Question about No.5 mk1 s/n.

[r.fallon]

Hi there I just bought 2 No.5s. The one in question is a Faz. prod. 5/44 the serial no. is 59XX. That is all no letter prefix. Has any one else encountered this. I think it maybe because of A: an early production (2/44 and 3/44 where the initial orders placed) or B: renumbered to export (has england stamp) or in the country exported too during a arsenal rebuild prog.

Before anyone hits the big red "It's a FAKE!!" button, it is not. I have a fairly good grasp of the No.5 and I was able to dissasemble the rifle before I bought it. My first JC was a fake, poorly done but I was not aware at the time. Sometimes the best way to learn is the hard way

 

[ian_in_vic]

According to Skennerton the prefix on the first 1,000 No.5's should be 'FE'. That date would make it very early production - before the official recognition of the No5 Mk1 designation (9/44). Are all of the markings and features correct? Oh yes, and........



I'd love to see some pictures, sounds like a very interesting rifle.

 

[r.fallon]

Hi Ian (I miss the coast) My Camera is down right now should have it running by next week. As far as markings and features go, yes all the metal has been machined off in all the right places. As for as markings the bolt is incorrect but has been force matched (but not by bubba) there are a few Faz. including on the flash hider and the ussual BNP stamps. The butt has a few stamps as well at the under side of the wrist. These are done so that when the rifle is on a rack they can be read.