EAL Lee Enfield

DREDD 65

DREDD 65

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Hello all

I picked up a civilian EAL Enfield from a buddy of mine. As some of you may know, this rifle was made from newly manufactured long branch parts for EAL back in the mid-50s, they came with a pistol grip stock and recoil pad, on the side of the receiver they were stamped with the caliber and SER# being four digits, and the loop for the receiver cover just in front of the mag was removed. The one I picked up has all the right markings, but, she has the straight wrist stock and recoil pad, still has the loop in front of the mag. On the side of the receiver there is only three digit SER # and no caliber designation. If there is anyone out there who may know if this was a pre-production rifle and maybe its value I would really appreciate the help.
 
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So far as I know, the EAL receivers were OLD stock that ware scrubbed and machined to what you have now. When it comes to EAL rifles, it is said just about anything is possible. Especially the civilian versions.

Some people say that EAL took orders and built rifles to the buyers specs.

That being said, I have never seen an EAL rifle, civilian or military with a regular issue style stock that came from EAL purposely.

I have seen a couple that were altered by their owners, who had trained in the services with No4 MkI rifles and preferred the fit and feel of the stock they were familiar with. Also, in some cases, especially when a stock was added for a person of small stature, a SHORT stock was readily available.

I found a proper EAL butt stock, with proper Jostam butt pad in a bin of used stocks in Kamloops about 10 years ago. I wish I had kept it.
 
Bearhunter- I have a new old stock EAL stock with Jostams pad. I'd sell it if I get my money back out of it. That's the walnut one with the pistol grip. It has never even been sanded, still rough.

To DREDD 65- You have an early EAL. You have a 3 digit s/n putting you in the early group. The buttstocks had a straight grip vs the pistol grip they evolved into.
I have a bunch of pics of the early stock configuration. That's how they were.

Otherwise the rifles were pretty much the same as the rest of them.

In real good shape, all original, worth $400-$500 or so, depending on whether anyone is interested in one or not.

Lots of people pick these up for a song from people who don't know what they are.
 
It was that 3 digit SER# that had me confused, from everything i could find on the interweb all these rifles were to have 4 digit SER# starting at 2000.
(if anyone out there who knows an easy way to up-load pics, i'd be happy too)
 
cantom said:
Bearhunter- I have a new old stock EAL stock with Jostams pad. I'd sell it if I get my money back out of it. That's the walnut one with the pistol grip. It has never even been sanded, still rough.

To DREDD 65- You have an early EAL. You have a 3 digit s/n putting you in the early group. The buttstocks had a straight grip vs the pistol grip they evolved into.
I have a bunch of pics of the early stock configuration. That's how they were.

Otherwise the rifles were pretty much the same as the rest of them.

In real good shape, all original, worth $400-$500 or so, depending on whether anyone is interested in one or not.

Lots of people pick these up for a song from people who don't know what they are.
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Thanks cantom, very interesting. Every time I hear about EALs, I learn something new.

Thanks for the offer as well. But I've sold off all of my EAL stuff, other than two almost pristine specimens, one milsurp and one civilian.

Of course, I don't want to get rid of them very bad and have an outrageous price on them.
 
As I knew from the description, a completely normal early EAL.


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DREDD 65 said:
Hello all

I picked up a civilian EAL Enfield from a buddy of mine. As some of you may know, this rifle was made from newly manufactured long branch parts for EAL back in the mid-50s, they came with a pistol grip stock and recoil pad, on the side of the receiver they were stamped with the caliber and SER# being four digits, and the loop for the receiver cover just in front of the mag was removed. The one I picked up has all the right markings, but, she has the straight wrist stock and recoil pad, still has the loop in front of the mag. On the side of the receiver there is only three digit SER # and no caliber designation. If there is anyone out there who may know if this was a pre-production rifle and maybe its value I would really appreciate the help.
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Well, none of the altered rifles I've seen look like that.

Lovely rifle and most definitely a Jostam pad.

I wonder how many of those were made????
 
I wish I knew how many like this are still out there, I have taken it to a few gun shops and everyone who see's it gives me that deer caught in the headlights look. She is a pretty cool part of my collection. Thanks for the extra info guys.
 
DREDD- There is more EAL knowledge on Canadian Gunnutz forum than you will find anywhere else. We've had dozens of threads about them. We've also seen dozens come up for sale on the EE.

They are not at all uncommon. As for the early ones like yours, I have plenty of pics of various ones as I've made note of the differences years ago. Your rifle is completely correct and original.

Warren, who wrote the treatise about them, is also a member on here. So is Woodchopper, who also has a site with info about them.

No point asking John Q Hunter, they won't know anything about them. As for documentation about EAL's...there isn't any.
 
Incidentally, at the last gun show I attended, I saw a civilian style EAL (200/400 receiver sight ear mounted rear sight) with the highest s/n I've seen for that style, in the 4800 range. Most I've seen in that number range or higher had the barrel mounted flip sight.

I'm not sure at what s/n they started making the military style gun.
 
DREDD 65 said:
I wish I knew how many like this are still out there, I have taken it to a few gun shops and everyone who see's it gives me that deer caught in the headlights look. She is a pretty cool part of my collection. Thanks for the extra info guys.
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I bought my 95% civilian EAL at a Chilliwack show for $135. The fellow that had it, bought it from an order form he found in a catalogue. He couldn't remember what he paid for it. He thought but couldn't remember if it was purchased from SIR. As far as he was concerned it should be worth what he had on it and was pleased when I just paid him without dickering. He had judged the price by what he saw on other sporterised No 4s on other tables.

Now I will have to look closely for an early model EAL. Thanks guys another LE to throw money at.
 
at least Lee's are never a waste of money when you can get one, it seems easy to get old Russin guns than Commonweath. I'm still looking for a #4 MK 1, go figger.
 
cantom said:
Incidentally, at the last gun show I attended, I saw a civilian style EAL (200/400 receiver sight ear mounted rear sight) with the highest s/n I've seen for that style, in the 4800 range. Most I've seen in that number range or higher had the barrel mounted flip sight.

I'm not sure at what s/n they started making the military style gun.
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As for as I could find out, the military SER# ran from 6000 to 7000. only 1000 rifles were sold to the RCAF. P.S thanks for posting my pics.
 
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