Golden State Arms - Santa Fe Sporter

Golden Sate Arms was one of the first North American arms companies to start commercially sporterizing military surplus arms (circa 1950-1960). They did this through their Santa Fe Division, not only sporterizing Enfields but also Mausers and such others.

Much like the companies that are currently doing this, Santa Fe invested considerable time and effort in milling down the rifles. Shortening the barrels on some, removing magazine charger bridges and removing rear sight bosses on others. Finishing touches included adding ramped front sights, rear express sights, polishing and re-bluing the finished product. They added modified military "sporter" stocks to some and outfitted others with new commercial wood. All in all, Golden State Arms offered about 11 different models of Enfields, each progressing up the dollar chain. One of these models is featured here, the Santa Fe Model 1944.

Perhaps what Golden State Arms is most famous for (though not widely known for) is coining the phrase "Jungle Carbine". In naming their look-a-like No5 and No6 rifles the Jungle Carbine, the name has stuck and is used in describing all shortened versions of the Enfield, original and fake. So complete has this assimilation been that the term Jungle Carbine is used in advertising, reference books and by collectors alike, despite the fact that these rifles (original) were never officially designated as such.

 

The Santa Fe Model 1944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right side view. Notice the rubber recoil pad, sport luxury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left side view. Notice the cut-down military stock and original butt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a good picture illustrating the rear express sight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden State Arms never designed their products to be mistaken for an original Enfield and so roll stamped the finished rifle with their name and model number.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seen here is the mill work done to remove the charger bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This top view shows the missing charger bridge and original rear sight. Also notice the bolt has been left in the white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bottom showing the Santa Fe magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The classic Santa Fe magazine (5 rounds versus 10). Notice that even their magazines were marked Santa Fe, obviously sub-contracted off shore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      This shot illustrates the milled away rear sight boss.

       It also gives a clear look at the buttsocket markings.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                       This shows the now gone rear sight and the bolt in the white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finishing touch, shortened and re-crowned barrel complete with front bead ramp sight. Polished and blued.

 

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