E.A.L. Lee Enfield questions

[P.E. Islander]

At a gun show this past weekend I scored a rather nice "military" pattern E.A.L. Lee Enfield. The rifle is in quite good shape. The serial # is in the mid 5000 range.

I have a couple questions:

First the magazine - The military pattern EAL is supposed to have a five round magazine, which mine did, however the magazine mine came with is a made by Parker Hale. Is that the correct magazine (I don't think it is)? Can anyone point me to a photo of a proper 5 round EAL mag, or be so kind as to post a photo of one should they actually have one?

Second I have a question about the original finish used on the stocks. Mine has rather poorly applied varnish which I doubt is original. Luckily the wood does not appear to have been sanded. Was the original finish an oil finish?

Thanks for any help.

Information

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[newcastle]

DAMMIT WHY can't I find one of these in the USA ANYWHERE. grrrr. post pics please so we can droool a little.

[Badger]

Hello P.E. Islander ...

You might want to try our Google CSE custom search engine located in the top right corner below the words "Advanced Search". It only searches our site using Google techniques and can be quite efficient. For example, in your case, type in the words eal or e.a.l. and see what happens ..

Lots of old threads and great pictures ...

Regards,
Doug

[breakeyp]

Sorry Newcastle but I found two in the US. They are out there you just have to be patient and go to as many gunshows as you can.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Ditto, I have one of each, the civillian version and the military version.

[jmoore]

So which of youse guys can help P.E.Islander?

[breakeyp]

I do not have the right 5rd magazine either.

[browningautorifle]

The bottom of the mag is squareed off. Very well done actually. The later round bottom ones are replacement from Parker Hale, which you may find also marked by another country. The only pics I have on hand don't belong to me.

[limpetmine]

I will check mine tonight and post a picture or two.

[breakeyp]

Thank you Newcastle for commenting on the scarcity of EAL rifles in the US. Ironically, I found my third one today at a local shop. Very reasonably priced as the dealer felt that it had been butchered by Bubba. I have a few items I am looking for, if I Email you could you ask about them in a posting. You seem to have a gift. Thank you.

The top rifle came from the Enfield author Charles Stratton estate. I have all the paperwork deading back to Stratton. None have the mystical five round magazine.