A few years ago I read articles pertaining to military or paramilitary units patrolling NWT in Canada and Danish units in Greenland. The Canadian unit(s) had been armed with 303 British No. 4 rifles, but I do not recall the version. The Danish unit was armed with 30-06 Model 1917 Enfield rifles, again I do not recall whether the issued rifles were manufacturer specific.

While I believe both rifles have now been replaced, I was surprised that such elderly rifles were kept in use in such harsh conditions for generations after production had ceased. Since sizes of patrolling units were small, I have trouble believing parsimony was the reason for such old, obsolescent rifles being retained.

Why were the rifles kept in service?

What rifles replaced them? Why?

Until a few years ago, the Rangers carried the No 4 Mk 1*, with some fellows carrying variations. They were originally all made by Long Branch Arsenal that was just outside of Toronto - now defunct.

The reason the Lee Enfield was chosen originally was because it could handle the frigid temperatures and it could be abused without breaking. The north is a harsh environment. The Rangers got the No 4 after WWII, in 1947, when the rangers were formed.

The rifle was kept in service because the federal government kept putting off replacement. It was irresponsible of every government to do this, but the Rangers simply weren't a priority. The cynic in me says that cocktail parties in Ottawa were more important. Nonetheless, the No 4 hung in there until the Tikka T3x Arctic - designated the C19 - was chosen. Delivery started in 2018.

The Finns know how to build rifles. 6820 are to be built.

Steve,

What is the rifle chambered in -- 7.62x51 or 5.56? Tikkas are serious business. I have three and they all function perfectly and are very accurate.

The Ranger unit that I dealt with in NW Ontario was issued the #4 for years. Good bunch of dedicated people.

Thanks for the post.

Hi Keith. It's chambered in 7.62x51mm. The same oomph as the 303, but without the personality. It's a 303 Rimless.

Figures they would go with the NATO round, and rimless presents less problems in the magazine. Thanks for the info.

Good gun crank reading on the subject...

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a551150.pdf