No 5 Mk 1 sling position

[Daan Kemp]

I have been wondering for a long time. Why is the butt sling swivel on the No 5 on the right and not the left? It is in such an awkward place *** the bolt will keep reminding you where it is, it could be in the way of handling the bolt, etc.

I haven't found an answer in Reynold's book, what am I missing?

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[Alan de Enfield]

I have been wondering for a long time. Why is the butt sling swivel on the No 5 on the right and not the left? It is in such an awkward place *** the bolt will keep reminding you where it is, it could be in the way of handling the bolt, etc.

I haven't found an answer in Reynold's book, what am I missing?

Rifle carried over left shoulder, so sling needs to be on the RH side (if not in the centre like a No4)

[Daan Kemp]

I doubt if that is the reason as you continuously change shoulders when moving with a rifle. All the other make carbine photos I've seen have the rear swivel on the left side or bottom. Were I to carry a rifle the sling would be on the left so it always lies flat against the body without the bolt reminding me of it all the time.

There must be a very British but well thought out reason for it.

[GeeRam]

Would be awkward doing rifle drill and carrying rifle at the slope with the sling hoop on the left side of a No.5, as the sling would be on the underside of the rifle when at the slope?

[Daan Kemp]

That makes sense. However, why not at the bottom then as for all the other numbers and marks?

Note. All the other carbine makes clearly had different parade drill requirements to the Brits.

[Bindi2]

The No5 was for the Paras and glider troops in the first place not the regular infantry.

[Daan Kemp]

Reynolds clearly states the No 5 developed and approved for jungle warfare and regular infantry. Later issue is a different matter. The reason for the location of the sling swivel is still hiding gleefully somewhere in the hallowed halls of the Small Arms Committees of the War Office.

[englishman_ca]

I note that the right hand side butt sling bar first appeared on the 1894 Lee Metford cavalry carbine.
Attachment 103234
A short live feature, it was deleted from production the following year along with a saddle ring that was also considered redundant.
Attachment 103235

[Bindi2]

Reynolds clearly states the No 5 developed and approved for jungle warfare and regular infantry. Later issue is a different matter. The reason for the location of the sling swivel is still hiding gleefully somewhere in the hallowed halls of the Small Arms Committees of the War Office.

Reynolds is not always correct. The rubber butt pad was more to do with aircraft than jungle warfare which is were the No5 was used mostly (hard usage) in the Borneo Affair. I have a No5 that came fitted with a No4 Butt which in my opinion makes it a far better rifle to use.

[Sunray]

"...you continuously change shoulders when moving with a rifle..." Not in The Queen's Service you don't.
"...The No. 5 was for the..." Originally used by the Paras, but not designed for 'em. It was designed for use the jungles of the CBI Theatre.
The "rubber" butt pad is India rubber. Same as a lacrosse ball and very close to a hockey pucks and a few igneous rocks. snicker.
"...somewhere in the hallowed halls..." Yep. It's what happens when a civil servant gets an idea and is allowed to run with it, no matter how stupid.