EAL Lee Enfield
- Thread starter gerard488
- Start date
E.A.L. Rifle
I want to sell my EAL civilian version and have no idea what it is worth. Looks to be in good shape, bore looks really good. I can e-mail pics, just let me know what pics you would like to see. I don`t know if I should start here or just post it in the EE and look for offers.
I want to sell my EAL civilian version and have no idea what it is worth. Looks to be in good shape, bore looks really good. I can e-mail pics, just let me know what pics you would like to see. I don`t know if I should start here or just post it in the EE and look for offers.
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Posting it in the EE requires a price, so asking here's a better option. Not sure what the latest EAL's we saw recently sold for, but if it's all original, with proper butt pad etc, it should get more than the typical sporters for sure; it is a desireable piece of Canadian firearm history.
Lou
Lou
You don't have the 2 missing swivels with screws?
They are the standard late Canadian stamped pattern ones, both the same.
That stock set looks to have been refinished or sanded? It looks nice but maybe not exactly original.
I'm not positive about that. Who knows, maybe EAL made some fancier grade stocks too. At any rate it's a nice looking wood set.
People have been asking about $400-$500 shipped for EAL's. Not sure if they are getting it.
They are the standard late Canadian stamped pattern ones, both the same.
That stock set looks to have been refinished or sanded? It looks nice but maybe not exactly original.
I'm not positive about that. Who knows, maybe EAL made some fancier grade stocks too. At any rate it's a nice looking wood set.
People have been asking about $400-$500 shipped for EAL's. Not sure if they are getting it.
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stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
There is one right now on Joe Salter's site for $1395. That might be US dollars, but I would suggest knocking the 1 off the front of that price. Even at that price, the civilian ones can still be a slow sell on this side of the border. They just aren't that rare, with thousands of them kicking around out there somewhere. Fact is that many of them are not identified by their owners for the oddity that they are. I have bought a few over the years for $75 to $125 as sporters at gun shows.
The military ones are a little more desirable.
The military ones are a little more desirable.
At the last show in Chilliwack, I had a matched condition set of EALs for sale. One of each, civy and milsurp. The milsurp looks like it hasn't been fired since it left the factory. Yes, the price on them is high and they would only be sold as a set. This kind of eye candy makes a lot of passersby stop and look, even reach for the self control not to buy it. Makes for lots of interesting conversation at the very least.
There were a couple of other EAL rifles at the show as well. Three more that I noticed anyway, one milsurp and two civvies. All three were in around 75% condition. Nice rifles to have as shooters. The prices on those rifles were fair. Much lower than mine but as we all know, when it comes to collectibles, condition is everything. The only other thing that will drive up the price is history with verification.
All three of the vendors noticed the rifles on my table and commented on the price difference. I commented on condition and one thought I was joking. He didn't even know what an EAL rifle was and he had the desirable milsurp version albeit with the wrong mag. He had pulled out the proper mag and sold it separately. He had $250 on what was left and it looked better than the OPs rifle.
The other two, were both priced in the same range and again, were in better shape than the OPs rifle as well, they were complete.
IMHO, the OPs rifle is in the $250 range at best. If he purchases the missing components, that will cost more, say $30 by the time they are shipped and handling fees are added on and they really won't add anything to the value of the rifle.
The stock on that one looks OK. I've seen EAL with incredible figure and finish. That one is pretty run of the mill straight grain. The Jostam butt pad is also cracked. $250 would be fair value.
The civvie EALs turn up at just about every one of the bigger shows. Most of them are buried in a mix of other milsurp sporters and priced accordingly.
The one thing about them I like is that they weren't full dress military rifles that were cut down. They were all made up from as new parts and unless a particular rifle has been abused, they mostly have pristine bores and are quite accurate.
Went to Salter's site an looked at what he had.
Trouble with EAL rifles is their records were very loosely kept and few if any exist. So anything is possible.
IMHO, the rifle Salter has for sale, is a civilian version. To my knowledge, very limited, none of the issue rifles to the Rangers or survival rifles were fitted with ten round mags or the L type rear sight.
His rifle is grossly over priced IMHO. $450 would be top price at best.
As far as military models go, IMHO they are getting twice that much for them in excellent condition. They drop off quickly from there, depending on condition.
Trouble with EAL rifles is their records were very loosely kept and few if any exist. So anything is possible.
IMHO, the rifle Salter has for sale, is a civilian version. To my knowledge, very limited, none of the issue rifles to the Rangers or survival rifles were fitted with ten round mags or the L type rear sight.
His rifle is grossly over priced IMHO. $450 would be top price at best.
As far as military models go, IMHO they are getting twice that much for them in excellent condition. They drop off quickly from there, depending on condition.
A gent I know had a military EAL on his table last show. The thing was in brand new condition. All correct with the 5 round CA EAL mag.
Now, one thing stood out...the bluing was incredibly glossy and perfect.
To the point that I really wondered if it had been reblued.
I have seen EAL's with really nice shiny bluing before but this one took the cake.
That may have been how they looked new but I've never seen one like that before.
If anyone wants it, I think he had a $575 price tag on it and I know him. (it's not me)
Now, one thing stood out...the bluing was incredibly glossy and perfect.
To the point that I really wondered if it had been reblued.
I have seen EAL's with really nice shiny bluing before but this one took the cake.
That may have been how they looked new but I've never seen one like that before.
If anyone wants it, I think he had a $575 price tag on it and I know him. (it's not me)
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
I have noted the glossy finish on them as well. I have also noted that the bluing goes right down the barrel on them. It would seem that the barrels were not plugged during the finishing process. But it's a good way to tell if it's been unfired, or close to it.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
My question is why does the military version have a barrel mounted buckhorn style sight and the civillian version have a military flip sight?
Yes, why? The other way around would make more sense.
I wondered the same thing.
The military barrel mounted rear sight looks like it could get knocked around pretty easily.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
It may have just been what EAL was producing at the time. Rifles 1 to 5000 had the L sight, 5,000-7000 had the knox flip up sight. Military purchase seems to be after about serial 6000.
That's about the same information I've been able to gather. I've also seen both models D&Ted for the Weaver side mount scope base. I have been told that only the military versions were done this way out of the CA shops. IMHO, this is wrong.
Warren Wheatfield knows these rifles about as well as anyone I've talked to. Because of his background, most of his knowledge comes from being in direct contact with military versions. He was one of the first to be able to verify the production, issue and use of EALs with the Weaver side mount, carrying Tasco scopes.
One other thing before I forget, you can't go by the serial numbers and figures commonly touted. I have seen and owned EAL rifles well out of the ranges listed by stencollector. I'm not saying his figures are wrong, because I don't know. but I have seen serial numbers above 8000.
I sometimes get queasy thinking about how many of those I've passed on because it was my belief they were Bubba.
It is my opinion and that of others, that just about any combination of configurations and attachments CA had on hand could be ordered from them. I am also under the impression that they assembled as many rifles as they had enough parts on hand to assemble. It is only good business sense to do so.
Whatever, price depends on what the market will bear or how bad the seller wants to move the article. In my case, I really like the EAL rifles and it took close to 35 years to find one of each specimen that are at least 95%-EXC condition. I've gone through several shooter grade rifles and really liked them a lot. I wish I had kept one each of the D&Ted rifles. Especially the one that came with scope mounts and scope. Now, as I age, it will likely never happen. One thing about them, I always found the recoil produced by the rifles to be uncomfortable. I wonder how the side mounts and scopes of the day they were mated stood up to it??? Maybe that's why we see so few of them complete, in either the civvie or milsurp version.
Warren Wheatfield knows these rifles about as well as anyone I've talked to. Because of his background, most of his knowledge comes from being in direct contact with military versions. He was one of the first to be able to verify the production, issue and use of EALs with the Weaver side mount, carrying Tasco scopes.
One other thing before I forget, you can't go by the serial numbers and figures commonly touted. I have seen and owned EAL rifles well out of the ranges listed by stencollector. I'm not saying his figures are wrong, because I don't know. but I have seen serial numbers above 8000.
I sometimes get queasy thinking about how many of those I've passed on because it was my belief they were Bubba.
It is my opinion and that of others, that just about any combination of configurations and attachments CA had on hand could be ordered from them. I am also under the impression that they assembled as many rifles as they had enough parts on hand to assemble. It is only good business sense to do so.
Whatever, price depends on what the market will bear or how bad the seller wants to move the article. In my case, I really like the EAL rifles and it took close to 35 years to find one of each specimen that are at least 95%-EXC condition. I've gone through several shooter grade rifles and really liked them a lot. I wish I had kept one each of the D&Ted rifles. Especially the one that came with scope mounts and scope. Now, as I age, it will likely never happen. One thing about them, I always found the recoil produced by the rifles to be uncomfortable. I wonder how the side mounts and scopes of the day they were mated stood up to it??? Maybe that's why we see so few of them complete, in either the civvie or milsurp version.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
I won't say with any definition that the serials stopped at 7000. I do know that a list of serial numbers remaining in DND stock was supplied to someone, so they would be representative of what the DND owned. Mind you, the numbers were quite reduced. A decade back there were still around 200-300 left in the depots. Last time I checked I think the number had dropped to around 47.
One could do a FOI to DND asking them for the remaining serial numbers of that particular NSN. When the registry existed, one could also have FOI requested the serial numbers of all EAL rifles registered in Canada. I had a look at the Ottawa Sun online registry, and more than a few had their serials listed as part of the model number, since the serials were right next to the EAL name.
One could do a FOI to DND asking them for the remaining serial numbers of that particular NSN. When the registry existed, one could also have FOI requested the serial numbers of all EAL rifles registered in Canada. I had a look at the Ottawa Sun online registry, and more than a few had their serials listed as part of the model number, since the serials were right next to the EAL name.
We've never figured that one out either!
I have seen the civilian versions with the 3 holes for the Parker Hale scope mount....making me think the military might have owned some of them too, not just the 6000 and up s/n range.
As Stencollector said, I believe they completely switched over to the barrel mounted sight version late in the 4000 range, as I've seen a few of them in that range.
It is indeed rare to ever see a scope mount on an EAL, but yes, there are lots with the holes.
Perhaps the scope and mounts didn't stand up well if they are hard kickers.
I recently sold a PH mount I had to a member on here, and he put it on an EAL with the holes...looks pretty nice.
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According to Warren Wheatfield, wheaty on this site, he saw and worked on scoped EALs while serving as a REME. It appears my memory is not reliable. I was just informed the scopes were Weaver's, not Tasco.
The PH mount mentioned above, would likely be the mount used.
That is the problem with EALs, no accurate records exist.
I saw one about 25 years ago that looked like a presentation piece. Supposedly it had been ordered with triple A wood from CA. The finish was immaculate and the rifle had the barrel mounted sights. It also had a beautifully polished ten round magazine that was finished to match the metal. Other than the wood and the polished/blued mag, there was nothing different about if from other similar model EAL rifles. The rifle was valued way beyond my means but it eventually sold.
EALs are sleepers, most collectors have no idea what they were and are. Likely because they were never used in any battles that their presence has been recorded in.
A friend of mine in Montana would trade his youngest daughter for a really good one. It would not be a fair trade. Good looking EALs are hard come by.
The PH mount mentioned above, would likely be the mount used.
That is the problem with EALs, no accurate records exist.
I saw one about 25 years ago that looked like a presentation piece. Supposedly it had been ordered with triple A wood from CA. The finish was immaculate and the rifle had the barrel mounted sights. It also had a beautifully polished ten round magazine that was finished to match the metal. Other than the wood and the polished/blued mag, there was nothing different about if from other similar model EAL rifles. The rifle was valued way beyond my means but it eventually sold.
EALs are sleepers, most collectors have no idea what they were and are. Likely because they were never used in any battles that their presence has been recorded in.
A friend of mine in Montana would trade his youngest daughter for a really good one. It would not be a fair trade. Good looking EALs are hard come by.
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