Eal .303

XRAYGUY

XRAYGUY

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I have a near-mint EAL .303, military version with the 5 round magazine, in the low 6000 serial number range. I have found some info, online, but am curious if anyone out there can tell me anything about it...?

Was it an RCAF issue survival rifle, or a Ranger issued piece of kit? What's it worth?

I will post some photos as soon as I can...

thanks...

XRAYGUY
 
There's nowhere in the world with as much EAL information as right here on CGN, starting with the writer of the online article about them, member Wheaty.

I could post your pics if you don't know how. Just send me your email address via pmail.



XRAYGUY said:
I have a near-mint EAL .303, military version with the 5 round magazine, in the low 6000 serial number range. I have found some info, online, but am curious if anyone out there can tell me anything about it...?

Was it an RCAF issue survival rifle, or a Ranger issued piece of kit? What's it worth?

I will post some photos as soon as I can...

thanks...

XRAYGUY
Click to expand...
 
Sweet. I'm fairly tech savvy, but I live in the middle of nowhere and have to come to town for internet. I'll post those pictures ASAP... and get hold of Wheaty. Thank you.
 
EAL .303 pictures

OK... read up on the tutorials and am gonna try and post a picture or two... Too bad it wasn't just a case of uploading from my laptop... Anyway, here's my EAL.

Comments, please...

NLCUv


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NLCUv
 
EAL .303 pictures - for sure this time...

I fingered er out...

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Any comments or observations on the rifle? Any comments or observations on the size or quality of the pictures...? I'm a "newbie" so let me know...
 
The pics are way too big. Personally I resize them to about 100KB. In Windows XP, I use Windows Picture Resizer and resize them all. Your pics are probably like 2 or more MB each, too big.

Interesting...what is that finish on top of the bluing? That won't wipe off with oil on a rag?

If I didn't know better I'd say it is Long Branch green parkerizing which is peeling off? (actually, I don't think parkerizing peels off- it's more like etching) Or is it paint?

Maybe being military, this went back to Canadian Arsenals for a refurb in the early fifties?

The front sight hold down piece is in wrong or is the wrong piece? See pics of mine.


EALMilitary26Large.jpg


EALMilitary4Large-1.jpg
 
Cool. Thanks Cantom, I will definitely re-size them. This was my grandfather's rifle and I know very little about it as he passed away in 1958. About the only documentation that I have for it is a receipt showing that he had traded an old Pontiac (I think) for it. I'll have to dig that out one day and see if I can make out a name...
The rifle is, more or less, the way that I got it 25 years ago... but it did roll around on the floor of my pick-up for several years as my go to deer rifle and picked up a few extra nicks and whatnot. The finish is interesting as it won't wipe off with an oily rag... it seems to be some sort of paint...
Of all the pictures that I have seen of these EALs, it seems that very few of them escaped the drill bit of the back-yard gunsmith. I read somewhere, once, that of the military rifles the majority went to the Rangers and a small number went to the Air Force, and that this distinction could be made by the serial number... is there any truth to this and if so, what is the breakdown of the numbers...?
 
Oh. And the blade of my front sight says Redfield... Is that OEM or is that something that was added later...?

thanks...
 
XRAYGUY said:
Cool. Thanks Cantom, I will definitely re-size them. This was my grandfather's rifle and I know very little about it as he passed away in 1958. About the only documentation that I have for it is a receipt showing that he had traded an old Pontiac (I think) for it. I'll have to dig that out one day and see if I can make out a name...
The rifle is, more or less, the way that I got it 25 years ago... but it did roll around on the floor of my pick-up for several years as my go to deer rifle and picked up a few extra nicks and whatnot. The finish is interesting as it won't wipe off with an oily rag... it seems to be some sort of paint...
Of all the pictures that I have seen of these EALs, it seems that very few of them escaped the drill bit of the back-yard gunsmith. I read somewhere, once, that of the military rifles the majority went to the Rangers and a small number went to the Air Force, and that this distinction could be made by the serial number... is there any truth to this and if so, what is the breakdown of the numbers...?
Click to expand...

Interesting interesting...1958 eh?:) That's the first time I have been successful at nailing down a date of any kind re these rifles. I've asked and asked and got nowhere.
Re which rifles went to the Rangers and which to the Air Force??? The only person who might know the answer is Warren Wheatfield, and if he doesn't, then the answer is lost in the sands of time. Because he has researched it to the best of his abilities and had difficulty getting any info out of the people that knew. I've also seen the early s/n civilian models with the same scope mount holes seen on some military issue rifles. Almost seems like no hard and fast rules.

But, I'm glad your rifle has survived and is in your hands!

BTW, does anyone at all know if EAL's were ever sold commercially, and if so where and when?
 
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