New sportered Swiss rifles

[Latigo]

Thanks for using our mount, Calfed.

This is copied from a Golden State quite a while ago.
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Golden Sate Arms was one of the first North American arms companies to start commercially sporterizing military surplus arms (circa 1950-1960). They did this through their Santa Fe Division, not only sporterizing Enfields but also Mausers, Swiss K31s and such others.

Much like the companies that are currently doing this, Santa Fe invested considerable time and effort in milling down the rifles. Shortening the barrels on some, removing magazine charger bridges and removing rear sight bosses on others. Finishing touches included adding ramped front sights, rear express sights, polishing and re-bluing the finished product. They added modified military "sporter" stocks to some and outfitted others with new commercial wood. All in all, Golden State Arms offered about 11 different models of Enfields, each progressing up the dollar chain. One of these models is featured here, the Santa Fe Model 1944.

The Swiss Model 1911 was converted by the hundreds to .308 caliber. The ".308" is clearly marked on either the barrel or the side of the rear sight housing. These were converted from the original Model 1911 Swiss long rifle and have a standard Bakelite bolt knob.
The barrels are shortened to acommodate the re-chambering and the stock sporterized in a professional manner. These rifles are noted for their accuracy.

Perhaps what Golden State Arms is most famous for (though not widely known for) is coining the phrase "Jungle Carbine". In naming their look-a-like No5 and No6 rifles the Jungle Carbine, the name has stuck and is used in describing all shortened versions of the Enfield, original and fake. So complete has this assimilation been that the term Jungle Carbine is used in advertising, reference books and by collectors alike, despite the fact that these rifles (original) were never officially designated as such.
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This is one of mine and they were right. Its extremely accurate.





The true value of this so-named "Alpine Sporter" is easily $225.00


Latigo

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[Calfed]

Thanks, Latigo.

I recently purcahsed one of your D&T scope mounts for the 96/11 from Graf's and am going to have it installed. I'll give a range report after I do.

Wow, that is one nice looking Swiss sporter. I see those every once in a while on GB and would like to get one someday. I also see sportered 1889 rifles from time to time. Were those also converted by GSA?

Is that Swiss Products D&T scope mount that I spy on your rifle?

[Latigo]

I don't think GSA converted anything other than the 1911s.
Yeah, that's one of our mounts. I really like the one in the photo. My Dad developed load data a long time ago for the .308 conversions and man that rifle is a shooter. They seem to show up at gunshows, so it you do find one, buy it. You won't be disapponted. The sellers very often don't have a clue what they are.

Latigo