Lee Enfield No5 Jungle Carbine

[froggy]

What a splendid rifle

[huntervixen]

It has England stamped on it which apparently suggests it was sold as military aid to a friendly nation in a time of need. why mine and probably others didn't get used, I don't know. It came from a very well known Enfield dealer who was recommended to me by another dealer friend. The rifle had recently come back from the states from a big collector supposedly.

Interesting your father and uncles liked carrying it, I suppose the lack of weight and the same fire power was liked. It's noticeable shorter and handier compared to a No4. A WW2 vet was at the range (father of a member) and he said it was his least favourite of the enfields due to lightweight of the rifle and the full power cartridge. When i fired it, it was noticeably punchier but not too bad.

I would agree, it has more recoil than a No4, but only slightly more, guess these things are subjective really, if you are used to shooting .223, then it would seem harsh, but if you mainly shoot larger calibres, then the difference is negligible.

[Tommygunn]

The ENGLAND stamp was indeed used on imports to the US up until the current system took over where they receive a dirty great big importers stamp/etching, usually in a very obtrusive location which kinda spoils the look of the thing. Earlier imports without such markings are, therefore, more desirable and tend to make more money, (over there).

Will be saving my pennies for one, when I get some pennies to save...

[Gaz]

Why do you want to mount a scope on a mint condition original No.5? Surely you could get a bitsa No.4 and wreck that instead of something that's survived in such excellent condition for so long?

[dromia]

I don't think the non-smith mount he is suggesting using will do any harm.

Good ones abound from the Armalon downwards.

[Gaz]

Ah, missed the "non smith" part. Fair enough.

[JS569]

That's right Dromia, I would not alter the rifle in a way that removes its original state permanently, I like things to be just right (as they should be).Just looking to find a period style scope, I've looked at the pecars but want something more in line with the No32 scope's silhouette. not that i want to make it look like a 'sniper' variant (not that there were any developed from the no5 anyway) but I would like it to fit with the general age of the rifle.

[JS569]

It has England stamped on it which apparently suggests it was sold as military aid to a friendly nation in a time of need. why mine and probably others didn't get used, I don't know. It came from a very well known Enfield dealer who was recommended to me by another dealer friend. The rifle had recently come back from the states from a big collector supposedly.

Interesting your father and uncles liked carrying it, I suppose the lack of weight and the same fire power was liked. It's noticeable shorter and handier compared to a No4. A WW2 vet was at the range (father of a member) and he said it was his least favourite of the enfields due to lightweight of the rifle and the full power cartridge. When i fired it, it was noticeably punchier but not too bad.

The ENGLAND stamp is a US importation stamp, not sure if they still do this?? I don't know if this is the history of your particular rifle, but I have been told from a very knowledgeable source that a very large number of Enfield's of various types were procured from the British Government by Parker Hale and Interarms in the late 50's.

Quite a number of No5's emigrated to the States (along with No4's, SMLE's etc) as part of the Interarms side of the deal, yours might be a returning example.

It appears to be in excellent condition and I would assume with its 1947 end of contract date, it probably went straight to store for onward sale a decade later. Was it proofed before it left the UK, or is it freshly proofed?

If so, I hope it hasn't been "attacked" by the London proof house, more stamps than the post office!

The No5 is on my shopping list for this year!

I think it might have been freshly proofed as there are marks on the barrel, bolt and maybe the reciever. However they're not too prominent thankfully!! My AR is covered in the things!!

Thanks for further detail on the importation/ history

[TattooedGun]

Thats a corker! :)

I'm after a BSA version this year...

Not sure I'll find a mint condition one like this though....

I'd feel guilty shooting it if I did though..! haha, have fun with it! :)

[450 Martini]

I have just had my variation approved for one of these baby's