Enfield No V ( Not for the faint Hearted)

[bigduke6]

All i can add is
1 The barrel is not original
2 Not a SMLE barrel
3 Not a No4 barrel

There appears to be a lot of material removed from the top of the receiver ring.

It looks a lot worse than it is, its 12mm accross, after the barrel is removed first job will be to re blue the bare metal, will be rusting using salts.

[Amatikulu]

The barrel profile you show reminds me of that used on the Martini-Enfield .303 conversions. I have one around here somewhere and will see if I can find it.

[Rowdy]

The barrel appears to have the knox form of the pre SMLE Lee Enfields and the top of the action has been filed off - also the backsights were secured by two screws and solder.
The Lee Enfields up until the No4 breeched up against the base of the barrel not the shoulder so parting back the shoulder will probably not help.

[bigduke6]

The barrel appears to have the knox form of the pre SMLE Lee Enfields and the top of the action has been filed off - also the backsights were secured by two screws and solder.
The Lee Enfields up until the No4 breeched up against the base of the barrel not the shoulder so parting back the shoulder will probably not help.

The top of the action i would say has not been filed off, at the start of the original radius for the flat is some stamp so it has been filed down a few thou, plus being a No 1 Mk V action why put an old pre SMLE barrel on? i can only think that the original was removed long time ago maybe it was a heavy barrel like the Lithgow made rifles had, and this was put on to replace the original and the raised part of the barrel was lowered to match the action ?

[Rowdy]

I would say the barrel is from a commercial MLE or CLLE.
I am having difficulty in posting pictures.

[bigduke6]

Thanks rowdy thats the same barrel, think its safe to say that the original has long gone, will start on in it in a few days, do you know anywhere down under you can get a Lithgow heavy barrel ? or a reproduction. am looking at all options for the new barrel:
1) i use a SMLE barrel, 2) Use a heavy barrel as with some Lithgow SMLE,S 3) buy the blank and do it myself

[Rowdy]

I was of the belief that the MkV used the standard SMLE barrel form and I can see no reference to a change in LES.

[Peter Laidler]

You're right Rowdy, it did use the standard barrel form according to our rifles at Warminster. In fact, the 18 shilling conversion project even retained the same barrel, less the backsight bed.

[bigduke6]

Thought it might be an idea to use a heavy barrel, while i,m at the start of the project, all those in favour of original or heavy let me know.

[jmoore]

With a heavy bbl. you will have to mod. the fore stock. Not something I'd want to do w/ Mk V furniture, especially original. 'Course putting the effort into a H.B. increases your chances of finding the scarce bits just after you assemble it.