Canada Ping!
Posted on 10/19/2014 7:55:46 AM PDT by fso301
The foe now has four legs.
But a century on, the rugged reliability and brute firepower that made the Lee-Enfield rifle the standard-issue weapon for entrenched Canadian troops during the latter half of the First World War makes it an ideal choice still for a modern group of this country’s soldiers.
The Canadian Rangers — a component of the armed forces reserves — conduct sovereignty patrols and assist search and rescue missions in the Far North and in remote coastal regions across the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...
Parts can not be fabricated?
I have a brand new fresh out of the cosmoline 1951 Longbranch No. 4 Mk1 but they ain’t gettin’ it back.
My grandfather was the US liaison to Great Britain for our production of the Lee Enfield here in the US. It was a very good rifle.
I am sorry to hear of its demise.
Very smooth extraction as it cocks on closing the bolt, ten round magazine, ahead of its peers, but locks bolt at the rear demanding lower pressure than the Mauser and making it hard on brass. Aesthetically pleasing in the collection.
Sure do like mine.
I think there are still stock piles of these locked away somewhere waiting to be rediscovered
Canada Ping!
I own two copies of a interesting variant. It’s the Ishapore Enfield and its chambered in 7.62mm NATO. It was manufactured at the Ishapore Armory in the early 1960s. It shoots like a dream.
I paid $125 a piece for them. I wish I’d bought a dozen.
Original parts should be available for another century but it is probably some combination of politics and the bureaucratic purchasing process being unable to purchase from anyone other than "approved" suppliers.
I own a 90 percent condition 1881 Argentine Mauser bought from a guy who needed money to pay his taxes. The only damage is where the Argentine crest used to be.
It still shoots like a dream.
Plenty ‘o SMLE spares at gun shows here in NW Ohio. Those big bolt guns give a healthy kick, not like the semi-auto poodle shooters! ;)
My great-grandfather was a tool and die maker in the Ukraine at the turn of the century. Back then, they were certain that their industry would be indispensable for many centuries to come. Just 50 years later, plastics were becoming the norm, and many metal industries saw dramatic reduction in staffing due to automation and assembly lines.
My guess is that many of the original tools and dies are becoming hard to find if not impossible, and that will only get worse in the coming decades. I have several CAD designers in my family who fabricate for sheet metal factories, and even they tell me that the “old way” of doing things with iron and steel is becoming rare.
Note the rifle the guy is holding has been sporterized
I see in the article that they stopped making the rifle itself in 1955, yes 60 years ago. That makes the lack of spare parts less baffling.
Filed under my "If I knew then what I know now" list.
For several years before I got my DL SMLEs and Carcano carbines were stacked in wooden barrels at end aisles at our local Hechinger's Lumber and Harware chain. Still covered in cosmoline.
They were $19.95 cash and carry, no forms. In Maryland no less.
Can't recall what I wasted my hard earned dollars for back then, but whatever it was it was a waste.
“Parts can not be fabricated?”
In another 10 years they will be able to be computer generated and printed by a powder metal 3D printer.
You find it too heavy? The M1 Garand is about half pound heaveier then the SMLE no. 1 Mk 4.
Here's where I play my certified geezer card.
In tenth grade when we were 14 or 15 years old our JROTC cadets were issued M1s sans firing pins. As scrawny as most of were we didn't have much trouble carrying them while drilling in manual of arms for an hour.
One or two class clowns even had to drill at high port for acting out. Before we fell in or after school we even practiced the Queens Manual of Arms hoping fo a spot on the drill team. The QMA involves a lot of tossing, swinging and spinning and butt stomping. Trail arms involved grasping the forearm high, lifting the butt a few inches off the ground, twisting the wrist such that rifle was about fifteen degress from vericle, and then holding them M1 stock still and steady while marching. Tends to strengthen you somewhat. And then from that position going into the fun stuff,
Our class mascot a funny little butterball of akid was about 5'3" and he managed to do it all without a whimper even while looking like a khaki butterbean.
Picture is of #4 Enfield, not a Lee Enfield, Short, Magazine.
These guys have a fair amount of Enfield parts and other milsurp parts/accesories.
https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=63
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.