? about this No5 Mk1

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Tuffcity

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Today I was given an Enfield No5 Mk1 (at least that's what is marked on the left side of the receiver).

The old girl has seen better times and has been hiding out in a closet for at least the last 12 years and probably longer since it's really seen the light of day.

Can any one supply a year of manufacture and/or tell me something about the proof marks on it? It's about 40" long, and as mentioned it's stamped No5 Mk1 on the left side, on top is BND with a crown over it. It has full wood, in not bad condition with some dings on the butt, but is really dirty. Wood doesn't appear to have been cut down. There is also a "M/47" on the band below the rear sight and "M47A" on the wood under the grip. There is also a number engraved on it that looks either like 2 letters or 2 numbers followed by 127? (4 numbers, I think).

Can the wood be cleaned with anything? (Murphy's?) There is what appears to be a primitive recoil pad centred in the steel butt plate- basically a rubber oval. The rear sling is attached on the side of the butt.

On the barrel is 303 and 3.222" It also has "18.5 tons per ]" (minus the quotation marks).

The front sight is marked with an 'R' (?) and the numbers 14/47C (I think it's a 'C'). On the top of the front sight is stamped "N67 03"

I can't find any numbers on the rear sight, but is a flip up with an elevation screw adjust for the peep the goes up to 800.

Pictures when my dig camera's batteries are recharged.

thanks,

RC
 
.... Lee Enfield No.5 "Jungle Carbine" .... bolt handle will have a hole, and there will be lightening flutes on the knox form. Weight should be about 6.5 lbs. As to cleaning, depends on how far you want to go as regards possibly removing or making less visible, otherwise interesting stock markings. A dampened cloth and an iron (steam) will usually raise dents. Scrapes are another matter. A dishwasher works well (if it's safe to use when the wife g/f are not around) Bolts holding the metal fittings and the stock may well be difficult to remove, use the right sized screw driver and care ! ...They're a fun rifle and very handy ! .....worth spending time and effort to clean / restore !!! ..... David K.
 
A couple of pic's:

enfield1.jpg


enfield2.jpg


bolt handle will have a hole
Click to expand...

...it does.

lightening flutes on the knox form
Click to expand...

... if I knew what a knox form was I'd look there... :)

As an aside: so far all the numbers seem to match too, and the screw head slots are crisp.

David: did you mean put the stock in the dishwasher??

RC
 
Tuffcity said:
..
... if I knew what a knox form was I'd look there... :)
Click to expand...

The Knox form is the flared end of the barrel where it joins the receiver. Your JC will have flutes/grooves milled in it.

When I got mine apart I also discovered that the stock bolt is hollow- they were really doing everything they could to lighten it! (Then they went and put a sub-size, oval hockey puck on the end as a recoil pad, or, as I believe the term was at the time, an "anti-recoil heel device", to tame the increased kick.)

BTW you will need a very long slotted screwdriver with a good, wide blade to remove the stock bolt. You may also need to repeatedly apply a few drops of good penetrating oil overnight to the other end of the bolt, where it protrudes from the butt socket as they can be a real b****r to remove.

:) Stuart
 
crown BNP and .303 2.222 18.5 etc commercial Birmingham nitro proof for 303 British when rifle was proof fired after being sold as surplus.
 
Stock Cleanup

If you want to clean up the stock and are concerned with spousal abuse after using the dishwasher, you can just use hot water and fine steel wool, let dry, go over the shiny spots again until the oil finish is gone. WARNING, as well as removing oil finish this will remove any stain. If the stock is not walnut you can end up with a blonde finish. I did, mine was beech. If this happens, blend miniwax stain (I use mix of mahogony and walnut) with tung oil until you get the desired colour (experiment on scrap wood). Looks like a nice little rifle.
Bill
 
Nice rifle.

My thoughts.

Resist the urge to start dissassembling it. Clean it up to get the dirt and dust off it, dry it out, oil up the metal and shoot that thing.

It didn't get looking like that from being in a closet. That's a soldiers rifle.

The No.5 is comparitively rare, I'd pay more for yours as is than one that's been stripped and sanded, messed with, etc.
 
I agree with Dangertree. This seems to be one of the few real Jungle Carbines that hasn't been screwed with.

Keeping it original is better than messing with it. The stock is stained/oiled and looks that way naturally. That patina is worth money don't "clean it up".

The metal work should be clean and oiled but other than that enjoy the history rather than trying to make an old rifle look new. Preserve its heritage.
 
BACK AWAY FROM THE DISHWASHER!!!

Get a dish-soap soaked rag and wipe the wood down, then quickly dry with paper towel. Repeat if necessary to remove surface dirt. Let stand dry for a few hours and then apply a THIN coat of boiled linseed oil mixed 50/50 with Turpentine. Repeat as necessary until desired sheen is reached.

Oil the metal then shoot and enjoy.

I need a pic of the receiver markings to tell you manufacture date. As stated, it's a BSA made carbine.
 
"...a primitive recoil pad..." Yep. Made out of india rubber. As hard as a Socialist F**k's heart and just as effective. Still, that's how No. 5's came.
 
you will need a very long slotted screwdriver with a good, wide blade to remove the stock bolt
Click to expand...

...Just like taking the stock off of one of my sav 1899's :)


You guys are great! Thanks for all the info.

Don't know what the bore looks like yet, haven't had a chance to run a brush through it yet. The bolt number matches the receiver, which matches the numbers on the stock.

There is a little bit of surface rust on the flash hider on the muzzle and a bit on the trigger guard- can this be cleaned off with fine (OOOO) steel wool and Hoppes? Or should it be left alone?

I was also happy to find that the rear sight moves freely up and down.

Claven: I'll see if I can put up a decent pic of the receiver when I get home tonight.

Question: when the bolt is cocked and locked in battery it takes very little upward pressure with your hand to pop it open. Is this normal? (with no cartidge in the chamber).

RC
 
Yes thats "normal"... Its because its a "#### on closing" bolt action as opposed to the more commonly encountered (for commercial users) Mauser/remington "#### on opening" action.
 
Jumping in

Going to jump on the band wagon, no pics yet but if anyone can give me some info

Looking for some background info on my NO.5

It's Electropenciled

No5MKIPOF (F)
10/44 C3504

The numbers on the wood match as well. Theres some stamps on the right hand side of the butt. Theres a circle with an E and and A seperated by an arrow and an S below as well as another circle with a J.O.D

theres a small crown and numbers on the butt behind the trigger gaurd I can 't make out.

On the bottom of the stock ahead of the magazine theres a number 3
 
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