.45 Enfield "Tanker".
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: After Market Enfields
Forum Description: What have you done to that Enfield??
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1965
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 8:17pm
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Topic: .45 Enfield "Tanker".
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Subject: .45 Enfield "Tanker".
Date Posted: May 22 2008 at 11:23am
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Just because I had not yet done one, I built a .45 "Tanker" for a buyer who did not care what type of furniture he got.
With the .45 mag out you might not realize it's a custom gun except for it's length. I've sold quite a few of my conversion kits now, how about some of you send me pics of how your gun came out? I would be interested in seeing what new variations turn up.  ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Replies:
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 23 2008 at 3:15pm
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I like it ! I wonder have you ever considered the .44mag as a 'Platform' for these kits? I'm sure there are mags avalible from Desert Eagles & AMT . Just a thought Dave |
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: May 23 2008 at 4:23pm
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Wellll....
I am sort of looking for a .50AE magazine. The .50 AE works very well on large bears, so ought to be good for most game on this continent. 
It's still short enough that I would only have to make minimal changes to my current adaptor. Another way to go, and one that fits the current adaptor without any change beyond the barrel chamber, is to go with the .460 Rowland. It's a super-45, which fits the standard 1911 type magazine. 
If I happen across a .44M magazine I can take a look at that too, but it takes a minimum of twenty kits to make a conversion profitable to produce. Doing a very few is possible, but the unit price would get pretty high.  ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 24 2008 at 1:31am
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Pardon my lack of knowledge here...but is this "Tanker" model a product of someone's ingenuity..or was there a REAL model of this rifle? I've never heard or seen or heard talk of such a critter before.(& the WWII vets that I've known -that were in the armoured corps-certainly have never mentioned them)
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: May 24 2008 at 2:52am
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It's a popular "Cut -Down" version.
Barrels from 16"-20", rather than the 25" original. Something like a No. 5, but with full length wood. Lighter and handy for youth, camping, vehicles, etc. ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 24 2008 at 10:28am
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So, why is it called a "Tanker"?
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: May 24 2008 at 10:43pm
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My thoughts as well Hoadie, why call it a “Tanker”? That name incorrectly depicts its intended use and market. Youth rifle, Camper’s Rifle, etc. It is a marketing ploy I would think to attract the masculine side of the buyer. For instance, “ Son here is your new Youth rifle or Camper’s Special” or “Son look what Dad picked up for you today a, “Tanker”, Rifle”. Which one would the eager boy rather have. Plus an unsuspecting buyer may even think he was getting a original “Tanker’s” rifle not knowing what he was looking at. Hoadie you and I and most of the other constituents here prefer more Historically correct versions of the rifles and are collectors anyway.
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Posted By: ikesdad
Date Posted: May 25 2008 at 7:40am
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"Bush Baby" ? ------------- Pro Deo et Patria |
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: May 25 2008 at 9:42am
The name is not my doing, this is just the label that has been hung on shortened military rifles with full wood. I think Century Arms started this, and it's now a widely recognized term for such guns. I think that perhaps the original alliteration was to a shortened gun that might have been used by vehicle crewmen, such as Tank jockeys. As if the ordnance departments ever had so much consideration for vehicle crews! ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
hoadie wrote:Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: May 25 2008 at 12:27pm
Ok!! Its a popular"cut down version"???? Popular???? Don't understand???? I dont see that many person's around here with No1's Or No4's at the least then to think or say them are/is/Be popular??...... I was just thinking ... If I screw one of my nice Enfields up to get a reciver to do one of these conversions with ..I should get it for chicken feed?????? Say I !!!! Say You??????????
I'm thinking about $25.00 fer one????? What yall others think???? ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: ikesdad
Date Posted: May 25 2008 at 2:44pm
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There was a guy at GB awhile back with #4 recievers that had nasty crap barrels for 25. A guy could use one of those. ------------- Pro Deo et Patria |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: May 26 2008 at 1:08am
That would be the only way I would disface an enfield. I would rather use the part to bring back an old war veteran to original if I could with those recievers. Just my opinion thou.
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Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: May 26 2008 at 2:14am
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I second that! Cookie Monster, Its kinda like looking a gift horse in the mouth. Ya dont ask why you were given the gift or question why it was not some thing else.... you take it and be thankfull and show some grattituid for the item. why try to change some thing great when you can get a rifle that shoots .45 acp allready in production and its semi auto to boot???? Its made by Ruger. J&G were selling some trade ins from Law enforcment a few months ago. Built on the same lines as the Ruger Ranch Rifle and the 10/22 . These Rifle were designed and Built by the same company . Not built on an oldWar Horse to try and make some thing different...
So my Fellow Enfield enthusiasts, I ask - Why destroy a GREAT Rifle to make a substandard one that was never ment......
Why not try and Machine a copy of the Enfield Reciever and go from there.... wouldnt that make more sense????? ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: May 26 2008 at 3:21am
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The guns being modified have been FTR'd several times, the bores are sewer pipe, the wood is suitable for kindling, often small parts are missing.
This describes most of the recently imported guns. Or they are guns that have already been mucked about with by prior owners. I have a collection of original Enfields, ranging from a 1915 LSA #1 to a pair of Ishapore 2A's, with appropriate models in between. They rarely get shot, and work poorly for bringing new shooters into the sport. My converted guns are cheap to shoot, and have very little recoil, without being a "Kiddy Gun" .22. Look around your local gun club, what's the average ago of shooters there? Over 20, or, much more likely, over 50? Unless we begin to bring a significant number of younger shooters into this sport the anti-RKBA seditionist won't have to ban our guns. They will be able to just pick them all up at will from our heirs! Appreciation of classic guns has to start with an appreciation of guns in general. ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 26 2008 at 5:05am
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Here! Here! I couldn't agree more! & if ya dont think what Richard says has alot of merit..just look @ the firearms that I have been GIVEN by members @ the Legion over the last few years.They have no-one that will appreciate them.Thet're too old/feeble to use them anymore..& they'll be DAMNED if they're gonna let the gov't get 'em!
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Lost Kangaroo
Date Posted: May 26 2008 at 11:12am
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As soon as my kids get big enough to hold a .22 cricket..or even the hornet...they will be shooting cans at the 25...after all, my collection will be going to them in the future....they might as well get used to shooting and appreciating them as soon as possible. ------------- Get some |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: May 26 2008 at 12:45pm
Roo Excellent both of my daughters got there first .22 Cricket several years ago.........Pink or course.
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Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: June 06 2008 at 11:43am
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Well, I "Butchered" another No. 4 Mk, III today!
It was the most fouled-up rusty lump of incomplete ordnance I have ever seen that was not classified as a Relic or complete scrap. 
It's marked C.A.I. on the barrel, I hope he got it cheap. 
The action was a lump of rust, but the bolt still moved. I had to replace almost every spring and several screws. The bore is worse than junk barrels I leave outside until they can be used as re-bar when a friend pours concrete for his patio. The stock was so bad I would not use it to insult a good camp-fire. The hung trigger and vernier rear sight were this units only redeeming features. A list of my butchery. 1. I dismantled it to the last nut, screw, and pin, including the seized up rear sight. 2. Converted it to .45 acp and a 16.5" Match barrel using one of my kits. 3. Per the buyers request the muzzle is threaded 5/8-32 for a brake, flash hider, or maybe a future sound suppressor. 4. Grit blasted and Parkerized all steel components. 5. Put a new ATI stock and CAD-Technik scope mount on it. I was handsomely rewarded for this diabolical activity, a greedy $150.00 for that trifle of labor. 
Now the gun looks like new, and is an inexpensive pleasure to shoot. The rust pits in the receiver and trigger guard are well hidden below the stock line. Instead of being parted out and scrapped this gun should still be in use a hundred years from now.
(If it's taken good care of and not confiscated by a future generation of "our" Gov. Org.)  ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Posted By: White Rhino
Date Posted: June 06 2008 at 12:05pm
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Why didnt you try to bring that old WarHorse back to life with some Enfield Stocks bought cheap off of century or who ever is trying to dump them right now...????? ------------- "White Rhino" "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer." --W. C. Fields |
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: June 06 2008 at 12:30pm
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Because that is not what the owner wanted, he wants a nice .45 Carbine, and now he will have one.
This was the ugliest, most ruined, Enfield I have ever seen, most 'smith's would have refused to touch it. I tried a little levity in my post, but I am serious that the gun has a new lease on life. Cost of restoration would have been more than just buying a nice one. ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: June 07 2008 at 1:06pm
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I agree with what you did Richard ! Nobody bats a eyelid at converting Mauser actions to different calibres, configurations! As for the 150 you charged him ? Alls fair in gun tradeing ! Dave |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: June 07 2008 at 1:15pm
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David! you traitor ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Hatchetman
Date Posted: June 07 2008 at 1:54pm
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Nice work on making something serviceable out of a tomato stake Richard!
------------- But the winters coming, And the snow will cover tracks, And I'll be watching, Because I'm hunting you - Sarah Blasko, The Gardens End |
Posted By: Richard/SIA
Date Posted: August 28 2008 at 10:40am
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf8dlHMHOxs
Vid of one of my most recent .45 conversions.
I thought I had already seen the most ruined Enfield's ever, until the dozen I just bought! Mostly No. 1's, only 3 No. 4's. The No. 1's will become .45 DeLisle replica's. I will have to find a lot of missing parts to complete more than a couple of these, even for my conversions. I traded the only decent Lithgow #1 Mk. III off, for two ratty "DP" #1's. So I'm set for No. 1's for a while. ------------- At over $3.00 a gallon for gas, I want it leaded, 100 octane, and my windshield washed! |