RFI Refurbished No. 5

[c&rfan]

Some may have seen my "refurbished" No. 5 on other forums but I think it is interesting enough to share with those of you here who may not have seen one of these.

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(The bayonet is a RFI reproduction that I bought after acquiring the rifle at a Sheriff's Auction in Las Vegas, Nevada.)

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This rifle has been "scrubbed" of any manufacturer's marks and has a brass "Ishy screw":



The receiver and barrel (not shown) have relief cuts to lessen weight typical of all No. 5s:



The serial numbers on the stock socket,



bolt handle,



forestock,



and magazine body all match:



The magazine platform has a mark I have been unable to identify:



The bottom of the stock has an RFI mark just behind the trigger guard. Also note the hollow bolt handle ball typical of all No. 5s.

The roundel on the butt stock has been identified by "Edwards - of India's Enfields" as being a stores mark dated 1957.

There are C.A.I import marks on the bottom of the barrel just ahead of the forestock; the number 1957 (or date) is stamped (not shown) on the front of the metal cap on the forestock:

This is definately not a cut down No. 4 but a rifle with all the characteristics of the No. 5s manufactured in England. I sent photos and a description to Skip Stratton of the Enfield Research Institute and he speculated that it probably began life as an English made No. 5 that was refurbished by RFI. According to Mr. Stratton, the Indians are noted for not providing any details or numbers in regard to their armament production or refurbishing activities even from 50 years ago.



My inquiries to Century Arms asking about its origin or import details have gone unanswered.

Any information regarding the unidentified marks shown above or regarding the origin of this rifle will be greatly appreciated.

[villiers]

Thanks for the interesting posting.


Could you post some further information on the "Ishy screw" in the fore-end?
Is it just a wood screw, or a bolt secured on the other side?

Does the fore-end cap have TWO rivets (one through the sides and the other underneath the barrel)?
Doesn´t the one through the sides collide with the barrel?

And is the bayonet Indian?

[villiers]

Thanks for the interesting posting.


Could you post some further information on the "Ishy screw" in the fore-end?
Is it just a wood screw, or a bolt secured on the other side?

Does the fore-end cap have TWO rivets (one through the sides and the other underneath the barrel)?
Doesn´t the one through the sides collide with the barrel?

And is the bayonet Indian?

[villiers]

Thanks for the interesting posting.


Could you post some further information on the "Ishy screw" in the fore-end?
Is it just a wood screw, or a bolt secured on the other side?

Does the fore-end cap have TWO rivets (one through the sides and the other underneath the barrel)?
Doesn´t the one through the sides collide with the barrel?

And is the bayonet Indian?

[Edward Horton]

Villiers

You are being redundant, redundant, redundant or do you have a peach inspediment caused by drain bamage.

Sorry the devil made me do it

[gunner]

Hi Villiers,

my LE has also the " Ishy screw " its a wood screw that has been filed down to the woods surface.

Regards

Gunner

[c&rfan]

Thanks for the interesting posting.


Could you post some further information on the "Ishy screw" in the fore-end?
Is it just a wood screw, or a bolt secured on the other side?

Does the fore-end cap have TWO rivets (one through the sides and the other underneath the barrel)?
Doesn´t the one through the sides collide with the barrel?

And is the bayonet Indian?

The "Ishy screw" is a brass colored wood screw with a head approximately 3/8" in diameter. The screw passes through the stock to the right side where the protruding sharp point has been filed away almost flush with the surface of the stock.

The fore-end cap has ONE brass colored rivet on the bottom of the nose cap as shown in the photo.

The bayonet is RFI (Indian). I purchased it from IMA sometime after I acquired the No.5.

[villiers]

`Tis truly a peach inspediment and it´s rude to poke me through the bars.
(My MAC stuck somehow).

Anyway: Thanx C&Rfan. I´ve long wanted to know about the Ishy screw.
BTW ... what´s it meant to do?

[c&rfan]

`Tis truly a peach inspediment and it´s rude to poke me through the bars.
(My MAC stuck somehow).

Anyway: Thanx C&Rfan. I´ve long wanted to know about the Ishy screw.
BTW ... what´s it meant to do?

I've read somewhere that they were used to reinforce the stock of the No.1 Mk III for the recoil caused when firing rifle gernades; I don't know if that is true and if so, if it is also true for the screws found in Indian rehab'd No. 4s and No.5s.

I'm sure there are others on this formum that can provide a difinitive answer.

[Peter Laidler]

I have handled a few No5 rifles and there's something about this one that just doesn't look/feel like a genuine No5 body (receiver to you wild colonials.....). Sorry about that C&R. Take the fore-end off and the space at the rear of the trigger will be machined away on a real No5 body.

I'd be interested to hear what you have there........................