E.a.l. 303 *pics added*

X

xcaribooer

Regular
Rating - 100%
405   0   0
Location
The fishing highway
How much do the civilian model sell for and how hard are they to find? Is it safe to say that this is the only factory sporting rifle for civilian use ever produced in .303 British?
 
Last edited:
I believe the Winchester Model 95 lever actions were chambered in .303 British. The E.A.L. .303 was not really a civilian rifle it was ordered and paid for by the military to supply a Militia type organization called the RANGERS. It is a sporterized version of the No.4 with some interesting modifications. GOTO www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~stratton/EALrifle.htm
 
I was at the gun show in Edmonton trying to get an idea on the price of an E.A.L in good shape. Didn't see one there. Here's one that was originally owned by my father.
IMG_1669.jpg

IMG_1674.jpg
 
Apparently there are two versions, one with the 2 range peep, and the other with a 2 range folding open sight dovetailed into the barrel breech. Made up using surplus LB parts in the '50s. Have heard that the former was sold commercially, the latter was gov't issue. The Rangers wound up with EALs after the supply of LB No. 4s was exhausted, but I doubt that the EALs were originally made for Ranger use. Some SARTECHs also had EALs.
 
BEARMAN said:
I believe the Winchester Model 95 lever actions were chambered in .303 British. The E.A.L. .303 was not really a civilian rifle it was ordered and paid for by the military to supply a Militia type organization called the RANGERS. It is a sporterized version of the No.4 with some interesting modifications. GOTO www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~stratton/EALrifle.htm
Click to expand...


The way I read that is that they were manufactured for civilian use but the Can government liked em and bought a bunch for the Rangers to use as the survival rifle.
Crap,now I want one.
I find it a bit odd that the one for military had a 5 round clip but the civilian model had the 10 round.I would think it should have been the other way around.
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/philqgbr/enfieldeal.html
 
Last edited:
xcaribooer said:
How much do the civilial model sell for and how hard are they to find? Is it safe to say that this is the only factory sporting rifle for civilian use ever produced in .303 British?
Click to expand...

I saw one on Joe Salter's site a couple of months ago, it was far from cheap. Not something you see come up for sale often if at all.
There were some really good pics of it on there, wish I could find them. They were RCAF and DEW line survival rifles AFAIK.
 
EAL's

Have had a couple over the years. Both were priced as cutdown No.4's therefore cheap, but if looking for one they'll be priced as if the last one on the planet ($250-350). To me they are like No.5's, someone always wants it more than I do, so out the go.
 
If being sold as an EAL and if the military version, of which there are fewer, expect to pay at least $375-400.

Rob
 
Civilian sporting rifles. Actions, barrelled actions were purchased from LSA, BSA and set up by British gunmakers as sporting rifles. BSA made a line of factory sporters on Lee Speed actions. This was pre - WWI. Usually .303, but other calibres as well. These are very graceful, elegant sporting rifles. EALs are primitive in comparison. There were double rifles made as well. In addition to the 1895 Winchester, there were a variety of Ross sporting rifles made in .303.
 
I have a minty EAL, I've been offered anywhere from $75 to $750. the latter by a fellow that knew what it really was. Most people just think they're nice bubbas.

The EAL rifles were built in two versions, the military versions have the tangeant style two leaf rear sight on the barrel, with 5 round magazines and the civilian versions look like the one in the picture, wil the flip type sight on the action and the 10 round magazines.

There is a lot of conjecture as to the use of the military EALs, Supplying the Rangers was a secondary consideration from what I've read. Some were used in aircraft as survival rifles and the rest were put into storage until they were issued to the Rangers. I don't know when or if these rifles were actually sold into the surplus market or a few managed to leak out of the system.
I talked to an old Hercules pilot that said there were always a couple on board, but were never to his knowledge used. They were given rudimentary training with some very well used EALs and he said the muzzle blast and recoil was nasty, makes sense. There is a writeup on EAL rifles and versions in Skennertons book. bearhunter
 
I purchased mine at a gunshow in Northern Alberta. The vendor thought it was a common sporter. Going to put a scope on it since it is drilled and tapped on the side.
 
xcaribooer said:
Anyone know what the original sling would have been on these? Just the standard tan fabric one?I dont think mine is coming with and I would like to find one.Mabee at the HACS show in Coquitlam in March.
Click to expand...

Did you get this rifle yet? We'd like to see pics...:) :D
 
Original sling was a simple leather sling, about 3/4" wide. Stitched on the butt end to close it around the sling swivel, the forestock end had a belt buckle style fastener.

rob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom