My best No. 5

[drweiler]

A pre-'68 import indicated by 'ENGLAND' stamped on the left side of the buttstock socket and no importer stamp, it was proofed in Birmingham, stamped on barrel aft of flash eliminator group. Appears to be 'oil blackened' with vivid electro penciling, the s.n. brighter and deeper, bolt and fore-end numbers match (no number stamped on magazine), with '0' bolt head, pristine bore. The 'rack number' appears to be two letters, perhaps someone can help me here as to it's meaning. Thanks for looking/comments, Don

Information

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[aussietomcatter]

I really have to get me a No 5!

Sweet looking rifle you have there mate.

[heyheyuw]

Beautiful carbine! No5's are my fave!

[jmoore]

An "FR" in paint? And on the opposite side than usual. Fred Roberts certainly got around...

[drweiler]

An "FR" in paint? And on the opposite side than usual. Fred Roberts certainly got around...

What the heck could that 'FR' represent? Perhaps not military related? Any thoughts if it's not Fred's? Cheers, Don

[Peter Laidler]

Could be Factory Repair. As for it being upside down, don't forget that most of the big armouries used to rack their No5's upside down - on the muzzle - with the bolt open, just to preserve the old rubber butt pads. The heat used to cause the oil to run down into the trough that the butt plate sat, soften it and the weight of the rifle would just squash the rubber to a sticky gooey mess. An easy fix UNLESS the bloody male/female thread of the butt plate screw had corroded together. Then you have to rip off the old rubber pad and cut the screw. But even that was a chore on some because on some No5's, there was a steel plate between the butt and the rubber pad. If this was rusty too and the butt plate had stuck to it it was a drill it out job. Good idea until the whole bolt rotated with the drill!

Hey......... that's brought back some memories!

[Bindi2]

Could be Factory Repair. As for it being upside down, don't forget that most of the big armouries used to rack their No5's upside down - on the muzzle - with the bolt open, just to preserve the old rubber butt pads. The heat used to cause the oil to run down into the trough that the butt plate sat, soften it and the weight of the rifle would just squash the rubber to a sticky gooey mess. An easy fix UNLESS the bloody male/female thread of the butt plate screw had corroded together. Then you have to rip off the old rubber pad and cut the screw. But even that was a chore on some because on some No5's, there was a steel plate between the butt and the rubber pad. If this was rusty too and the butt plate had stuck to it it was a drill it out job. Good idea until the whole bolt rotated with the drill!

Hey......... that's brought back some memories!

Is this when the No4 butt got put on.

[Peter Laidler]

Am I missing something? It looks like a No5 butt to me

[Bindi2]

No when changing the original butt and it all went to S tore I n H igh P laces. Retirement must be agreeing with you i expected a dig back.

[jmoore]

The rifle above doesn't seem to be a candidate for "Factory Repair", unless it was something minor.