Sporterized .303 Enfield identification

350mag1

350mag1

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North of the Muskoka's
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I’m hoping someone may be able to help identifying this rifle. It came to me as part of a collection. Not sure if it maybe a Parker Hale? The only markings I can make out is the letters stamped under the grip cap. EF5A3560-F85D-4524-8CE8-2D0F5FF5868E.jpeg
It seems that someone definitely spent some time and $$$ on it.
 

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tiriaq said:
Not a Parker Hale. Looks to be a custom project done by a skilled gunsmith. A lot of time, effort and skill went into that rifle.
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Totally agree. When I acquired the rifle, the stock had a horrendous varnish/stain job on the wood. I could tell there was something nice hiding under the layers. Took some time to bring it back but worth the effort.
 
Beautiful gun. In your second picture by the glare. I can see ROF and something else. Royal Ordance Factory. Should be a date and possibly a serial number. I want to say it’s a Fazakerly but not sure. Get a magnifying glass, check what is on the receiver side. Could possibly be something on the wrist below the safety. Rear of bolt handle may have a serial number.
 
Snider shooter said:
Beautiful gun. In your second picture by the glare. I can see ROF and something else. Royal Ordance Factory. Should be a date and possibly a serial number. I want to say it’s a Fazakerly but not sure. Get a magnifying glass, check what is on the receiver side. Could possibly be something on the wrist below the safety. Rear of bolt handle may have a serial number.
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Good eye! I believe you’re right about the ROF but the rest of it is very difficult to make out. I did find a serial number on the bolt38A1CDC7-5CC7-4684-9442-2E4EF166F09B.jpeg
 
350mag - to clarify - you found a number on the bolt handle - that might or might not be the serial number of the rifle - the serial number on No. 4 Lee Enfields were commonly found on the right side of the wrist - or sometimes electro-penciled on right side of receiver during a factory through repair (FTR). The 6/43 might be the date of an overhaul when it was in the military? Or it could be the date of manufacture - the rifle's serial number will help to determine that.
 
Potashminer said:
350mag - to clarify - you found a number on the bolt handle - that might or might not be the serial number of the rifle - the serial number on No. 4 Lee Enfields were commonly found on the right side of the wrist - or sometimes electro-penciled on right side of receiver during a factory through repair (FTR). The 6/43 might be the date of an overhaul when it was in the military? Or it could be the date of manufacture - the rifle's serial number will help to determine that.
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Thank you for the information. There are reminisces of markings on the barrel as well but difficult to identify what they are. There is a 80 year old fella in my town that has been a gun smith all his life. Him and his father built some guns back in the day. I’m going to contact him this weekend and see if he may have had a hand in this. I really enjoy the story some of these old rifles tell which is why I posted here. Lots of great info! I appreciate all your input fellas!
 
Nice rifle. Definitely custom. In terms 50s and 60s there were many talented gunsmiths in canada building some very nice sporters from lee enfields. Sadly most are gone now and a lot of knowledge with them.
 
Mike Webb said:
Nice rifle. Definitely custom. In terms 50s and 60s there were many talented gunsmiths in canada building some very nice sporters from lee enfields. Sadly most are gone now and a lot of knowledge with them.
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So true. Our one local stock maker is up there in years and when gone, will take so much craftsmanship with him. He does things old school, whether it be inlettting, checkering, finishing….. lots of time and hands on but in the end, you have a piece of art.
 
Lots of sported Lee Enfields out there. Most, at best, might be considered acceptable knockabout sporters. The top end Parker Hales are pretty good. I shot caribou with one, did just fine.
To take a service rifle and turn it into a superior sporting rifle can be done. The Epps one piece stock conversions are an example.
The classic vintage Lee Speed sporting rifles have the same basic action and barrel as a SMLE. To take a SMLE and rework it into something as nice as a Lee Speed sporter is a challenge. A great example is the rifle being done by Evanguy. In some ways, the SMLE receiver is a better candidate with its rounded contours.
 
I had to the chance this afternoon to visit the local gunsmith I referred to earlier in this thread. At 89 years old, shaken hands but a keen eye, he suspects that this .303 was one him and his dad built. The first thing he look at was the front sight. He said it definitely looked like the ones his father used to make. He brought out some of his own hand built examples and sure enough, the sights were pretty much identical. Other things like the under cut cheek piece design and checkering was a identifier as well. Although not a 100% guarantee, he highly suspects it was one of theirs.
Ending our visit this afternoon, as I witnessed his aging, I realized I may have been born a generation to late lol. Conversations with gentlemen like him reminded me when jobs weren’t just jobs. For many, especially the older generation, their jobs were their passion. It wasn’t about how fast to get them out, it was the quality going into it. Pride of workmanship.
Thanks again to all who replied to my thread. I really appreciate it.
 
Unusual to find possible builder. Good for you. Some pretty gifted men built these rifles. They knew a thing or two about Lee Enfields. And to a lesser degree Ross rifles. I have an M10 Ross sporter gunsmith built that is a nail driver and not hard to look at either. Bought it for a song.
 
Mike Webb said:
Unusual to find possible builder. Good for you. Some pretty gifted men built these rifles. They knew a thing or two about Lee Enfields. And to a lesser degree Ross rifles. I have an M10 Ross sporter gunsmith built that is a nail driver and not hard to look at either. Bought it for a song.
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It’s a great day when you can stumble into something like that. That’s a rare find.
 
Mike Webb said:
Unusual to find possible builder. Good for you. Some pretty gifted men built these rifles. They knew a thing or two about Lee Enfields. And to a lesser degree Ross rifles. I have an M10 Ross sporter gunsmith built that is a nail driver and not hard to look at either. Bought it for a song.
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Pictures Please !
 
Bottom: Mum’s LE No. 1 sporter (by Dad). 6 lbs. Ross trigger guard. Cherry stock. She pulled down and 8 pointer with it.
Top: LE No. 1* (new forward stock in the spring) MINT barrel…Parker volley/target sight 1” MOA @ 100 yards
Middle: Jeffery’s Target No.1* (so engraved on bolt cover) w/ Parker Hale 9G. Sight and mount. Shoots as above.

Sorry about the scramble
Oldguncrank
 

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