EAL Type Longbranch Experts Weigh In

[Surpmil]

As far as SAL/CAL is concerned, what was disposed of, apart from employees, was probably just excess machinery and office equipment, and IRRC what I think I read, the machinery was mostly moth-balled. This was the Cold War after all.

The parts, jigs, tooling, drawings etc. etc. all stayed, naturally, since they continued to manufacture No4s at a slower rate, as well as various other things like the Canadian EM2 etc. There were hundreds of NOS 1955 Long Branch receivers around a few decades ago, albeit with the last digit struck separately, so work continued.

It would have made no sense to dispose of No4 parts; it was still to be our service rifle for over a decade. We've seen evidence in other made-up rifles that parts that were slightly defective and no doubt 'written off' as a result were put aside for possible use later. Same thing happened in other factories: about ten years back Sarco or one of those places had a run of original No5 flash hiders: not repros, originals. Perfect in all respects except the bores of the cones were slightly misaligned. Some sensible person decided there was no point throwing them away after public money had been spent on them, when they might be useable or repairable later.

It's 60 odd years ago, but there might be a few SAL/CAL people still around who could confirm these things.

Your rifle does appear to have the maple leaf proof mark on the barrel and what other rifles does that show up on? Definitely the 7.62mm 'DCRA conversions'.

If there are other markings you have found please post photos of them.

Instinctive scepticism is not a bad thing!

[Baal]

Not an expert like some who have chimed in here. But I see a 'lunch-box special', not a prototype, or number 2 on the production line.

All of the oldest EALs that I've seen have modified military buttstocks do they not? It was a while I to the production run that the sporter butt stock came into use.

Nope, you've got a nice home built copy. Probably made by an employee who liberated most of what he needed from the factory. With the average EAL is that condition worth roughly $450 to $500 dollars I wouldn't consider more than $350-400 for this rifle.

[Brian Dick]

I'll stick with my original opinion in post #5. I'm not an expert by a long shot but I did import hundreds of rifles from Ontario back in the 90's and early 2000's and I had several examples that were obviously built from legit parts that originated in the Toronto, Mississauga area. This includes No.4's, C No.7's and Browning pistols. Many were obvious "lunch box" examples. Others were assembled post CAL auction by Armourers properly and some were not assembled properly by whoever. I had several of the C No.7 trainers built from parts and it was easy to tell they weren't done by an Armourer because I had to refit the rear sight on every one of them before I could add them to inventory. I cannibalized a few of these parts rifles for my own projects too and was glad to get them for the sum of the parts at the time.

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 PM ----------

Oh yeah: I'd love to see those pictures too.

[browningautorifle]

So Dogfish, what IS an expert then? Did you have anyone in mind? We've been waiting for Warren Wheatfield to come to surface but he won't...when we need him...but I doubt you know his so he may not suffice for you. I don't think anyone cares enough about this particular model to only study it, the LE family however...well these men above are the ones that have the most knowledge there. I think it's a parts gun too, I've built lots of them.

We've seen lot of these type of posts, a question is asked, then insisted on, and then when we don't come to your way of thinking we get this exact result. Then it turns condescending and acrimonious...we have no reason to steer anyone wrong. And, it doesn't mater in the long run.

[vintage hunter]

I don't know jack $#!t about EAL rifles but I feel honored to be grouped in with a crowd the does. Thanks.

[boltaction]

Hi all:
I've run across what seems to be a correct EAL RCAF issue piece--5 shot mag, flip rear sight etc. Does anyone know what the approximate value of one would be in Canada?

Thx

Ed

[Peter Laidler]

Hey, Dogfish......., where are you - just when we need a real subject matter expert?

[browningautorifle]

Does anyone know what the approximate value of one would be in Canada?

You'd probably be best watching CanadianGunNutz and see what they go for. They only come up once in a while and they go higher than I'd pay. At least that's what's asked... You might want to post some pics here and the guys might be more help too. At least a few quotes from various area can give you a starting place... I wouldn't even want to start without seeing it.

[Ax.303]

It's all good. Look, frankly Peter, Lee, Brian, Vintage, Ax: you're all wrong.

Dogfish, do yourself a favour. Set the rifle down and step back a few feet and take a good look at it.

If your lucky you will see what most of us see. And you can move on.

It just does not look like a rifle that would be let out the door by a reputable shop. Whether it be Canadian Arsenals, EAL, or anyone else.

[Biloba]

I have a EAL marked Longbranch 1943 with a E25 serial