Late No5 production question

[Ian]

I recently purchased a No5 Mk1, it's dated 12/47 - I have read that issue of the No5 stopped in 7/47 and production in 9/47 - so does anyone know how many were assembled after production officially stopped? Also has anyone seen a No5 with a 1948 date, or is it more likely that the remaining barrels and actions were assembled as an end of year project to clean things up?

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

It is a case of where the evidence proves the documents wrong. The same applies to the actual date of commencement of production that I've seen with my own eyes. But several rifles show dates the predate this, albeit by a month or so. Don't believe any 'issue' dates either as these rifles were still on issue well into the mid to late 60's. In fact, we refurbished thousands of them...............

[breakeyp]

I have been looking for a 1948 for fifteen years with no joy. Skennerton in an earlier book published that the No.5 production ended in October 1947 based on a gun now in my collection. I later found a December gun and it was used as the basis for the revised date in Skennerton's last book. I have asked abut a 1948 of and on for many years in the various forums with none found todate.

[Ian]

Thanks for the information, I'll be keeeping an eye out for a '48 locally (the area I live in is terrific for unusual firearms and parts - lots of retired military folks here) do you have any idea how high the serial number range goes, and were they sequential?

[Demo]

I have been looking for a 1948 for fifteen years with no joy. Skennerton in an earlier book published that the No.5 production ended in October 1947 based on a gun now in my collection. I later found a December gun and it was used as the basis for the revised date in Skennerton's last book. I have asked abut a 1948 of and on for many years in the various forums with none found todate.

A chap on gunboards posted pictures of a 1948 probably 2 years back. I'll do a search and try to locate it.

[A square 10]

mine is a 10/47 , i had seen the posts regarding the 12/47s but never yet seen one of a 48 , i shall check back for it