Australian No6 Mk1 info

Been a while since I posted, but to cut long story short, I’m trying to find any details on the rifles as in the title, I’ve read what I can from the Enfield bible by Ian S, I can’t say how were when etc, but I will when I can, in the meantime time the serial numbers on these rifles , are they religiously re stamped with XP and followed by the 3digit serial number? With all original numbers linished ?

For the elite collectors , I don’t need photographs etc, I know they are a rare rifle, just need conformation regarding the serial numbers.

The .22rf No6 Rifle.

Whilst similar in some respects to its predecessor - the .22 RF No.5 Rifle - it differs in many aspects. However, the action is also modified from that of a No.4 rifle and the bolt body and head are all but identical (except that the bolt-head is 10.5mm longer and the body correspondingly shorter), but only single-shot configuration has been found so far, with a loading platform in the magazine well. In fact, rather than being a modified action, it is one that has been taken from the No.4 rifle production before the machining was done for the folding leaf sight, and for the removal of metal for the lightening cut on the right-hand-side; the action body therefore remains effectively slab-sided, with the top then being milled flat to take the new sight-mounting bridge. The fore-end woodwork is deeper below the receiver and fractionally shorter in front of the barrel band. This, and the fact that the barrel is 3.5" longer than that of the No.5, gives a hint that this rifle is destined to lead to the No.8 rifle with its barrel length of 23.2". Note that the No.8 rifles were built up on the .303in No.5 "Jungle Carbine" actions, possibly because a decision had already been intimate that the latter rifle was not to be made the main issue service rifle, as had been mooted late in WW2 (as a result of its "Wandering Zero" issue), and many of the lightened actions were had become surplus to requirements.

One major difference from the .22RF No.5 action is the raised section carrying the new rear sight. This section, or bridge, is fitted into and over the recess originally machined for the No.4 type rear sight folding leaf (as was fitted to the .22RF No.5 with the addition of a target type elevation slide with windage adjustment and a Parker-Hale style six-hole rotating disc screw-in rear aperture unit. This design of rear-sight preceded the A.J. Parker designed 8/53 adapter unit by nearly ten years, although it required a complete replacement of the elevation slide rather than the simple screw-on fixing of the 8/53 windage adapter for target shooting with the Rifles Nos.4,7,8 and 9 )

The foresight of the .22RF No.6 is identical to that of the .22RF No.5, with a revolving knurled centre section which, when rotated through 180 degrees, releases the fore-sight element from the top. The rifle was usually issued with two elements - one with a post fore-sight and one a ring fore-sight. These complete units were especially manufactured for the No.5 and No.6 .22RF rifles, and we are only aware that they were used on one other rifle - and that was the 1948 Olympic Free Rifle for the British Team. The fore-sight tunnel fitted into a laterally machined dovetail in the fore-sight block which was sweated and pinned onto the barrel. This system appears to have formed the basis of that used on the later Rifle No.8; this permitted the fitment to that rifle of either a target type foresight tunnel or the more familiar service issue open sided fore-sight protector wings emulating those of the No.4 rifle. The quality of manufacture of the No.5 and No.6 tunnel units is exceedingly high, and these fore-sights must have been very expensive to produce as they were effectively custom made. The same holds true of the respective rear-sight modifications for both rifles, let alone the complex bolt-heads which were the pre-cursor to those fitted to BSA's Lee-Enfield No.7 rifle of which approximately 2,500 were built for the Royal Air Force contract.

The .22RF No.6 is built rather more along these lines than those of the .22RF No.5, which more closely resembles the finer lined woodwork of its full-bore service rifle brother - the colloquially known "Jungle Carbine". The No.5, though, has a specially made .22 magazine insert fitted into a slotted platform riveted into the top of a .303 magazine, which has had the spring and follower removed. This system is almost exactly that later used for the No.7 rifle, with the exception that the No.7 utilised the .22 magazine from the BSA sporter of the day; this simply had the catch and spring inverted to permit locking into the magazine slot from above rather than from below as in the sporter.

Info from Rifleman.org

I'm not sure which No6 Geoff is referring to Alan; I think it might be the other one - the Australian equivalent of the No5 rifle but built on the SMLE action.

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Originally Posted by Roger Payne

I'm not sure which No6 Geoff is referring to Alan; I think it might be the other one - the Australian equivalent of the No5 rifle but built on the SMLE action.

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Good point - maybe when asking a question where there are duplicate numbers the specific variant needs to be specified.

The XP serial numbers are original to the action in my opinion. All mine are XP then the three numbers. I S also mentions another variant numbered XP1 to XP8. I don't have one of them.
S.A.I.S No 19 is the book

Gents, it’s the Australian No6 Mk1, a similar version of the Jungle Carbine but produced from the Lithgow SMLE No1 Mk111*

---------- Post added at 12:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by Bindi2

The XP serial numbers are original to the action in my opinion. All mine are XP then the three numbers. I S also mentions another variant numbered XP1 to XP8. I don't have one of them.
S.A.I.S No 19 is the book

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Thanks Bindi, so original numbers linished and new XP serial stamped ? Just to confirm, is the action , barrel and bolt ?

New actions no linishing done. Will go and look again be back shortly.
I have a No6 Mk1/1 that has been partly linished without a PAA number on the bolt. These actions are not No1 Mk3 actions. The others are not linished and have correct PAA numbers. The No6 Mk1 could be new No1 Mk3 actions. The Mk1/1 actions were also used for the trial conversion for the 7.62 NATO.
The S & L are a little different again. but that is a charger bridge mod.

I assumed they were built from used actions ? So they were built on new or just a few on new?

The 1/1 action is different to mount the rear sight. It is not just fitted to..
I have only seen 45 dated actions used. Even my Mk1 lightly linished action is a 45. The Mk111* stamp line is all gone but the rest is readable.

Thanks Bindi , understand regarding the Mk1/1……
Just want to concentrate on the Mk1, specifically the serial number etc, as one has surfaced in the U.K

98 made serial XP101 to XP198. Half with rubber Butt plate.

Didn't some importer in the USA build quite a few of these? Or has some industrious soul taken one of those and pushed the simulation a few steps further!?

Santa Fe did indeed make some fakes / clones mostly with Indian rifles. The Aussie No6 wont take a 1907 bayonet like the No5.

So, exactly what sort of info do you need?

Tech data, production data?

I know where to put my paws on tech drawings and such, but someone else will have to help with production data..

The Oz XP series, including the "Rifle, Parachutist", usually referred to as the "Shortened and Lightened", of which there were several variation of barrel length and sights, are just a tiny drop in the bucket of Oz No1 Mk3 / 3* production. One of the mysteries is whether Lithgow actually made any No1 Mk 5 rifles. They had the "package" including the drawings for the quite different body forging. The "ladder" rear-sight on the No6 carbines so fitted, is essentially that of the Mk5; somewhat wider then the one on the No4 series.

Bruce, Bindi

Just need a picture or two of the serial number type face, and the location, don't need to see the number so it can be photo shopped etc as long as I can see were it lies in relation to the XP and also a picture of the flash hider and side view of the screws on the rear site protectors.

These are bits that stand out on the one I have compared to the one in Ian's bible.

Unfortunately cant post the pics I have on here yet, until its in the auction, the info Is only to pass on to the auction house, as they were convinced its the real Mcoy, A blind man on a galloping horse could easily see the serial isn't correct its XP ***** on the receiver and has XP *** on the Barrel but this has the last 3 numbers from the receiver ........ the xp has been added at some point and I would say the XP*** on the barrel has been added at the same time, there is some story behind it as supposedly it was a barrelled action only, the owner made the woodworks for it, it does look very good but the bits I mention let it down.

I'd just like to provide some info for the auction house so as to stop someone paying a small ransom for something that is a reasonable repro.

It could be one of them rifles that has done a few laps behind closed doors etc, or been in a few auctions over time, but bent as a five bob note in my opinion.

Bruce, thanks for the email, really appreciate it, it confirms my initial thoughts on the rifle in question, certainly not the real Mcoy but nearly there.

Hopefully I can help save someone a fortune, obviously the Vendor won’t be too pleased, but be interesting how the auction house portray it now.

https://www.wilson55.com/auction/lot...no/?lot=173875

Gents, hope this link works, if not search Wilson
55.com, look for feb auction arms and militaria.

An Interesting L42 up for auction too !!!!!! Any thoughts?

https://www.wilson55.com/auction/lot...28/?lot=173882

The front sight protector is off a No5. The No6 is a different shape. There are scallops in the barrel similar to the No5 hence no serial on the barrel of the No6. The No6 rifles only have three digit serials.
I have photos of all those things but have an issue trying to send them to you.

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Originally Posted by Bindi2

The front sight protector is off a No5. The No6 is a different shape. There are scallops in the barrel similar to the No5 hence no serial on the barrel of the No6. The No6 rifles only have three digit serials.
I have photos of all those things but have an issue trying to send them to you.

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Thanks Bindi, have received pics from Bruce, there’s a few bits in the auction that don’t stack up…….. even the L42 , ( XL 42)

XL42E1
From my research is this not a forerunner /experimental before the L42A1 was sealed.
This is your territory not mine.

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Originally Posted by Bindi2

XL42E1
From my research is this not a forerunner /experimental before the L42A1 was sealed.
This is your territory not mine.

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That’s Correct, but they were linished and re engraved with the L42A1 as we know of today, my own L42 is an ex trials one, it appears on the “ List “ twice.
I’ve never seen an XL42 E1 in flesh but seen pics of the engraving, I’d suspect one or two made it to the pattern room etc, but any such rifles in in service would not of held the XL designation.

I need to check the serial number against an auction catalog from Scotarms a few years ago , as there was a so called L42 that was built on a No4T but had nothing on the engraved etc regarding L42.

There’s a few nice bits in the auction that have been built up, the estimate of the rifle will reflect this such as the XL42, the scope, bracket and chest look all kosher to me, so that’s probably around £3000, just the engraving on the rifle is suspect……

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Originally Posted by bigduke6

I’ve never seen an XL42 E1 in flesh but seen pics of the engraving, I’d suspect one or two made it to the pattern room etc, but any such rifles in in service would not of held the XL designation.

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