Enfield Research Associates
Golden State Arms Corp. was a sizeable gun store located at 386 W. Green Street in Pasadena, California. They did a land-office business in the '50s and '60s importing and selling surplus military firearms; their 1958 catalog lists thousands of firearms, many of them one-of-a-kind items. Golden State Arm's 'Santa Fe' division sporterized military rifles--Lee-Enfields, Mausers, and a number of others. Golden State Arms went out of business in the late '60s, but several of their employees founded Federal Ordnance (Fed Ord), which did much of the same kind of work. Fed Ord fell by the wayside in the '80s and was succeeded by the Brinkle Trading Co. The Santa Fe Enfields from Golden State are an interesting group of rifles. The workmanship on all of them is quite nice--much better, in my opinion, than the current run of fakes and knock-offs being sold by Navy Arms' Gibbs Rifle Co. More importantly for the collector, the Santa Fe rifles are all identified as to model and firm by roll-stamping on the barrel. |
General Observations I had hoped for some consistency in the configuration of various models, but such was not the case. We have identical models with different furniture, different magazines, and different sights. Now, many rifles I am sure were modified over the years. Commercial sporter stocks were installed, magazines were lost and replaced, and new sights were installed. On the other hand, it may well be the case that Golden State was none too consistent when they built Santa Fe Enfields. Reported overall lengths vary from 36 to 45 inches, with most falling in the 39-1/4 to 42 inch range. Reported barrel lengths range from 17 to 24 inches, with most being 21 or 22 inches. It is not clear whether this reflects different ways of measuring lengths or variations in production. At lease one source credits Golden State Arms for coining the phrase 'Jungle Carbine.' That could well be, since the British never used the term to refer to the Lee-Enfield No. 5 rifle. Some Santa Fe conversions keep the original oil-blackened finish, while other models have lathe-turned barrels, bright polishing on the metal parts, and a deep, high-luster re-blue. |
| Barrel Markings All but one of the rifles in the survey had their barrels roll-stamped with the model designation and a line or two identifying Golden State Arms as having done the conversion (figure). The stamped letters are 1/8-inch high, sans-serif, all caps. The exact wording varies from model to model, however. Here are some examples: GOLDEN STATE ARMS CORP PASADENA CALIF 1941 SUPREME SANTA FE DIVISION GOLDEN STATE ARMS PASADENA CALIF SANTA FE JUNGLE CARBINE SANTA FE DIV GOLDEN STATE ARMS CORP PASADENA CALIF U.S.A. SANTA FE MODEL 1944 GOLDEN STATE ARMS CORP PASADENA, CALIF PRODUCED BY THE SANTA FE DIVISION OF GOLDEN STATE ARMS CORPORATION MODEL 1943 STANDARD |
Special 'Santa Fe' Components
Perhaps the most conspicuous special component is the red rubber recoil pad marked 'Santa Fe.' Close inspection reveals that they also carry a Pachmayr logo. One assumes that Golden State contracted with Pachmayr to make the recoil pads.
Another characteristic item is the 5-round magazine marked 'Santa Fe Magazine.' As these are also stamped 'Made In Japan,' it is reasonable to assume that Golden State contracted for them as well.
Also characteristic of many of the Santa Fe Enfields are commercial ramp front sights and folding-leaf rear sights. The ones I have seen have not been marked as to manufacturer but appear to be Williams products, although they could be Marble sights. At any rate, they are quite handsome and nice additions to the more finely finished models.
1941 Supreme
This model is the Cadillac of the Santa Fe Enfields. There were three in the survey, all with 5-round magazines, nice commercial sporter furniture (probably Bishop)--a checkered fore-end and a buttstock with checkered full pistol grip, monte carlo cheekpiece, and Pachmayr recoil pad. The receiver has the charger bridge and rear sight bracket milled off, and the barrel is lathe-turned. All metal is refinished with a high luster blue. Sights are Williams-type ramp front and folding leaf rear. Overall length is 41-1/2 inches, with a 19-1/2 inch barrel.
Model 1943 Standard
These are, as you might have guessed by the name, rather plain-jane rifles. The metal components are not refinished, retaining their original oil-blackened finish. The fore-ends are shortened military. Barrels are shortened to 20 inches and fitted with a No. 5 flash hider, yielding an overall length of 40 inches. The rear sight is standard military, and the receiver is not modified in any way. Of the three rifles in the survey, two were fitted with 'Santa Fe' 5-round magazines.
Santa Fe Jungle Carbine
With six of these conversions in the survey, this model seems to be the most widely circulated of the Santa Fe Enfields. The Jungle Carbine came originally with a No. 5 rifle buttstock, shortened military fore-end, 'Santa Fe' 5-round magazine, and flash hider. Original No. 4 rifle rear sight. One of the six was outfitted with Bishop sporter furniture--probably added after purchase. Overall length is 39 inches, with an 18-1/2 or 19-inch barrel.
![Lee enfield jungle carbine serial numbers by year chart Lee enfield jungle carbine serial numbers by year chart](/uploads/1/1/8/8/118845326/593078682.png)
These little rascals are built on SMLE Mk III* actions rather than No. 4 rifle actions and look like Australian No. 6 rifles. Barrels are marked 'MD 20211' in addition to the usual Golden State Arms and Santa Fe Jungle Carbine roll stamping. The barrels are shortened to 19 inches and fitted with No. 5 rifle flash hiders. The fore-end is shortened military, and the buttstock is standard SMLE, with brass buttplate and brass marking disk. One rifle in this set is from Fed Ord and is engraved 'Jungle Rifle' on the left rear of the receiver. No other markings on the barrel.
Santa Fe Mountaineer
The Mountaineer is a longer rifle, with an overall length of 41-1/2 inches and a 22-inch barrel. The two rifles in the survey had commercial sporter furniture and commercial ramp front sights and folding leaf rear sights. The charger bridges and excess metal have been milled off the receivers, and the metal components are polished and blued. Both had military 10-round magazines.
Santa Fe Special
The Special model seems to represent minimal gunsmithing. The barrel is full-length, and the sights are standard military. The furniture is sporterized military, with the fore-end shortened and the buttstock retaining the military buttplate. About the only thing 'special' about it is the 5-round magazine.
Santa Fe Model 1944
The Model 1944 exhibits the barrel and receiver gunsmithing of the 1941 Supreme but is fitted with sporterized military furniture. The receiver has the charger bridge and rear sight bracket milled off, and the barrel is lathe-turned. All metal re-finished with a high luster blue. Sights are Williams-type ramp front and folding leaf rear. The buttstock is military but is fitted with a 'Santa Fe' red rubber recoil pad. The fore-end is shortened and has the tip painted black to simulate a contrasting fore-end tip. Overall length is 40 inches, and the barrel is 22 inches long. One Model 1944 was reported as having commercial sporter furniture, however.
Santa Fe Model 1945
Santa Fe Model 1949
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine For Sale
The Model 1949 has a No. 5 rifle buttstock, a shortened military fore-end, and a No. 5 rifle flash hider assembly with front sight. The original oil-blackened metal finish is retained, and the receiver is not modified. The receiver has an original No. 4 rifle rear sight. The rifle is quite a bit shorter than others--36 inches overall, with a 17-inch barrel.
Scope-Sighted (T) Model
This is an interesting specimen that I found a couple of years ago. It has no barrel markings to identify it as Santa Fe rifle from Golden State Arms, but the buttstock is fitted with a 'Santa Fe' red rubber recoil pad, and the receiver is milled and machined in exactly the same way as the 1941 Supreme and Model 1944. The rifle was converted from a 1943 BSA-Shirley that has a stamped 'T' following the 'No. 4 Mk I' electro-engraved on the left side of the receiver. The scope mounting pads appear to be original Holland & Holland and are staked in place, while the scope mount is identical to the H&H mount but is marked 'Japan'. The barrel is lathe-turned and has no sights mounted on it. The furniture is sporterized military, and the metal is polished and blued.
Santa Fe Deluxe Sporter
Nobody has actually reported on one of these rifles, but one kindly reader sent in a copy of the instruction manual that accompanied them. The Deluxe Sporters appear to have been fitted with sporterized military furniture, rubber 'Santa Fe' recoil pads, and 'Santa Fe' 5-round magazines.
©2001, Enfield Research Associates. All rights reserved.
SERIAL NUMBERS..
Earlier SMLE and previous MLM & MLE rifles & carbines initially had the action body batches allocated a letter, before the serial numbers were stamped (to 9999 in each series). These commenced with no letter, then progressed A thru' Z, often nominated for different contractors, RSAF Enfield, RSAF Sparkbrook, BSA Co., LSA Co., and the peddled scheme during WW1. It is interesting that different rifle and carbine Marks recommenced with the no letter and A-Z series with each new model, so it is possible to find carbines/rifles of different Mark designations with the same serial number. This is a reason that upon unit issue, serial nos. were not recorded, rather that rack numbers were assigned and stamped on the butt or butt-plate tang. On some rifles, particularly the SMLE, these unit or rack issue numbers were stamped on the top of the action body as well, e.g. in Aussie service '3.M.D.' (3rd Military District) '10381' (the Military District or unit rack no.)
On MLM, MLE and earlier SMLE rifles, the batch letter will be noted sometimes above or below the serial no. because the serial number was stamped later in production and stamped on the body and breech bolt too. Serial nos. stamped on the nosecap boss, fore-end, underside of the rearsight leaf, &c. was done at Base Ordnance Depots and by armourers to keep together components original to particular rifles during maintenenace and repair. This also applied, to a certain degree, to No.4 and No.5 rifles, particularly to the fore-end and later extended to the magazine case as well. For the SMLE, we usually find serial nos. stamped on magazine cases only on Indian issue rifles.
Recording of serial numbers for Enfield muskets, .577 Sniders and .450 & .303 Martini rifles & carbines is essential for your own records (insurance, registers, &c.) however the numbers stamped on the butt or even on action bodies are rarely the firearm's serial number. Rack or issue numbers were stamped on the right side of the butt, or marking disk (.303 arms only), on the butt-plate tang (Sniders & Enfields only) and occasionally on the action body itself, usually atop the receiver ring. While rack or issue numbers help identification, they are not the firearm's serial number.
Until 1st January 1925, the master number of a firearm was that on the barrel rather than the action body. On Sniders and Martinis, the serial number is not visible and removing a fore-end to see the number on the barrel or front inside of the body can damage wood furniture, especially if the securing pin (a la M.H. Mk I & II, M.M. & M.E. too) has rust on it. M.H. serial numbers are found on the inside right, front of the body while .303 conversion numbers used the left side. So as to match critical parts, serial number was also stamped under the rear sight leaf (and fore-ends, nosecaps, bolts, of Lee-Enfields too). You may find serial numbers easily by lifting up the backsight leaf, more convenient than removing the fore-end, IF that leaf is original to the firearm. serial nos. for .577 Sniders and .450 & .303 Martini rifles & carbines is required for your own records (insurance, registers, &c.) but numbers stamped on the butt or even action bodies are rarely a firearm's serial number. Rack or issue numbers were marked on the right side of the butt, or marking disk (.303 arms only), on the buttplate tang (Sniders & Enfields only) and occasionally on the action body itself, usually atop the receiver ring. While rack or issue numbers help identification, they are not the firearm's serial number.
Until 1st January 1925, the master number of a firearm was that on the barrel rather than the action body. On Sniders and Martinis, the serial number is not visible; removing a fore-end to see the number on the barrel or front inside of the body may damage furniture, especially if the securing pin (a la M.H. Mk I & II, M.M. & M.E. too) has rust on it. M.H. serial numbers are found on the inside right, front of the body while .303 conversion numbers used the left side. So as to match critical parts, serial number was also stamped under the rear sight leaf (and fore-ends, nosecaps, bolts, of Lee-Enfields too). You may find serial numbers easily by lifting up the backsight leaf, more convenient than removing the fore-end, IF that leaf is original to the firearm.
No.4 and No.5 rifle serial numbers can readily identify manufacturers. British No.4 rifles have five numbers, usually after one or two letter prefixes. The same letter prefix(es) were used by Maltby, Fazakerley & BSA Shirley, A to Z then AA, AB to AZ, then BA to BZ, CA to CZ &c. Maltby rifle serial numbers commence with a number '1', Fazakerley with a '2' and Shirley with a '3', e.g. 1xxxx for Maltby, 2xxxx for Fazakerley and for Shirley, 3xxxx, after the letter prefix. Late Shirley numbers then supposedly ran A4000 to A7999 and with PS prefixes at the very end of production. Post-war Fazakerley No.4 rifles had PF letter prefixes. The only exception to the 5-number sequence for No.4 rifles was the initial BSA Shirley production which ran from 0001 to 9999 then went with A to Z prefixes (A0001 to A9999 to the Z prefix) and some early dual letter prefixes (e.g. AT 0303), but then went over to A30001, &c. So early M47C No.4 rifle numbers could be confused with the Jungle carbine in having four rather than five numbers.
Long Branch (Canada) serial numbers incorporate an 'L' in the serial number while US Savage numbers include an 'C' in a similar relative position amongst the numbers. Both of these No.4 rifle series commenced with 0L1 and 0C1 respectively.
No.5 Jungle Carbines only have 4 numbers, the Shirley carbines have BB to C? prefixes, last production was post World War 2. The Fazakerley jungle carbines ran from FE1 to FE1000 initial production, then with no letter prefix, followed by A1 to A9999 through Z9999.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Serial Numbers Date Of Manufacture
Serial numbers of certain Lee-Enfields can serve as indicators of the model and help with initial authentication. The 'BS' prefix was used for the .22 British No.7 rifles, 'T1' for the .22 No.5 trials small-bore target rifles in 1945 and 'DA' for the .22 No.8 N.Z. contract rifles by BSA Shirley. 'SKN' was applied to factory sectionized models, an 'XP' prefix was used for Lithgow Shortened & Lightened SMLE and No. 6 jungle carbines, 'X' was used for a small number of Lithgow No.1 rifles with stainless steel barrels and 'FE' was used for early production Fazakerley No. 5 jungle carbines. Trials No. 1 Mk VI and No. 4 Mk 1 rifles made in the early 1930s have an 'A' prefix to their original serial numbers although many were later upgraded to No. V channel player for macbook pro. 4 specs and the 'A' became a suffix to indicate the fitting of some non-interchangeable components. On No. 4 rifles, an 'A' suffix was stamped by a repair depot or armourer after the serial number when some parts were found to be non-interchangeable.
And of course, with the Canadian No.4 rifles, the letter 'L' precedes the last four numbers as does a 'C' for the Chicopee Falls production Stevens Savage Lend-Lease No.4 rifles and 'J5550' (the drawing number) prefixes the Canadian Lightened No. 4 serial number. After the initial 99,999 rifles, the Lithgow No. 1 (S.M.L.E.) proceeded through 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E' and 'F' prefixes before the last rifle F40580 was manufactured in 1953. WW2 production ceased with F39580 and the 1,000 rifle run during the Korean War ran from F39581 to F40580. More details on serial numbers will also be found in the new book, 'The Broad Arrow'.
The 7.62mm L1A1 series serial number prefixes similarly denote makers. UE is Enfield, UB is BSA, UF is Fazakerley and AD is Lithgow, Australia. 'SAF' was applied by the Lithgow factory to certain export sales and 'SR' for Lithgow sectionized rifles. South African 7.62mm FAL's were Belgian production metric models, engraved with the South African crest. Indian 7.62mm 1A rifles ran conventional serial number series with a letter prefix.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Serial Numbers Online
7.62mm L2A1 prototypes (heavy barrel auto model) from SAF Lithgow had 'X' prefix serial numbers. Some were onforwarded to Malaya and New Zealand, good customers who purchased quantities of the 7.62mm L1A1 model--
X1 to Malaya (7 June 1961)
X2 to X4 to Malaya
X5 to New Zealand
X6 to X7 to Malaya
X8 to Malaya, returned to SAF and rebuilt, forwarded to Australian War Memorial
X9 to Malaya
X10 AIS (Army Inspectorate) Lithgow
X11 AIS Lithgow
X12 AIS Lithgow
X13 to Malaya
X14 to Malaya
X15 to Malaya (likely only 15 rifles w/ X serials built, following were converted receivers)
X18 rebuilt from X8 at AIS Lithgow
X19 rebuilt from X9 at AIS Lithgow
X20 TT 176 for Army trial, control weapon (normal barrel & gas block, concession trigger mechanism & body bullet lead)
X21 TT 176 (test/trials) used with X20 by the Army
X22 possibly a number allocation and not assembled
Australian L2A1 production commenced in 1962 with 3,000 rifles and continued until 1982 with a total production of 9,557 (excluding the X-prefix pre-production batch referred to above).
Lithgow SAF in-house L1A1 test and some special rifles have some different serial number prefixes. SAF was used for target rifles and commercial batches which included the L1A1A rifles for the United States, e.g. SAF830103. TT and TR were applied to in-house test models. TR0001 to TR024 are recorded as having been assembled,
TR0007 Fully chromed barrel & auto to ADE Melbourne
TR0008 Fully chromed barrel & auto to ADE Melbourne
TR0015 Adverse condition trial with selected components; TT56, TT57, TT58, TT59
TR0016 Production rifle for comparison with above
TR0017 Adverse condition trial TT60 / C110
TR0018 Deterioration of Rifle body using proof rounds; TT61
TR0019 For case proof Footscray, special hardened body BRH
TR0020 BRH body
TR0021 H2 body for cartridge case ammo trial
TR0022 H2 body for cartridge case ammo trial
TR0023 H2 body, test on body hardened at finished stage; TT72 & 74
TR0024 HT body, test on body hardened at finished stage. Also ejector trial.
TT64A, TT64B, TT64C, TT64D, TT64E to observe stretching of body
SR1 Sectionized rifle, to Senior Inspector, AIS
SR2 Sectionized rifle, to Senior Inspector, AIS SAF
SR3 Sectionized rifle, to Bandiana
SR4 Sectionized rifle, to Bandiana, for Melbourne Museum
SR5 Sectionized rifle, Factory inspection prototype
SR6 Sectionized rifle, Australian Trade Commissioner, New Zealand
SR7to SR18 Sectionized rifles, to Malaya
SR19 to SR27 Sectionized rifles, to New Zealand
SR28 Sectionized rifle, to Zambia
SR29 to SR36 Sectionized rifles, for factory personnel
SR37 to SR588 Sectionized rifles, service issue, some sold to collectors and museums
SR8800001 to SR8800010 were a special bi-centennial batch of L1A1 A sectionized rifles in 1988, also engraved 'AUSTRALIA'S BI-CENTENNIAL 1788-1988' over 'S.A.F. LITHGOW L1.A1. PRODUCTION 1958-1988' on the right side of the upper receiver. A special copper - bronze medallion was also inletted into the right side of the butt of these 10 rifles.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine Magazine
Serial numbers for British made L1A1 rifles and Small Arms ran in blocks with factory code and year prefix followed by the serial number commencing with an alphabet letter e.g. UB60 A85830 (last rifle by BSA for the 2nd quarter 1960). Third quarter numbers commenced with A85831. The initial BSA batch of L1A1 rifles for the quarter ending December 31 in 1957 was UB57 A1 - A870. For the quarter ending April 30th 1960, numbers were UB60 A63625 - A75299. The last serial number for the quarter ending 31st July 1960 was UB60 A85830. An anomaly.. factory logged quarters ended with 30th April and 31st July???
'U' indicates UK. The next letter is the factory, 'E' for Enfield, 'F' for Fazakerley, 'B' for BSA Guns, 'S' for Sterling Engineering.
This was followed by the year indicator, e.g. '55' for 1955, then the serial number commencing with A1 which continued to A999,999 after which it advanced to a B prefix, starting with B1. The year indicator was irrespective of the serial number advance, e.g. the last rifle at Enfield in 1956 may have been UE 56 A2136, the first rifle in 1957 would thus be UE 57 A2137, until A999999 was reached after which the 'B' series was to be used commencing with B1, e.g. UF 68 B1.
Repaired weapons are marked with factory code, year and 'F.T.R.' adjacent to the original serial number. Where two or more types of weapons are manufactured or repaired at the same factor, a separate series of numbers will be maintained for each type of weapon, each commencing at A1.
For replacement numbers, i.e. unnumbered or illegible originals, SA prefixes were allocated for Army, SN for the Navy and SR for RAF. An example is an L1A1 returned by police in 1978 with an obliterated number was then engraved SA78 A1.
RSAF Enfield reported production of 103,400 L1A1 rifles, 108,300 L1A3 bayonets and 15,520 L1A2 grenade launchers by the end of the financial year 1961 for the War Office, Admiralty, Air Ministry, Ghana, Rhodesia, Nigeria and Singapore. Enfield FTR'd 10,000 No.4 Mk 2 rifles for Burma in that period, new No.4 rifles were made at ROF Fazakerley.