Real or Fake: This No. 5 "Jungle Carbine"?

[neoisprettycool]

And assuming any of you were going to buy a Jungle Carbine like this, how much would you be willing to pay?

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

If I had to guess I'd say that the BSA code was obliterated while it was in service somewhere in the world, only because I can't think of a logical reason for a private owner to do this. Assuming good condition with a matching bolt I'd go $300, more if the X's were not there.

[CINDERS]

They are pulling between 900- 1500 here but its all on condition of the bore if its a clap trap the as SHINY says $300 I concur on the M47C you can sorta make some of it out with abstract thought.

[capt14k]

I agree $300 if bore is good.

[oldfoneguy]

The barrel looks correct and in the same pic you can see there is no lug like a No4 has on the right side below the wood. If you turn it upside down does the trigger guard form a figure 8 at the front screw? The magazine is a force match. Around here a much worse No5 which was drilled tapped and filled with screws with a rusty bore was going for $750 so I guess $300 should be a decent price. Bill

[Patrick Chadwick]

Rather odd for the marks to be so heavily xxxed-out. Lined through seems to have been a typical and sufficient procedure, thus enabling the origins of the parts to be traced if necessary.
And, if I recall correctly, Peter Laidler has written somewhere that the receiver was the fundamental item of the rifle's identity and was therefore never replaced - i.e. a new bolt should have been marked to match the receiver, not barrel and receiver marked to match the bolt, which was a replaceable part.

Peter, are you out there? Is this OK or a bit "iffy"?

[Gil Boyd]

Patrick,
I think you hit on the fundemental reason this rifle appears odd. Its almost like changing a cars serial numbers by scoring out its identities, and giving it another cars details because you feel like it.
I have never seen this in weapons before, ever, to this extreme. Its done well, but done so well its over cooked the sinister reason for it, when a line would have sufficed.
I don't think many gun owners and even those looking for a No 5 would venture to take a chance on this, unless there was some provinance or documented reason for it IMHO.

[neoisprettycool]

The barrel looks correct and in the same pic you can see there is no lug like a No4 has on the right side below the wood. If you turn it upside down does the trigger guard form a figure 8 at the front screw? The magazine is a force match. Around here a much worse No5 which was drilled tapped and filled with screws with a rusty bore was going for $750 so I guess $300 should be a decent price. Bill

Well I'm looking to trade him my all matching refurbished 1950 Russian SKS. The SKS is mint refurbished condition.

[Gil Boyd]

neo,
It is really your call I'm afraid. Does he know how and when the markings were done to cover up the true identity of this rifle?
If not, I would hang fire my friend, even Law Enforcement Agencies would be curious and be asking the same questions on examination. If I was still in, I would have asked for an explanation at least!

[neoisprettycool]

Hm. Well I had held off to talk about my SKS because I know what I value it as. I guess I'll just wait and see what Peter has to say. The seller also is not sure.