Type A
The Type A rifle was produced by EAL as their first rifle. Type A rifles seem to have been equipped with a Lee-Enfield style butt . Serial number ranges for this pattern are believed to lie approximately in the 001-1000 range. The earliest number seen to date is serial number 175 and the highest known Type A rifle is #1031. By #1076, the butt had been changed to a purpose built civilian pattern thus the transition from Type A to Type B likely occurred between these two numbers.
The Type A rifle had a military finish on the barrel and a two position Mk II peep sight as found on military Lee-Enfield rifles. Magazines were of the 10 round variety. Type A rifles retained the breech cover tie down loop found on the front of the trigger guard.
Over the years it has become known as the "Civilian Pattern" although this may in fact not be an accurate statement. There are reports that these rifles were the pattern initially ordered by the RCAF as a survival rifle in the 1950s however this has yet to be corroborated and is believed to be unlikely.
Key attributes of the Type A are as follows:
Markings. Type A receiver markings consist of EAL XXX (no dash and no periods between the EAL).
Butt. Type A butts (below S/N 1000) as per RCAF Survival rifles. Equipped with a standard Lee-Enfield military butt that appears to have been modified/contoured to a sporter profile. The butt has been trimmed just in front of the tang inletting and affixed with the Jostam Anti-Flinch pad. A No.4Mk.1 rear sling swivel is inletted into the butt.
Fore stock. TheType A tip is a rounded pattern albeit of a slightly blunter profile than the later Type B. The tie strap (or tie plate) is present in these fore stocks and the off side shows a slight scalloped profile along the receiver line. They also show inletting on the fore stock for the top wood and what appears to be a shim at the fore tip for barrel support. As these were converted from existing military wood, lightening cuts are present although in some cases the front cut is filled with a shaped block which is assumed to assist with accuracy. (Pictures by Gerry Kosoris)
Rear sight. The rear sight is the Lee-Enfield No 4 series Mk II two position peep sight stamped with 200/400 ranges . Many examples seem to retain the 300/600 range markings and further, some sights were over-stamped from their original 300/600 range with a range of 200/400 (see image at right).
The Type B uses this same rear sight.
Front Sight. The front sight of the was affixed via a dovetail onto a front ramp. Unlike the Type C sight, these posts were drifted into the dove tail. It appears that the front sight for the RCAF, Type A, and Type B were in fact military blade sights which have been narrowed. Residual Long Branch and height markings may be observed.
Magazine. Utilized the standard 10 round magazine as per the Lee-Enfield No 4 family of military rifles. 10 round magazines bore the manufacturing stamp of Long Branch however later Type A rifles may exhibit Canadian Arsenals markings.
Trigger Guard. Note the retention of the tie down loop - it is unknown if all Type A rifles retained these.
Finish. Barrel retains the "military" finish found on the military Lee-Enfield rifles. It is possible that all Type A receivers were high gloss blued although this is still under investigation.