Ranger 303 rifles

[bros]

Again to set the record straight........................
Anyone with a valid firearms licence can purchase a Ranger Rifle as long as it was a gifted rifle and acquired while the Ranger possessed a valid firearms licence. The "Crown" no longer owns it once the gifting process is completed and the rifle is treated as any other in "private possession".
Canadian Ranger rifles are by no means limited to just Longbranch manufacture...my Ranger rifle is a Faz No4 MK2 and I have seen others in our patrol that are the same while most still are Longbranch. I have examined all.......sorry no rare 1941 dated Longbranch rifles...the earliest I examined was a 1942.
I believe our gov't funneled a lot of their Enfield war stock no4"s in the early days to the Mujahideen in Afganistan and subsequently had to buy No4's from abroad to fill the gaps created by themselves........hence my Faz no4 mk2!!!! It is US import marked on the front of the barrel so it's been around the block a time or two.
Go figure.....Longbranch manufactured in excess of 900,000 rifles and as a Canadian Ranger I'm issued a English made Enfield that was probably purchased by the Canadian gov't from a surplus arms dealer in the US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No complaints from me about owning a Faz No4 MK2 though.....it's an accurate beauty, all matching and it will remain with me...sorry it's not for sale!!!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Again to set the record straight.

No, that's understood.

The difference is the ones held still in stock of wherever...worshop, stores... The ones the rangers have will go wherever but they comprise a smaller number than the holdings. The ones in hands of the gov't will not come available...

[Frederick303]

Nothing new, they destroyed a lot of the Ross rifles right after WWII.

[mrclark303]

That's terrible news, considering the Canadian Government (like the UK) are hellbent on destroying taxpayer property, I'm amazed the Rangers are allowed to buy their issued No4.

[bros]

That's terrible news, considering the Canadian Government (like the UK) are hellbent on destroying taxpayer property, I'm amazed the Rangers are allowed to buy their issued No4.

Let me set the record straight.......
Rangers are not able to buy their old service rifle, they are being "gifted" them as long as he/she wants to keep it. They must have a valid firearms licence or else "no dice". Our patrol here in Dawson went thru this exercise about 4 months . Out of 33 Rangers..... they all were interested in keeping their Lee Enfield, mind you there were a few that had neglected to have in their possesion a up to date firearms licence (expired) or it was in the process of being renewed. There seems to be a small grace period for those in that situation. Those who could not produce a current valid licence......their Enfield Rifles were taken away (but with the possibility of being gifted them at a later date once a valid licence is produced) but at the same time receiving the new C19. Those who were still in limbo meaning their fingerprints and paperwork (not firearms licence) was not up to date did not receive the new C19 and retained their Lee Enfield as their service weapon till that was squared away.....when paperwork and fingerprints are up to date they will be issued the C19 and will be gifted the Lee Enfield as long as they have a valid firearms licence
Hope this clarifies .

[englishman_ca]

Many of the Ranger rifles were bought on the surplus market AFTER some bright spark in Ottawa decided to get rid of the No.4s in war stocks.

So the rifles can be any mark or manufacture of the No.4. But there are some really nice Long Branches out on issue.
All the live 303 rifles were withdrawn from the Army Cadet organisation, which killed our large bore marksmanship program. Ours were mint looking LB, just beautiful. They would be the ones to find.

Most Rangers take really good care of their rifles. Maintain and keep them clean and oiled. Some Rangers, not so much.

[Seaforth72]

If buying an ex-Canadian Ranger Lee-Enfield, do check on condition (inside and out) as well as the maker, year etc. first. I know “bros” and he is very knowledgeable about these rifles and the Rangers.

I bought some ex-Ranger rifle No.4 furniture a few years ago, expecting decent Long Branch wood sets. Suffice to say I was disappointed when I received the parts as there was a lot of British wood in the batch and some of the wood was in really rough condition. This was obviously why they had been replaced. I do not blame my friend (not “bros”) who sold it to me as I had the “rose coloured glasses” on and I did not ask enough questions.

[303carbine]

If the rifle is good, I don't care where it came from or what story is attached.
It will be a hunting rifle and will be used in the manner it was intended, self defense from big fuzzy things that can eat you and those critters that I want to put in the fry pan.

[mrclark303]

If the rifle is good, I don't care where it came from or what story is attached.
It will be a hunting rifle and will be used in the manner it was intended, self defense from big fuzzy things that can eat you and those critters that I want to put in the fry pan.

Never heard the Germans described as big fuzzy things.......

[amadeus76]

Never heard the Germans described as big fuzzy things.......

I've been described as a 'teddy bear', does that count? But then I'm only half German...