Just picked up a LE No 5 Mk 1. What have I got?

[Canuck Bob]

My luck, just finalized payment for a No5 rifle and it is getting transfered in a day or two just in time for the Postal strike.

I have limited info on the rifle but thought I would start a thread. Deal made here on the Exchange with a fine gentleman in Ontario. All I can say is it has a 45 date code and says England on the receiver and that is it. Pics link:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=614577

It looks genuine and as issued. Any opinions? If it is as issued I will do no alteration but will shoot the rifle. If it is altered I would consider changes but for upgrade only, no bubba stuff. Also I'm a lefty and will shoot left handed.

Edit further info: receiver and muzzle stamped, M/470 (probably M47C for BSA Shirley?) 1945, also a stamp that says, England RO

 

[TheTooner]

M/470 probably isn't M/470. M/47 is a manufacturer's identification. BSA was M/47 with one more letter to show which of their Birmingham factories made that particular gun. So the stamp you are seeing is probably M/47C. If I recall correctly, factory C was at Shirley in Birmingham.

I remember seeing that one advertised. As far as I can tell from the photographs, yes, I think it looks genuine and as issued.

 

[enfield303t]

I saw that one on the EE and even thought about buying it. It looks very good and if is shoots as well as it looks you will have a beauty.

I have had a No5 that shot very well and hope yours will also.

Treat it well and it will return the favour to you, oil the stock perodically and try to keep the wood as nice as it is in the pictures.

Welcome to the ownership of a Lee Enfield, it is addictive.

 

[plinker 777]

I was eyeballing that one too, but I don't own a #5 so was hesitant. If I remember correctly the price was right. Can anyone tell me why the brass on the sling is so close together? No4Mk1 or 2 sling? or did the No5 just use the same length slings? You sure do have a nice looking Enfield there, do let us know how "she" shoots

 

[Canuck Bob]

I saw that one on the EE and even thought about buying it. It looks very good and if is shoots as well as it looks you will have a beauty.

I have had a No5 that shot very well and hope yours will also.

Treat it well and it will return the favour to you, oil the stock perodically and try to keep the wood as nice as it is in the pictures.

Welcome to the ownership of a Lee Enfield, it is addictive.

Thanks, sellor was a great guy, straight shooter. I'm guessing your refering to linseed oil for the stock. I want to shoot cast so setting up will take awhile as I'm outfitting the final tools for my last rifle.

I will get some proper screwdrivers and some reference stuff from Steve on the 303British site and clean it properly right away. Then maybe Bullet Barn for some cast lead to try it out.

 

[enfield303t]

Thanks, sellor was a great guy, straight shooter. I'm guessing your refering to linseed oil for the stock. I want to shoot cast so setting up will take awhile as I'm outfitting the final tools for my last rifle.

I will get some proper screwdrivers and some reference stuff from Steve on the 303British site and clean it properly right away. Then maybe Bullet Barn for some cast lead to try it out.

If you want the best advice on your rifle join milsurps.com probably the most knowledgeable and helpful people on that site from all over the world.

No one can compete with the knowledge on that site and a great bunch of members who will literally bend over backwards to help you. Without a doubt the greatest collection of true experts on Lee Enfields in existance.

Some of the members from milsurps post here and I am sure you will eventually recognize them...bagderdog, smellie, stevo, bearhunter the list is endless.

 

[bigedp51]

The No.5 and the L42 were the only Enfields with a free floating barrel.

NOTE: Only raw linseed oil was used on the stock.

I would NOT get any reference material from Steve at 303British.com site due his efforts to have Enfield manuals banned from the internet. Steve went around telling forum owners they were breaking copyright laws for posting manuals so he could sell more of his own. I lost two manual stickys in Enfield forums because of Steve and his outright lies.

 

[Canuck Bob]

If you want the best advice on your rifle join milsurps.com probably the most knowledgeable and helpful people on that site from all over the world.

No one can compete with the knowledge on that site and a great bunch of members who will literally bend over backwards to help you. Without a doubt the greatest collection of true experts on Lee Enfields in existance.

Some of the members from milsurps post here and I am sure you will eventually recognize them...bagderdog, smellie, stevo, bearhunter the list is endless.

Thanks I'll join up now.

 

[Canuck Bob]

Well I joined Milsurp and am now overwhelmed. I had no idea at the depth of commitment to these old rifles.

The Milsurp community is something else. The amount of free assistance, detailed posts on real issues, and the caliber of some of the members is well beyond the normal internet traffic.

The rifle will be coming by courier. It turns out UPS was cheapest for 5 day delivery, about $25 more than Canada Post (includes insurance and such). Purolator was $50 more for anyone thinking of shipping over the strike.