New to me SMLE No.1MkV

Claven2

Claven2

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Recently picked up this 1922 production No.1MkV in a hotly contested online auction. It's been a while since I've seen a decent example come up for sale, so to be honest if anyone here was bidding against me, I was going to end up with this rifle (I had an absurdly high absentee bid in the system).

I've collected SMLEs for many years on and off (nearly 30 years), but surprisingly I never owned a MkV before now, despite handling and humming and hawing over many of them. The time had come.

This example, while not perfect, is matching and in decent shape. Perfect bore, and wearing a 1921 dated MEC sling. The bayonet sold with is is a 1917 Wilkinson refurbed at Enfield in 1922. All parts are correct (including cutoff with no viewing hole) and presumably original, though the EFD-made buttstock is an S size. I'm thinking it's original, as these were troop trial rifles, and would have fielded with a few S and L butts among them.

Anyway, I'm glad to have it and hope you enjoy the pics :)

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3HjaRHT.jpeg
 
Very cool, I've not seen one before I don't think. I understand that the reason for changing the sights over to aperture from leaf was an attempt to improve accuracy. Does anyone know if accuracy did improve? I always thought SMLE sights were excellent to shoot with especially for old guys who wear glasses to see distance.( Not that many "customers" wore glasses back in the day)
 
As I recall, they failed trials due to accuracy problems resulting from springiness in the receiver. Interesting rifles. I have owned two. The second was purchased off a gun show table where the seller thought it was a bog standard No 1. Was a great day!

Congrats Claven2. That is one sweet addition to your collection.
 
I suspect the mk v was an accuracy improvement over the mk iii based only on the longer sight radius, but from a mechanics perspective, it’s the same receiver and barrel, so likely no change from a vise.

The mk V did spawn the mk VI so clearly they felt some of the design elements were worthwhile, the mk vi being easier to manufacture with basically the same sights and a slightly heavier barrel.
 
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Next I hope to locate what should be a much easier and cheaper missing link in my SMLE collection, an unmolested 1941 to 1943 dated bsa dispersal rifle. I’ve had them before, but need to re-add one to the herd.
 
Claven2 said:
Recently picked up this 1922 production No.1MkV in a hotly contested online auction. It's been a while since I've seen a decent example come up for sale, so to be honest if anyone here was bidding against me, I was going to end up with this rifle (I had an absurdly high absentee bid in the system).

I've collected SMLEs for many years on and off (nearly 30 years), but surprisingly I never owned a MkV before now, despite handling and humming and hawing over many of them. The time had come.

This example, while not perfect, is matching and in decent shape. Perfect bore, and wearing a 1921 dated MEC sling. The bayonet sold with is is a 1917 Wilkinson refurbed at Enfield in 1922. All parts are correct (including cutoff with no viewing hole) and presumably original, though the EFD-made buttstock is an S size. I'm thinking it's original, as these were troop trial rifles, and would have fielded with a few S and L butts among them.

Anyway, I'm glad to have it and hope you enjoy the pics :)

gdGNxdc.jpeg


3HjaRHT.jpeg
Click to expand...
A 'must' for every Enfield collector. I have never seen one that didn't have a short butt. Your safety catch should have some machined serations and the letter 'V' stamped on it indicating it was special to that pattern. Not sure what the difference is
but the standard catch should be interchangeable. The only weak design was the rear aperture sight but it was easy to adjust in the prone postion with the right hand as is the P-14. A desired feature. Nice to get a refurbed '22 bayonet with it.
Just try getting a photo wit this rifle in use. John
 
jtaylor said:
A 'must' for every Enfield collector. I have never seen one that didn't have a short butt. Your safety catch should have some machined serations and the letter 'V' stamped on it indicating it was special to that pattern. Not sure what the difference is
but the standard catch should be interchangeable. The only weak design was the rear aperture sight but it was easy to adjust in the prone postion with the right hand as is the P-14. A desired feature. Nice to get a refurbed '22 bayonet with it.
Just try getting a photo wit this rifle in use. John
Click to expand...
Hi John, it has the correct serrated safety on it :)

Come to think of it, I have never seen a photo of a mkV in service.
 
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Only service photo I could find is this one.

It’s a viet minh soldier holding it in the early 60’s, so presumably the nationalist Chinese got some that the maoists captured and later gave to go chi Minh’s forces.

Could also have been in Japanese custody after the fall of Singapore.
 
Skennerton says the South African police had some so could be they were issued to certain Imperial police forces to free up SMLE's for general issue. If so maybe the imperial police in Burma were issued some and the Japanese got them there? Same could be true for Malayan police as well.
 
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