Trials Rifle??

[Peter Laidler]

In my considered opinion, the No1 Mk5 has not been researched even remotely as fully as it should have been at this late stage in the game. Quite how many went out for 'trials' also remains a mystery but many of the left-over/incomplete Mk5 rifles were later used in the trials of the later Mk6 and subsequently, No4. Also don't forget that there were two types. The 18 shilling conversion and the 22 shilling 'new build' but the new build still used compatible components of course. One type (I forget which..........) didn't have a top band while the other did.

No, I think there is more to the Mk5 than is generally known and it needs a lot more research before it's pigeonholed into a big slot. And quite how many of those out there were released post-war as 'incomplete' and have been made up, very probably incorrectly, are now regarded as absolutely correct after the passage of time is also another question................... Like RJW, that's just my tuppenceworth