.22 Nr 5

[Gnr527]

Could well upset someone with this, but suspect it might be of sufficient interest to provoke some discussion.

http://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=4763925

John

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

That COULD be interesting because the Fazakerley factory via the MoS submitted a No5 lookalike for the trials to replace the No2 rifle in 1949/50. On the basis that the No5 would be replacing the No4 as the service rifle. But they are clearly marked on the side and were obviously based on Faz made No5 rifles. Same configuration as the old No2 and No9 etc. But the No8 was clearly the winner. I say clearly............. It wasn't what everyone wanted. It only superficially resembled the No4 and apart from the sights, I can't think of anything else that was mechanically similar. But there you go, it was a good rifle.

I think I mentioned some time ago, the old Battalion training regiments were permitted to change the butts and shortened No4 fore-ends just so that recruits could assimilate the hold and feel of the service rifle and not the hold and feel of a target rifle. Saw a couple of these slightly modified No8 rifles at The Cheshire Regiment Depot. Like most things, they had to be returned to Ordnance 'as issued'

[Roger Payne]

Not really an area I know a lot about but the prototype/trials .22 No5's looked nothing much like the standard 303 version, as Peter alludes. The rifle shown here looks like a tidy example of a BSA 1945 bog standard jungle carbine that has been (probably commercially) sleeved to .22LR at some point, presumably because that was the then-owner's desire. Nice little rifle though......

ATB

[browningautorifle]

And again, from a non collector standpoint, I'd love to have one just for shooting purposes.

[Brit plumber]

Well it started life as a .303 as it has .303 commercial proof marks on the barrel.

[Peter Laidler]

That's the answer then. BUT, a great use for a shot out No5 or if you have a spare .22" lined No4 barrel kicking about!

[Promo]

Compare it to the known original rifles at rifleman Website, they're different. And look at the pictures of this rifle, it definately has a Feed barrel.

[breakeyp]

Interesting like the Enfield and Webley revolvers I have seen converted to .22 caliber. Neat to shoot but not Lee collectible. I have one of the BSA .22 No.5 evaluation rifles and it is more like a No.8 than the No.5. This points out the value of having reference books.

[Gnr527]

I imagine most of you will have done the Google translation but for the others:-

>>I offer for sale a well unique rarity , an original Enfield Jungle Carbine No.5 MK1 .22 LR . Unique is because according to relevant literature and according to an article in the DWJ (05 /1998) only a few, a few prototypes (about 103 pieces) by the company BSA in 1945 from the former large caliber weapons by the other Enfieldwaffen ( SMLE conversions ) proven method , inserting a feeding barrel, the closure shortening and lengthening of the closure head was rebuilt as a single shot . Externally similar to the KK - No.5 entirely of large-caliber version, so even with the funnel-shaped flash hider , the original bayonet mount and the Spindeldiopter . A single , more known specimen of this rare weapon is under the weapon number RB 389/1 at the factory museum and the collection of patterns (Pattern Room ) of the former Enfield - are weapons factory. The weapon here now offered by me is true under the number RR 364/1 officially registered (probably read error ) . The number is stamped on the round metal part of the bulb neck and you can not clearly identify whether the second Letter "B" or an "R" is because the lower part of the number by the rounding is not fully developed. Therefore, the gun comes with the greatest possible safety of the above Prototypes - series . It thus is a unique rarity , since so far there are no known other , still existing pieces . The gun is in very good condition with dark bluing and all the English attack - stamps. The year 1945 is also legible available on the tang .<<

I know little of Nr 5 .22s so would be interested in any further comments.

TIA
John

[Alan de Enfield]

There was a BSA No5 in calibre .22rf sold at Scotarms Auction (Newark UK) a coupl of years ago. I was bidding on it butit went above my limit considering that the bolt was 'jammed' in the action in a 'half-closed' position.
From memory the bolt was very similar to the BSA No7 bolt and the magazine was a No7 Mk1 (modified BSA Sportsman 5) magazine

I'll try to go back thru my catalogues and see if I can find any more info.