Info requested on EAL .303

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homeboy1

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I have a Canadian made EAL .303 bolt action rifle. I bought it 15 years ago, and am wondering if it is in original condition or if there are parts changed/missing. It shoots well and appears to be in excellent condition. I would also like to know what it might be worth. The only problem I see is when the rear sight is folded down the bolt catches when moved forward.

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Where's Woodchopper???;) :p :wave:

It's a perfectly good commercial EAL, but someone has put an Enfield Mk I rear sight on it.
It should have the specific EAL Mk II flip sight, on which 200/400 have been overstamped over 300/600. (you'll never find the right sight, but a normal Mk II flip is easy)

The stock looks to have been varnished too...they weren't usually that shiny.

Some get em for $100 as a bubbaed Enfield, some pay $500 or so as the collector item they are.

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Cantom, I am not disagreeing with you on the rear sight. I will say though that it just may be original. I've seen a couple of EAL civilian (commercial) models with the same sight. Two of them were in a collection, one was new, still had some cosmo in the barrel and action, the other was very well used. Both of the rifles in the collection are in a friends lock up and have been there since they first came on to the market. Their owner is 76 years old. He bought both of them new and used one as a primary hunting rifle for many years, it shows some hard but honest use.

I saw another one at the Kamloops Gun Show last spring and it was a clone of the rifle pictured. $175.

I passed on it as it wasn't in exc condition, I wouldn't use it so if it's going to be a safe queen, it needs to be an investment as well. It was in similar shape to the one pictured. I am also, like you a little sceptical as to originality. It strikes me that they would have left the protective cradle in place if it was intended to be there.

On the other hand, there are so many variations out there, who really knows? It's known that the rifles were made up from spares. But seeing as either all of the records were lost or destroyed, no one will really know for sure.

Just thought I would throw a curve into the main line thought stream.

I haven't seen much from Wheaty lately, maybe he could shed a little light on the situation, the same as he did with the Weaver scope mounted EALs.

I'm still kicking myself for passing on the one at a yard sale 5 years ago. $75.
 
EAL Rifle

I have one of the civilian EAL rifles, with the flip up sight.
The going price is usually around $400 for a good one. Mine came with a mismatched mag and a new Canadian sling.
I have observed some with replacement butt pads. They probably had some solvents on them and started to break down.
 
cantom said:
Where's Woodchopper???;) :p :wave:
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I'm here :D


I have to agree with cantom. My understanding is all the Civi EALs had the 2 position flip sight.

Now that said there were lots of Mk1 ladder sights floating around and is would not surprise me that they were used to replace the 2 position sights shortly after the rifles left the factory.


The Military EAL was intended to be a survival rifle for aircrews and the barrel mounted rear sight giving a notch and post type sight picture would be easier to use and maintain.
 
Oh and price, If I find them for under $200 I buy them :) Unless they have been bubb'ed :( like 6 extra holes in the side and top of the receiver for several different scope mounts :confused: :mad:

Selling I don't sell :D but I believe that they are worth $400-$500 depending on condition. These rifles are like a Parker Hale Sporter, the do command a premium in pricing only because they were made in limited numbers (less then 7000)

There are too many still out there that are being sold off at the going rate for Bubba'ed No4 rifles, and there are lots of sporterized No4's.
 
bearhunter said:
Both of the rifles in the collection are in a friends lock up and have been there since they first came on to the market. Their owner is 76 years old. He bought both of them new and used one as a primary hunting rifle for many years, it shows some hard but honest use.
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Interesting Bearhunter. Where and when did your friend buy them new? That's what I've been trying to find out. Who sold them and were they for sale to the public?
Would he swear he bought it new with a Mk I milled rear sight on it? Hmmm...I wonder if it was an extra cost option?

I wish someone could come up with an old ad showing them, in the Simpsons Sears catalogue or something.

Btw, I agree with this. Would the factory have shipped a rifle on which the bolt hits the adjuster wheel on the rear sight?

I am also, like you a little sceptical as to originality. It strikes me that they would have left the protective cradle in place if it was intended to be there.
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Remember this pic from the old Canadian Arsenals lineup from I think around 1967?



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I want to thank those of you that have answered my questions. I dug around in my parts bin and found a flip sight marked 200/400. I'll get her mounted and it's off to the range. Thanks again.
 
Tom, I will get in touch with him and ask. Knowing him, the rifles were picked up from the factory. He has been accumulating since he was 13 years old and had his first job, delivering news papers.

His memory is very sharp and he still likes to shoot. He hates computers with a passion though.

I'll phone him and see what he says. He lives about 500km from me so I won't be able to get pics right away.
 
bearhunter said:
Tom, I will get in touch with him and ask. Knowing him, the rifles were picked up from the factory. He has been accumulating since he was 13 years old and had his first job, delivering news papers.

His memory is very sharp and he still likes to shoot. He hates computers with a passion though.

I'll phone him and see what he says. He lives about 500km from me so I won't be able to get pics right away.
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Interested to hear whatever he says. Someone who bought one new could be "The Missing Link"...(tm) :cool:
 
I don't think he really is the missing link. He doesn't seem to pursue the history of his stuff. He seems to just collect what fancies his tastes at the time.
It is also more than possible, the factory offered the adjustable rear sights for the rifles as after market pieces. I won't know until I call him. He is a bit of a recluse to put it mildly. Nice guy, just doesn't like notoriety. Very capable fellow as well. He still lives on his own. His wife passed away 30 years ago and he never even looked further. His son and daughter are finally starting to get interested in what he has. Good thing, I was afraid he was going to ask me to move his collection. I think his son has gained enough appreciation to continue the legacy.
 
Ok boys, problem solved. He changed out the sights himself. The rifles were purchased from Harkley and Haywood. He did keep the original 2 leaf sights though and is now going to reinstall them. He told me he completely forgot about them until I mentioned it.
Sorry if I was misleading. Seeing as one of the rifles is new and unfired, except for factory testing, I know how I came to the assumption. Never assume anything, that's a golden rule in most of lifes experiences.
 
bearhunter said:
Ok boys, problem solved. He changed out the sights himself. The rifles were purchased from Harkley and Haywood. He did keep the original 2 leaf sights though and is now going to reinstall them. He told me he completely forgot about them until I mentioned it.
Sorry if I was misleading. Seeing as one of the rifles is new and unfired, except for factory testing, I know how I came to the assumption. Never assume anything, that's a golden rule in most of lifes experiences.
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What's Harkley and Haywood, a local BC gun store?
 
Yeah, it used to be the "gun store of choice" In the Lower Mainland. It was originally located on, I think Granville Street. Please feel free to correct me as to location. I don't like big cities. I remember the store well, they had all sorts of neat stuff. I bought my first P08, P38, P35 Inglis, H&R trapdoor and 30 M1 carbines as well as crates of M98ks and Lee Enfields there.
They had full service sales and gunsmithing on site and the store was filled with racks of stuff, just like Lever's. The guys that worked there were knowledgable and friendly.
They also carried high end stuff. That high end stuff, was kept on racks behind a counter but they had no qualms about letting a young fellow fondle one, as long as your hands were clean and not sweaty. They had great prices on surplus ammunition as well. They pretty much mirrored Allan Lever's stuff but came to Allan for first pick of the imports, after the staff had a chance at it of course. Allan was really good that way.
 
Eal

I've had a few over the years which I tend to pass on to others. By chance I noticed one at the Chilliwiack show this Saturday. Did anyone else spot it? Anyway, it was an odd one for sure, wearing a Winchester type Buckhorn sight dovetailed into the barrel, unmarked flush mag with rear sight legs milled off. Had a Parker-Hale side mounted scope base covering any markings that may have been on the receiver. Parts value alone exceeded the $165 price, bore was rough so I passed . Some might claim that it was third or fourth rare"EAL variation", but likely was some owner with failing sight prefered the Buckhorn over the factory 300/600 sight. If I see it again I might buy it just to see what serial range it is.
Geoff
 
longbranch* said:
I've had a few over the years which I tend to pass on to others. By chance I noticed one at the Chilliwiack show this Saturday. Did anyone else spot it? Anyway, it was an odd one for sure, wearing a Winchester type Buckhorn sight dovetailed into the barrel, unmarked flush mag with rear sight legs milled off. Had a Parker-Hale side mounted scope base covering any markings that may have been on the receiver. Parts value alone exceeded the $165 price, bore was rough so I passed . Some might claim that it was third or fourth rare"EAL variation", but likely was some owner with failing sight prefered the Buckhorn over the factory 300/600 sight. If I see it again I might buy it just to see what serial range it is.
Geoff
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I've seen a couple posted on here that had a buckhorn sight on them. God only knows who set em up that way.

BTW, was the PH mount this style?


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Harkley and Haywood, 101, West Hastings, Vancouver.
Going back to at least the 1930s, H&H was THE sporting goods outlet. If you were going on a hunt in the great hinterlands of BC, you first outfitted at H&H. Same went for big time fishing.
It was a prestige firm. Until the 1950s lots of ordinary sportsmaen would buy top quality equipment from them. Then, when the guys gathered around to admire it, they would smuggly say, "I picked it up at Harkley and Haywood!"
By the 1960s hunters and fishermen were bragging about how cheap they got something from Army and Navy, but that's another story.
In the 1950s I was good friends with the gentleman who held the top position in the BC Game Department, for all of northern BC. I was on a trip with him to Vancouver and he took me to H&H. He knew the two principals very well and we spent quite a bit of time with them. They were soft spoken, friendly and just a great pair.
 
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