The Bulldog Enfield a.k.a. The Tanker Carbine

In recent years, as the popularity of owning or collecting wartime surplus arms has grown, so has the market for unique or "as new" models of these firearms. Responding to this market, current arms manufacturers and importers have revisited the drawing tables and have come up with a few offerings of their own. Companies such as the Gibbs Rifle Company (now gone) in the U.S. offer for sale completely re-built Enfields of all descriptions, but most notable are their copies of Jungle Carbines (made from original No1 and No4 rifles) and the "Bulldog" rifles (also fashioned from original No1 and No4 rifles).

Now, there is nothing wrong in what these companies are doing and I must say, some of their work is down right impressive. Oddly enough, these commercial models sometimes create their own collectors group or following. However, for the new Enfield enthusiast it is potentially confusing, trying to ascertain which rifle is original and which is a commercial incarnation.

Suffice to say that there was never any official government contract (UK or Commonwealth) authorizing an Enfield Bulldog (sometimes referred to as Tanker Carbines, the popular myth being that they were issued to armored tank crews) of any description. These rifles are the invention of modern day arms manufacturers designed to meet the commercial demand for a short light trail/trapper gun.

Featured here is a Bulldog made from a 1916 Lithgow No1 MkIII*.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This image illustrates the Bulldog's shortened length, approx. 37-1/2 inches overall. A full size No1 MkIII* will measure in at 44-1/2 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a very clear shot of the Lithgow Small Arms plant marking and the manufacture date 1916.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This image of the receiver/knox form really shows the refinishing of both the wood and the metal. Seen as well are some more stampings, 3MD (3rd Military District Australia) and the stylized R indicating that the bore was found to be rusty by an armourer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several things stand out in this image, firstly the absence of the bayonet lug and boss on the nose cap, as well the slight cant of the nose cap and finally the grain of the wood on the fore-end. Notice either side of the stock band, the wood grain doesn't match. The fore-end would have been cut under the stock band in order to shorten it to accommodate the cut and shortened barrel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This image shows again the modified nose cap. A hole where the bayonet boss was machined off. The handguard also has a cut mark along its length.

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