SMLE Rifle 5 Long Branch #4 Mk 1* on receiver

good evening fellow oppressed gun enjoying gentlemen. I saw an older post on Long Branch No 5 rifles and saw quotes that none were made.

I recently got two #5 rifles

1. A 303, looks like new, with the No 4 LB receiver and no wrist band mark.
2. A 7.62, looks like new, with a grooved but unmarked receiver and an Ishapore wrist band mark dated 1968. 800 meter rear sight, with RFI on the flat.

??? is is possible Ishapore was making No 5 rifles from older parts?

Is anyone else out there making Mutts from parts? these sure seem like good quality weapons...

appreciate any thoughts or schooling.

GC

Quite a few people are making up fakes these days. Anything is possible though, do you have pictures?

If the sight on the Ishy is meant for 303 it obviously will be calibrated wrong for 7.62x51. Also are the lightening cuts on the receiver present? Do they have the lightened chamber area on their barrels? The Ishy is a No 4/5 style action or a No1?

Gibbs, a subsidiary of Navy Arms, converted a number of No.4 rifles of various makes into No.5 look a likes and also did the same with Indian .308 No.1 rifles. Shooters like them and shoot them, collectors tend to ignore them. A few collectors who collect Santa Fe and Golden State manufactured No.5s from the 1960's might be interested in them to complete their specialized collection.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kilo22Tango

I recently got two #5 rifles

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Sadly neither of which are No.5s.

No.5s were only manufactured by BSA and Royal Ordnance Factory, Fazakerley.

There are photos taken at the time which show what appear to be No5 Rifles made at Long Branch. In the thread you refer to the various differences with the UK production rifles were discussed. No doubt there were only a few done for experimental or production evaluation purposes.

Many many years ago I handled a Long Branch No.5 in .308. It was made up to evaluate a No.5 configuration in .308. Interestingly they used a No.1 Mk VI receiver. Circumstances were such that I doubt it had been faked but it was many years ago and I wasn't that interested as it wasn't for sale and I couldn't get it into the US at the time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kilo22Tango

good evening fellow oppressed gun enjoying gentlemen. I saw an older post on Long Branch No 5 rifles and saw quotes that none were made.

I recently got two #5 rifles

1. A 303, looks like new, with the No 4 LB receiver and no wrist band mark.
2. A 7.62, looks like new, with a grooved but unmarked receiver and an Ishapore wrist band mark dated 1968. 800 meter rear sight, with RFI on the flat.

??? is is possible Ishapore was making No 5 rifles from older parts?

Is anyone else out there making Mutts from parts? these sure seem like good quality weapons...

appreciate any thoughts or schooling.

GC

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I'd think they are very probably mutts.

First one, some american companies made their own no5s, sometimes called "tank carbines", not genuine. Some ppl privately shortened a no4 barrel and made a gun using no5 parts, a bush gun, not un-common here in NZ. A real no5 Ive only ever heard of as British made, so a No5 mk1 and not a no5 mk1*.

Second one, if its an Ishapore I'd think it was a no1 mk3* receiver and not off a no4 receiver so I have no idea what you have got. Some of the american companies put 7.62mm barrels on their "tank carbines" as well I think.

So, if you upload some pics that would be most helpful.