlike the .22 receivers which were not accountable by the government, the .303 receivers were and rumours circulated that the government may be looking to take them back!
Recently, additional information was received which may help to shed some further light on the disposal of the EAL rifles. This information indicated that many rifles were indeed sold off through Crown Disposal by auction and "close to a 1,000" were purchased by International Firearms (assumingly the "known milsurp dealer" mentioned above). It is unknown if these rifles were all EALs or, perhaps more likely, a combination of No. 4 service rifles and EALs.
At least 100 rifles were reportedly purchased by Lever Arms at the International Firearms warehouse in Montreal. The store had to purchase the rifles by LOT with each lot consisting of 100 rifles, on two pallets. Again, it is unknown if all 100 of the Lever Arms rifles were EALs.
Following a query/AIR in early 2019, a list of approximately 186 rifles matching the NSN 1005-21-808-9499 was received. It is suspected that a query of the archival NSN (9915-20-A01-4314 ) may have yielded further results.
The rifles listed with this stock number (1005-21-808-9499) included 110 rifles which bore EAL serial numbers with the majority being found in the 6100 to 6900 serial range. Some rifles were listed with the EAL prefix while others were simply a four digit number commencing with the number six eg 6502. It is not known if the omission of the EAL branding was intentional or merely an oversight in the cataloguing. The highest number provided noted was #6993. Based on the numbers provided by the AIR, it is believed that the Canadian Military contracts for the Type C rifles may have been up to 900 rifles based on the serial numbers given in response to the AIR.
Curiously, the serial numbers provided by the Canadian Rangers i.e. 6404, 6408, 6426 did not appear on the Government provided AIR response. Rifle #6451 which bears both DCP and the post-47 marking was also not on the list and neither were the rifles mentioned above which lacked both the EAL and calibre markings (#6565 and #6718).
Lastly, the NSN list included 76 rifles which bore Long Branch serial numbers vs EAL 4 digit numbers. It is suspected that some of these may have been the rifles acquired by bomber command and/or the RCAF prior to the purchase of the EAL series rifle. It is also possible of course that the military armourers sporterized full stocked No 4 rifles for Ranger use - such as the one being shot by Prime Minister Harper in the picture below.
Interestingly, several of the 76 Long Branch serialized rifles also appeared on a list which accounted for rifles on issue to the Mapping & Charting Establishment in 1982.
Currently, the military rifles seem to be in the process of being destroyed, gifted to the applicable Ranger member, or transferred to museums as an artifact.
In short, it seems quite possible that the Canadian Government purchased more than one order of EAL rifles.
As such, it is possible that the Type A, B, and Type C variants were used by elements of the Canadian military and possibly other agencies eg: the Department of Fisheries, Mapping & Charting Establishment.
Here is an interesting trophy. Appears to be an RCAF survival rifle with the butt likely replaced?
The Canadian Ranger Charlie Schwelder Rifle Trophy presented during the Canadian Armed Forces Small Arms Concentration at the Connaught Ranges and Primary Training Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on September 7, 2019.
LF01-2019-0101-086
Photo By: Able Seaman Camden Scott,
Directorate of Army Public Affairs
As a footnote to the military procurement, issued ammunition for the Rangers was manufactured by IVI into at least the early 2000's.
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