#5 jungle cabine variants

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xcaribooer

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just wondering if someone can explain why some of the #5 jungle carbine's have a metal nose cap, seems like there are more of them without it. I personally like the look of the metal cap, the others look like they just sort of tapered them off with no real style.
 
I believe they found that over time the early capless stocks got pretty dinged up on the front from banging into things. The cap was added for reinforcement.
 
A lot of it depended on when the stock was made and where the rifle served. In Malaysia for instance rifles were painted under the stock line to combat the rust that occurred in the salt swamps during patrols etc. Also, many stocks were supposedly varnished to protect them from certain elements. Nose caps were removed in similar situations because they got extremely rusty and the wood rotted underneath.

Both types are correct. Personally, I like the fore ends without the nose band. Not that the nose band is a bad idea though.
 
Paint on jungle carbine under stock line

bearhunter said:
In Malaysia for instance rifles were painted under the stock line to combat the rust that occurred in the salt swamps during patrols etc.
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I was just about to write asking anyone about this when I saw this post. My very original #5 (serial numbers on action, bolt, wood all match) has a coat of very military looking green paint on all the metal parts under the stock, including rear of barrel, action, trigger guard, etc. You can't see the paint at all when the stock is on. Do you know anymore about this practice...what type of paint it is, specifically when and where it was used (just Malaya?), etc. Thanks.
 
Rob said:
I was just about to write asking anyone about this when I saw this post. My very original #5 (serial numbers on action, bolt, wood all match) has a coat of very military looking green paint on all the metal parts under the stock, including rear of barrel, action, trigger guard, etc. You can't see the paint at all when the stock is on. Do you know anymore about this practice...what type of paint it is, specifically when and where it was used (just Malaya?), etc. Thanks.
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I think the Brits did that for when their rifles were going to be used in tropical climates. My No4 has the green paint too.
 
Prior to Dunkirk the Enfield rifle was inspected four times a year by the armourers, three mini visual inspections and one complete teardown inspection. Shortly after Dunkirk this inspection method was dropped in favor as repair as needed. The jellied petroleum (vaseline) was removed from under the action and barrel and the barrel and action cleaned. Then all Enfield rifles were painted below the wood line at home and overseas as a form of corrosion protection.

Bottom line they went to a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" maintenance system and the troops were issued their own raw linseed oil and oiled the stock monthly.
Peter Laider worked in the Malaysia repair and overhaul shops and stated the stocks were hot dipped in raw linseed oil tanks. After the British left Malaysia and other Crown colonies the stocks may have other finishes.

The metal nose cap was added later due to fore end splits and cracks starting at the tip of the fore stock.
 
I have a 5/45 with no nose cap, excellent condition, I would say nearly unissued. I recall hearing the same thing Bigedp51 said, the caps were added later. Looking at pictures of the rifles as issued to the 1st airborne during ww2, I can't spot any nose caps.
 
bigedp51 said:
Prior to Dunkirk the Enfield rifle was inspected four times a year by the armourers, three mini visual inspections and one complete teardown inspection. Shortly after Dunkirk this inspection method was dropped in favor as repair as needed. The jellied petroleum (vaseline) was removed from under the action and barrel and the barrel and action cleaned. Then all Enfield rifles were painted below the wood line at home and overseas as a form of corrosion protection.

Bottom line they went to a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" maintenance system and the troops were issued their own raw linseed oil and oiled the stock monthly.
Peter Laider worked in the Malaysia repair and overhaul shops and stated the stocks were hot dipped in raw linseed oil tanks. After the British left Malaysia and other Crown colonies the stocks may have other finishes.

The metal nose cap was added later due to fore end splits and cracks starting at the tip of the fore stock.
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Ed, I have a 1916 No1MkIII LSa. Co that has stamps on the left of the wrist that appears about every four years between the wars, last one is '36. Would this have been armourer checks every four years? The Rifle has an South African Air Force stock disc.
 
RememberTheSomme said:
Ed, I have a 1916 No1MkIII LSa. Co that has stamps on the left of the wrist that appears about every four years between the wars, last one is '36. Would this have been armourer checks every four years? The Rifle has an South African Air Force stock disc.
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That would be a good question for Peter Laidler, I have a feeling these stamps were not base level inspections and were done by a higher level. Under the American system you have base, intermediate and depot level inspections so I think the rifles were inspected by someone from a higher command.

I have 13 dvds full of manuals from the MOD Pattern Room Library on British weapons and equipment and I concentrated my reading to base level repairs and upkeep of the Enfield rifle. At one time I had the largest and only Enfield manual sticky at Gunboards but now everything is at milsurps.com so check your sticky " Lee Enfield On-line Knowledge Libraries (Index of Articles)" for information.
 
For what it's worth I've owned 4 1945's with no cap and original stocks while every 46 or later I've ever seen has had the cap.
 
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