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Defence Watch continues to receive email from readers inquiring about the status of the program to replace the Lee Enfield rifles being used by the Canadian Rangers.

A number of readers hope to eventually purchase one of the rifles if they are to be made surplus.

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That won’t be happening for a while, if that option does emerge at all.

The timing of the disposal of any surplus Lee Enfield rifles will depend on the project to provide the Rangers with new rifles.

What is the status of that?

A Department of National Defence official tells Defence Watch that the timing of the program to buy 6820 new rifles has slipped a little.

The new rifle was supposed to be delivered to Canadian Ranger units starting by mid-2017. Final deliveries were to taken place late 2018/early 2019. The rifles will now be phased into use by the Canadian Rangers starting early in 2018, with full implementation expected to take about two years, said Department of National Defence spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier. “Getting it right is a priority in order to provide the Rangers with the best rifle possible,” he explained. “DND is working closely with Colt Canada to make this happen. Rigorous qualification testing post-contract award has led to minor configuration changes that will be incorporated prior to delivering the rifles to the Rangers. Although these improved designs will not result in increased costs to the contract awarded to Colt Canada, it has slightly delayed the roll-out.”