Irish (?) contract No4 rifles

[Brian Dick]

Century Arms International in PQ, Canada and VT, USA, (at that time), was the primary importer along with Val Forgett of Navy Arms, Co. in NJ, USA. The term "Irish Contract" was used specifically in their adverts at the time and the simple answer is it just stuck. Good marketing approach I reckon! Since the late 1980's everyone who puts their NIW No.4Mk2 up for sale, (except me of course!), uses the term "Irish Contract". According to Skip Stratton's book, the only serial number range for Irish contract No.4Mk.2 rifles is PF309348-PF359347. That's 50,000 rifles so they were obviously never delivered as Peter states. I've had many of the freshly unwrapped and new in the wrap rifles and many are no where close to that serial number range although I had a half dozen used Mk.2's complete with numbered No.9Mk.1 bayonets that were definitely in the so called "Irish contract" serial range. My uneducated guess is that there were huge stores of these new rifles that were never delivered. Not just rifles supposedly destined for for the IDF. I think Peter has mentioned RAF contract rifles too in past threads. When the MoD sold them off for export ONLY in the 1980's, they were all taken to Donnington and disposed of, that is if they weren't already there in storage. Maybe Peter can answer that question. All I can say is: "Thank God they didn't get out the gas axe!!". It's amazing to find a 60 year old Lee Enfield service rifle, new in the factory wrapper! I got silly and sold my last few to Arundel Classic Guns in the UK several years ago. I exported a ton of them back via ACG in years past. Some of you gents in Blighty reading this are probably holding them! I've since acquired another one for my little No.4 collection and there it will reside for a long time. I won't unwrap it either!