Army cadets and Lee Enfields
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- Start date
15-20 years ago we had no LE drill manual only a FN or C7 manual, so some enterprising Idiot made a pistol grip that slid into the mag well. Totally wrong but it worked.
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
When the C7 rifles came out in the latter half of the 80s (I am talking about the .556mm M-16 type rifle, and not the .22 Enfield type) there was to be a .22 caliber version made up by Diemaco for the Cadet corps. Some were eventually made (given the nomenclature C-10) but it was decided that they were too military to give to Canada's youth. I have no idea if they are in a depot somewhere, or if they were eventually destroyed.
C-7=5.56, #7=.22 Lee Enfield.
The C-10 was owned by Dimaco made for the Army Cadet League. The CF never signed on to the C-10. Fought the whole idea tooth and nail.
bclinehand
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Clearwater B.C.
Oh really.......care to elaborate on that.....
stencollector
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
It does not apply to all Ranger rifles of course, but when I was on ex (in Repulse bay) with the Rangers almost 20 years back, the few rifles we saw were in terrible shape externally. The wood was very dry, and there was minor surface rust of the metal. Even so, it was able to drop a Caribou at several hundred yards away.
Since that time, the Canadian Forces has bought many no4mk1s and mklls of either British or Indian manufacture to supplement the last of the LongBranch rifles.
The photo is of the Army Cadet Corps. It is a Department of National Defense funded organization for youth from 13 to 18 years of age. Kind of like scouts, but with cooler equipment. Canada has Army Cadets, Air Cadets, Sea Cadets, and a Navy League for kids slightly younger. Joining is free, and often leads to careers in the regular force or the reserve forces later in life.
The #4's that we had in N Ont. with 3rd CRPG were for the most part junk. Most of the rangers had no concept of cleaning or oil let alone basic maintenance. We had 1 ranger That used a rock to open and close the bolt every time he fired it. A tooth brush and some oil and would have worked fine.
Same for me too. We did it at Trenton Base.
I worked with both Army and Sea cadets until the late 80's in New Brunswick. Both had the #7 for use in the range in the armories they were housed in. We also had #4 LE's for drill purposes that were deactivated with a pin through the barrel if my memory serves me right. At both Cornwallis and Quadra sea cadet camps I worked at we used FN's.
- Location
- The Nation ON
I served in the ACF in the UK for 5 years and we initially had the No4 and No8 rifles. The Bren gun was also issued and I fired it on a few very rare occasions.
The MOD then issued the cadet GP Rifle L98A1 which was a bolt action version of the L85A1 SA80. Recently they have been issued the L98A2 which is semi automatic.
I am sad to hear that Canadian cadets don't get to shoot with military firearms. I loved my time in the cadets and it prepared me when I joined the regular service.
Does anyone know where I can get one of the last NOS Fazarkerley made Enfields?
The MOD then issued the cadet GP Rifle L98A1 which was a bolt action version of the L85A1 SA80. Recently they have been issued the L98A2 which is semi automatic.
I am sad to hear that Canadian cadets don't get to shoot with military firearms. I loved my time in the cadets and it prepared me when I joined the regular service.
Does anyone know where I can get one of the last NOS Fazarkerley made Enfields?
I was in the Sea Cadets (RCSCC Amphion) up to the end of 1983. At that time we drilled with Long Branch No.4 rifles de-activated by no other means than removing the bolts as I recall. We had 5 or 6 .22 CNo.7 rifles for Friday night shooting at the now demolished Nanaimo Military Camp indoor small bore range. We also got to shoot the C1A1’s twice a year on the outdoor range as well. The local Army Cadet Corps and Reserve unit would bring the C1’s as well as a few Stens and Ingles HP 9mm’s. One year a Bren showed up that to my memory was being shot to use up the last to their 303 as the DND had demanded the rifles return for destruction. I still remember that rhythmic Thump….Thump….Thump the Bren made. I so wish I could own one……
gunaddict99
CGN Regular
- Location
- Just west of Ottawa ON
That is a shame to hear about cadets only using air rifles now. I was in the Sea Cadets out of Peterborough and was a member of the range team. We often shot at the armoury's indoor range with .22 Enfileds and Anschutzs. There was a large selection enfields which we always drilled with. I often got to shoot Enfields (both.22 and .303) at Uplands, Quadra, Trenton, Cornwallis, etc. and sometimes C1's at McNaughton. I remember not enjoying the C1's as much because I kept getting smacked in the cheek. The opportunity to use firearms was a major attraction for me at the time and it is unfortunate that it is not still available.
When I returned to shooting recently and went looking for an Enfield to purchase, I was shocked at the prices. Especially the .22 models that we had looked down on. I often wondered where those ones from my cadet days had gone. Certainly wish I'd purchased one then!
When I returned to shooting recently and went looking for an Enfield to purchase, I was shocked at the prices. Especially the .22 models that we had looked down on. I often wondered where those ones from my cadet days had gone. Certainly wish I'd purchased one then!
^ Yes.
Air Cadets, 1980s. LE 7s, Anschutz, and a couple of weekends per year at CFB Borden to shoot the C1A1s. Best weekend of my (young) life was during the Reg. Force switch over to the C7, and the base cadet liaison officer told our CO "get rid of as much 7.62 as you can"
Air Cadets, 1980s. LE 7s, Anschutz, and a couple of weekends per year at CFB Borden to shoot the C1A1s. Best weekend of my (young) life was during the Reg. Force switch over to the C7, and the base cadet liaison officer told our CO "get rid of as much 7.62 as you can"
As I stated all cadets use the air rifle, all cadets use the .22cal for biathlon. Only army cadets use the C-7.
Good times indeed... RCSCC Courageous alumni here~ I remember the range team Lee Enfields, sleeping on board the HMCS Haida when it was docked in Toronto for a competition at the York Armoury, listening to David Wilcox at the CNE, good times! FN drill at summer camps, Ipperwash, Borden, Ontario in Kingston. My son just turned twelve and has joined the local corps in K-W and was disappointed to learn about the air rifles and having to drive to Guelph just to shoot them at an Armoury no less, not even a school gym will do anymore. He didnt join the team as he gets more experience with bigger guns with dad. Great organization for kids still if not washed down some from the "old days."
This.
Having worked with 3 and 1 CRPG on a number of occasions, I can fairly say that most of those No4's are fit for the scrap heap by the time they are done with them. I saw a number of well maintained and cared for rifles amongst the senior rangers... but that was not the majority.
The concept of weapons maintenance doesn't really seem to be driven into them. Either that or it's simply a case of what is given has no value.
