THE E.A.L. (ESSENTIAL AGENCIES LIMITED) RIFLE

The E.A.L. Rifle

Warren Wheatfield © 1999 Enfield Research Associates

In the mid- to late-1950s, an interesting variant of the No. 4 Mk I* was produced in Canada by the firm of Essential Agencies Limited (E.A.L.) of Toronto. Several thousand were manufactured, and at least 1000 were purchased by the Canadian government and issued to the Royal Canadian Air Force for use as a survival rifle, and to the Canadian Northern Rangers for use as a standard longarm. This variant is a "sporter" version of the Long Branch military rifle, but it is NOT a "sporterized" No. 4 Mk I*--it is a newly-manufactured rifle! This variant of the No. 4 rifle is generally referred to as the "E.A.L. Rifle."

Within the past five years, 19 E.A.L. Rifles have been shipped to military repair depots, all coming from Ranger units in the Northwest Territories. In addition, quite a few E.A.L. Rifles have turned up here and there and have been snapped up by collectors. It is not clear how many E.A.L. Rifles are still in existence.

The major distinguishing features of the E.A.L. Rifle are a full-pistol-grip buttstock with a rubber recoil pad, a shortened and slimmed down fore-end with a Schnabel tip, a shortened barrel, and a heavily modified action body. The charger bridge and most of the top portions of the action body are milled away, leaving only the base for the backsight axis pin. The action body and other metal parts are polished and blued rather than oil-blackened. The E.A.L. Rifle is also distinguished by its action body markings. A second style of marking has been observed, having no caliber designation and no periods after the letters: "EAL 2580".

The E.A.L. Rifle is found in both civilian and military models. The civilian models are serial numbered in the range of 2000 to 5000, while the military models are numbered in the 6000 to 6999 range. The civilian models have 10-round magazines and military Mk II (two-position flip-type) rear sights, while the military models have 5-round magazines and an express-type rear sight with two folding blades. Also, the civilian models have ramp-type front sights with bead-type blades, while the military models have standard military front sights. Military models have been observed with holes drilled and tapped for Parker Hale scope mounts, and at least one military model exists mounted with a Tasco 4x scope. The wrists of the military model buttstocks bear military acceptance proofs.

Various Canadian government documents refer to the E.A.L. Rifle military model as NATO stock number 1005-21-8-8-9499 and RCAF number EO.30-65FE. Other RCAF documents list the E.A.L. Rifle as ".303 cal rifle sports model". Rifles in the range of 6280 to 6999 appear to have been issued to Ranger units.

Essential Agencies Limited was founded in 1945 as a sporting goods importer/distributor. In 1950s, E.A.L. apparently purchased surplus action bodies, barrels, and small parts from Canadian Arsenals Ltd. (C.A.L.) of Long Branch, Ontario. Records indicate that E.A.L. contracted with the firm of S. St. Francis and Sons at 166A York Street, Toronto to do the machining on the action bodies.

The action bodies are not stamped with the usual "No. 4 Mk I*" model identification or the "Long Branch" factory designation, nor were they dated or serial numbered by C.A.L. They do bear Canadian proof marks and C.A.L. inspector's marks, however, these being from the time period of 1953 to 1960. In addition, bolts, cocking pieces, trigger guards, and safety locking levers bear "CA" markings. No sign of thinning is apparent on the portions of the action body where model and factory identifying marks are normally found. Also, high magnification reveals no signs of Long Branch serial numbers having been removed.

The furniture as well is newly manufactured. The buttstocks are thinner in cross section and deeper at the toe than are No. 4 rifle buttstocks and have full pistol grips; hence, they cannot be modified military buttstocks. The recoil pads are JOSTAM "Anti-Flinch" pads of the same type found on No. 67 sniper rifles. The fore-ends bear a resemblance to standard No. 4 fore-ends but they lack the lightening cuts in the barrel channel.

The barrels appear to be No. 4 military rifle barrels shortened to 21-3/8 inches and re-crowned. The barrels have "CA" markings on the Knox form and "crown and lance" proof marks on the right side.

On E.A.L. Rifles observed, the breech cover loop has been removed from the trigger guard. The sling swivels are late variants of No. 4 rifle swivels. The butt swivel bracket is standard military, and the front swivel is a standard military butt swivel bracket inletted into the bottom of the fore-end.

RCAF (Military Variant)

Muzzle and Front Sight - This image shows the foresight ramp and standard No4 rifle foresight blade. Also shown in this picture is the shortened barrel (21-3/8”) re-crowned and the absence of bayonet lugs.

Front Sling Swivel - Stamped style sling swivel recessed into the fore-end.

Magazine and Trigger Guard - Unique to the E.A.L. Rifle, the breach cover loop has been omitted. This particular rifle is fitted with a military pattern 5 round magazine.

Rear Sight - The express type two position rear sight mounted to the barrel at the knox form indicates that this rifle was built for the Canadian military. Note the clear CA (Canadian Arsenals) stamping on the knox form.

Receiver Markings - Notice the shortened receiver wall.

Buttsocket and Receiver - Illustrated here, the milled away sight axis bosses and charger bridge. Note also the clean buttsocket, no signs of earlier stamps being removed.

Commercial Variant - The commercial version of the EAL Rifle was produced using the standard military MkII backsight (two position flip) and a standard 10 round magazine.

Close-up of the Mark II rear sight and 10 round magazine.

Images provided by Darby Kruger