Jungle Carbine Restoration

[enefgee]

Update:

I have found a flashhider for this rifle. There is one small cosmetic issue I would like to fix. The flashhider is blued and quite pitted. So much so that it doesnt really match the rifle (excellent shape with suncorite).

Is there any way to fill pits? Is there a special method of soldering them? I would like to clean up the pits and find some alternative to suncorite to finish the flashhider. Any ideas?

Have you talked to John Pullen - he's very well versed in this stuff. If not, maybe Armacoat?

 

[bgcameron]

I'm going to take it into work and have one of the welders look at it.

 

[bgcameron]

Problem!!!

After re-finishing the flashhider, I made an attempt to install it onto the barrel. Well, I got it most way on but now it doesnt want to move. It came off the donor barrel a lot easier than it is going onto the new barrel. Maybe the welding shrunk the metal a bit.

So I tried taking it back off so I could take off a little material to make it fit better. What is the best way to remove one of these? I tried putting a large piece of steel behind the flashhider and hitting it down against a bench, but it wont move. Help!

 

[#1bcshooter]

Just a question, why do folks insist on calling it a "jungle carbine?"
The Brits NEVER did. It is the rifle, No5 Mk1.
The term "jungle carbine" came from the surplus dealers who also gave us the term "assault rifle", which was a STUPID GIFT to the gun grabbers.

You can thank Hitler for that term not surplus dealers

 

[#1bcshooter]

Problem!!!

After re-finishing the flashhider, I made an attempt to install it onto the barrel. Well, I got it most way on but now it doesnt want to move. It came off the donor barrel a lot easier than it is going onto the new barrel. Maybe the welding shrunk the metal a bit.

So I tried taking it back off so I could take off a little material to make it fit better. What is the best way to remove one of these? I tried putting a large piece of steel behind the flashhider and hitting it down against a bench, but it wont move. Help!

Try warming it up with a propane torch

 

[bgcameron]

Yeah tried that too.

 

[nelly]

Find a brass musician (or musical instrument repair place) who has a mouth piece puller.... No, that's not a ###ual reference!

 

[bgcameron]

I dont think that would have the strength to pull it. It is really on there!!

I read somewhere about supporting behind the flashhider and using a press to push the barrel down, with a piece of tool steel turned to just fit inside. I am just worried about buggering up the crown.

 

[bgcameron]

I finished this project tonight. I had a little help from a gunsmith to get the flashhider on right.

Before:

After:

You may notice that there is no bayonet lug. It was the best i could do without overpaying for a crappy reproduction. With the pricing and availability of No5 bayonets these days, who needs a bayonet lug anyway?

 

[ABCZAR]

good save

 

[Craig0ry]

Very nive!, How much did it end up costing?

 

[dale]

Punch jungle carbine into Google and the history will come up,I'm sure it will be of interest

 

[finloq]

Much nicer.

 

[louthepou]

Nice work indeed! Perseverance paid off, didn't it

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Good work. The Jungle Carbine has always been my favorite 303Br. I've posted something on it previously and at present I'm on my 3rd and 4th as we speak. #3 is near mint and as an added touch I picked up an original bayonet for it.

#4 was a 'little' rough but I thought I'd pick it up for parts if nothing else. Before breaking it down, I thought I'd first try a clean-up restoration job. Actually, it cleaned up fairly well with a refinishing of the wood, I put an S&K scope mount and scope on it and its my shooter/load tester. It has what I believe to be a Bishop butt stock on it but I do have the original with recoil pad as well.

And it/they don't shoot too bad. The local rifle range was in use so I shot this on our handgun range using some FMJ bullets that had been pulled from military ammo.