Fake Jungle Carbine

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Note the butt stock had repaired/filled holes in the toe about where the butt sling swivel should go, Peter told us many times about making wood for No5 rifles out of No4 wood. Nothing quite looks right about it except it might carry well.

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Didnt even notice that! Thank you to everyone for their input, this will be a "pass" for me.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Is it true that a number of No5's had their bodies replaced with No4's in Cyprus?

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No.

But it is true that they were replaced in Malaya

Peter Laidler (the most senior British Armourer and a forum member) was there and 'did it', here is an extract of a post of his from 26th July 2008


I think I mentioned earlier that when we were doing the big Crown Agents FTR programme, it was priced (so I was told) that if 70 came in, 70 went out and if some were ZF’d (scrap) then they’d be replaced from our ANZUK (I think this was Aust, NZ and UK stockholdings) mobilization stores from the huge …., and I mean HUGE Ordnance stockpiles close by at Johore Bahru. So we would cannibalise No5’s and if necessary, send them out with No4 bodies.

Looks like a nice done clone. Not collectable but probably nice to own and shoot.

Yes, looks like a nice job for what it is.

Well,
I think I would have been suckered in if its fake. Not sure it is though, the provenance would have been the clincher looking into the eyes of the seller:thup:

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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

Well,
I think I would have been suckered in if its fake. Not sure it is though, the provenance would have been the clincher looking into the eyes of the seller:thup:

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Good point but it is an online auction. I believe this rifle is from a private collection they are selling. I picked up 3 pieces from that collection last month that were pretty nice. The only thing I knew about No 5 Jungle carbines was that there are a lot of fakes out there!

I wouldn't buy it as any kind of an original, but maybe to shoot or fill a spot in a collection. Problem is when you find a really good one that's correct...what to do with the spurious one?

Years back a buddy of mine invited me over to inspect his Jungle Carbine collection. He had 5 Carbines all in decent condition. Every since one was a fake. Numrich Arms, Golden State Arms or whatever. He was very unhappy with my comments, but I told him the truth. There are fakes everywhere. Let the buyer beware.

Can't really see what there is to achieve, on a rifle that is still quite low in value out there. To fake it gets you nowhere IMHO ;)

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Originally Posted by Calif-Steve

He had 5 Carbines all in decent condition. Every one was a fake.

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That would suck hugely...he was cross because he couldn't see it.