Jungle carbine questions that need answering.

millwright said:
Bayonet does drive up the price.
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Yup, by at least $350, if VG and more if better. It also helps to have a possible WWII date stamp and fore stock.

I think he got top dollar for that rifle, simply because someone wanted the package, without having to chase the accessories. British made bayonets are sometimes extremely hard to find. Most of the No5 bayos I see are Indian. The Indians produced them for their No5s because there weren't enough left over to ship when the rifles were bought from the UK, where they were used for all sorts of other firearms. Usually modified in some manner, so they were no longer appropriate or wouldn't fit on a No5
 
That's just wrong.

I have one that's still grease packed inside, no sign of ever having been fired, with sling and new, unsharpened English bayonet that I picked up for $1K. I felt it was a great deal, but then I'd never seen a new one anywhere else in the last 40 years.
 
Last year, on the BC gun show circuit, there were all sorts of No5s available. They ranged in price from $400 for a well used one, usually D&Ted for a scope to $800 for one in EXC, unissued condition. Bayonets were few and far between. I bought one that had been worked over by Bubba, who thankfully hadn't gotten around to the flash hider. I bought it for the parts, which were worth more than the $150 I gave the walk in for the rifle. The rifle was D&Ted, rusty under the stock line. The top hand guard was missing as was the retaining ring and band. Why he didn't chop the forestock is another mystery. The butt pad had been removed, butt cut down and an addition had been installed by filly the butt with epoxy to attach a wooden extension. The bolt had been bent for some reason.

Still, the fore stock, trigger guard, bolt head, firing pin/spring, cocking piece and flash hider, magazine were worth more than I paid for the rifle.

No5 rifles used to carry a premium over No1 and No4 rifles back in the day. Not any more. Not sure why. They were issued and used in conflict zones, so they do have a battle history. They are handy and accurate enough for close up work, out to two hundred yards, without any modification. I've shot Moose, Deer, Bears with them at those ranges successfully. I like them. I don't like the recoil, muzzle blast.

Today, they lag behind in price. An excellent No4 can fetch $1200 to $1500 without much effort. An excellent No5 will languish at $800 for months.
 
No.5 bayonets are fairly easy to find, finding one in near excellent condition is another story. They've often seen some use and abuse, have been sharpened, etc.

The Indian No.5 bayonets are reproductions, they were and still are to some degree fans of the SMLE.

And there's nothing quite like the guy who took a damn near brand new No.5, and wire wheeled the Suncorite off to "get a better look at the markings". ovrec
 
enefgee said:
That's just wrong.

I have one that's still grease packed inside, no sign of ever having been fired, with sling and new, unsharpened English bayonet that I picked up for $1K. I felt it was a great deal, but then I'd never seen a new one anywhere else in the last 40 years.
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I got mine from a buddy who happens to collect bayonets. Mine was like yours, except he bought it for the bayonet, sold off the dregs( the No 5) to me in the early `90s for $200.
 
Have been collecting Milsurps for 40 plus years. Mostly buying with a little selling and always monitoring what is going on with sales in the Milsurp world. Pricing never ceases to amaze me $1250 for a No5 Mk1 even with bayo seems to be at the top of the market as does any excellent No 4 going for $1200 - $1500.

Last year I took a very clean Savage No 4 Mk 1 to gun shows in Chilliwack and Victoria, very little fired, all matching, all Savage parts, the only negative being the US Property stamp removed. It was much admired and handled but I got no offers at all on a $750 price tag.

$750 is kind of my median Enfield price. If its lower its definitely worth a good look. If its higher it had better be something special.
 
infideleggwelder said:
I got mine from a buddy who happens to collect bayonets. Mine was like yours, except he bought it for the bayonet, sold off the dregs( the No 5) to me in the early `90s for $200.
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The early 90's were truly a golden age. I was able to buy a new in wrap No4 Mk II for $150, paid the same for an L1A1 and for a few hundred there was an impressive list of rifles leaving service - G3's, real M14's, AR10's. I really should have spent less time chasing girls and more time buying guns.
 
Anyone else notice the No.5 bayonet for sale in the EE? Now, it is a rarer piece (assuming it is genuine) single screw Wilkinson. Having said that, someone's gone and spray painted the metal black as well as the scabbard (which is a post war variant with the large/brass throat). Yours, for just $475.
 
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