Enfields in this month's American Rifleman...sort of

[ssgross]

Couple bits in this month's American Rifleman...
Commercial version of Canadian C19, which replaced the last serving Enfield No. 4's in 2018, which was news to me, although I had never thought about it before I saw the article. What I found most curious was the reported sticker price of this Tikka T3x Arctic - much more than I spent on my brand new in the wrap No. 4. To be fair, the bolt and muzzle were protruding from the wrap and showed signs of deteriorated, which to me warranted the unwrapping and later enjoyment thereof. Can anyone tell me what is so special about the C19/T3x that makes it worth this price? Looks like a pretty ordinary bolt rifle, with crappy mass produced Boyds-style laminate stock to me.


Also of interest is another fine article by Bruce Canfield. This one on the model 1918.

[CINDERS]

Mostly all stainless parts probably ssgross.

[MAC702]

The street price is still over $2k. Probably more for the novelty factor of having the same rifle as the official C19 rifle. You can't get one anywhere else, and they know you know it.

[browningautorifle]

Can anyone tell me what is so special about the C19/T3x that makes it worth this price?

Somebody smelled the money.

[ssgross]

I think you all are right. Is the C19 version just as ugly with the same laminate stock?

I wish there was a repop 1918 scope and rings. I have a 1917 sporter action burning a hole on my shelf.

[MAC702]

...Is the C19 version just as ugly with the same laminate stock?

The real C19 Canadian Ranger version is a red laminate instead of orange, and has the Ranger badge in it.

When the rifle was first being requested, one of the requirements was that it had to be something that was NOT identical to something that could be bought. Either the change in stock color is sufficient to bring it to market, or there are other changes, or now that that contract is fulfilled, there is nothing stopping the maker from now releasing something almost identical.

[Lee Enfield]

The real C19 Canadian Ranger version is a red laminate instead of orange, and has the Ranger badge in it.

When the rifle was first being requested, one of the requirements was that it had to be something that was NOT identical to something that could be bought. Either the change in stock color is sufficient to bring it to market, or there are other changes, or now that that contract is fulfilled, there is nothing stopping the maker from now releasing something almost identical.

It's basically a CTR with steel double stack mags, iron sights, a laminate stock and an integrated larger bolt knob.

It looks like a T3x is nearly the same gun in a plastic stock...and without the iron sights...

[ssgross]

It looks like a T3x is nearly the same gun in a plastic stock...and without the iron sights...

Yes. I'm seeing a T3x Lite, no threaded muzzle, and plastic stock, $749-$950 depending on chambering, barrel length, left or right hand, some options of non-stainless. Hard to believe a magazine+stainless+threaded_muzzle+iron_sights jacks the price up to that of the T3x Arctic version.

I can't find any Arctic's for sale yet in the US. Cabelas.ca though has it...for $3,149.99!!! - well I guess that's 2,273.94 US today. Assuming barrel profiles are the same, could be some profit in converting T3x's to Arctic. The sights would be the only challenging part to get.

I think everyone has it though...a novelty (ugly one at that) with tightly controlled supply.

[Surpmil]

It must have hurt the NDHQ drones to finally have to close the file on the replacement for the No.4; after all, actually making a decision and concluding a matter is like putting yourself out of a job, and that little charade kept who knows how many busy for almost a generation.

The standard of weapon maintenance "in the North" is notoriously poor and anything provided free to anyone tends to be less well maintained that what you have to buy for yourself, so something more abuse-proof than the No.4 was desirable. And it is a climate where constant attention is required to maintain machinery of all kinds.

Nevertheless, it would have been completely easy to settle on the No.4 Mk.I* and/or Mk.2 as standard, fit them with a shorter and heavier stainless barrel and perhaps a flash-hider of some kind, restock in an "L39/L42" style, fit a proper Monte Carlo stock and carry on for another fifty years or so.

Mill out the receivers for the L8 mag, have a run of them made, extractors to match and put it all together.

A strong, simple, fixed zero and focus 4x scope with a reticule having aiming marks up to 1300m or so, on a detachable mount based on the Kochetov design which allows collimation after fitting...and that's that. Adjustable tritium illumination if you wanted to get really fancy.

But simple, cheap and effective solutions are not what bureaucracies want, particularly not in peacetime!

[Sapper740]

There's some preferential treatment goin' on here! I just got my American Rifleman magazine yesterday!