The Lee-Enfield "ENVOY" target rifle
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The Enfield Envoy here illustrated is an early production model serial numbered "E36"
The total production of these commercial rifles was 526 in 1969. Seventy of the rifles still in store were selected for use by the competitors in the Palma Match competition at Bisley the following year. The selected rifles, detailed further down this page, were not chosen serially consecutively, and will be found fairly well spread throughout the production numbers.
The Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield produced a small brochure of their Envoy Rifle for civilian target shooters.
The blurb of the pamplet reads as follows:
Envoy has been designed and developed by R.S.A.F. Enfield to meet the exacting specification of the British National Rifle Association for a 7·62 mm arget Rifle at a competitive price.
The design is based on the well-known No. 4 action, and incorporates many features to satisfy the discerning target shooting enthusiast, including a heavy barrel manufactured in high grade alloy by precision swaging, a close toleranced chamber, accurately adjusted trigger pull and wood stocking of selected beech.
The swaging operation which forms the accurate rifling profile not only gives an attractive, non-reflecting hammered finish to the barrel but also enhances the metallurgical properties of the material.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Free floating heavy barrel, manufactured in high grade alloy by precision swaging.
Close toleranced tight chamber, allowing minimum case expansion - to facilitate reloading of cartridges if desired.
Accurately adjusted trigger-pull. No. 4 Receiver (Body) and Bolt.
Centre sling-swivel to accept special target shooter's sling.
Body, and barrel reinforce are carefully stocked to ensure maximum accuracy.
Stocking designed for optimum comfort and shooter's accommodation.
Standard tunnel foresight, with replaceable elements of post, aperture and blank types is provided.
Rear aperture sight with micrometer
adjustment in ¼ or ½ minute clicks (optional) for windage and elevation.
Ten-round 7·62 mm magazine fitted as standard.
Butt-plate in shock-proof vulcanised chloroprene rubber.
THE DIRECTOR - ROYAL SMALL ARMS FACTORY
ENFIELD LOCK - MIDDLESEX - ENGLAND TEL: WALTHAM CROSS 23391
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THE "PALMA MATCH" MODEL OF THE ENFIELD ENVOY
The country hosting the Palma Match each year was required to supply the competitiors with rifles. In 1970 the competition was hosted by Great Britain, and it was shot on the ranges of the famous Bisley Camp in Surrey. The competition rifles were regulated by Bisley's Fultons gunsmiths, particularly well-known for setting up competitive Lee-Enfield rifles for competition.
The 1970 match was won by Great Britain.
When the competition was completed, members of the competing teams were given the option of purchasing the rifles they had used. Hence the appearance of small numbers of these after many years.
The seventy rifles selected were afforded a particular individuality because they were engraved
" PALMA MATCH 1970 "
on the left-hand-side of the action, on the bevelled upper above the nomenclature and serial number. This is visible when the image below is zoomed, but a close-up image is to be found further down the page.
Hover over or Click image to bring up hi-res file and magnifier
The butt-stock fitted is of the pistol-grip type from the Lee-Enfield Rifle No.8 . It had already been permitted that the military's service L39A1 equivalent target rifles could be fitted with the No.8 butt when used in competition, and it was even allowed to use a fore-end fitted with an accessory rail for a hand-stop, and civilian-style sling-swivel for a single-point sling; but these service rifles had to be restored to their issued configuration before being returned to the armoury.
The nomenclature of the rifles was engraved on the left-hand side of the action.
The modified "D" is the letter code for the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock.
The "69" is the year date of manufacture - 1969.
.............ENVOY 7.62m/m
69.... E41
Below is the further engraving on the bevelled edge of the action body .....
" PALMA MATCH BISLEY 1970 "
The Sterling-type magazines for the 7.62mm X 51 NATO rounds were factory stamped with the rifle's serial number.
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See also: the closely associated Enfield Enforcer Police Sniper rifle
and the L39A1 Service target rifle.
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