My New 1941 Jungle Carbine!!!????

[Bob La]

I bought one a few months ago from someone who needed the money as a shooter for a good price.
The rifle has Century Arms import marks and I believe it's from the Gibbs Rifle Co.

Historical Remakes

I wanted a bolt action 7.62*51 and I'm happy.
Now I'm interested in the whole Lee-Enfield thing, like I needed another reason to spend money on firearms. : )

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[buffdog]

As mentioned, back in the late 1950s and early 1960s there were a lot of surplus firearms available. Companies like Santa Fe bought many of them and modified some to produce a handier rifle in line with American hunters expectations. Importers like Klein in Chicago, Century Arms, Ye Olde Hunter, Hunter's Lodge, and others sporterized them because you could buy a SMLE for $9.95 but a Sporterized SMLE was $14.95. Doesn't sound like much now, but that is 50% more for a bit of work, and more chance of selling them. There were not the collectors and enthusiasts then that we have now.

I made a trip to Alexandria, Virginia with a friend back in the late 50s, and bought FIVE cased No.4 Mark 1 T rifles, complete with scope, tins, wooden case, etc, but the funny part was the British kept the Observation Telescopes. The cost was $49.95 each.

Maybe I missed it, but I am surprised that no one seems to have mentioned the one really distinguishing feature of the Santa Fe Jungle Carbines. The four air cooling slots routed across the fore-end. Almost an immediate identification.
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[RJW NZ]

You pretty much got the story, that JC's came out in 44/45/46 so you have a rifle that was made /converted by a well known american company, right down to that rear sight idea which I've seen before. Its a rifle to shoot and have fun with, go hunting, beat it up use it up wear it out and keep the other original rifle at home on the wall safe from harm. $300 would get you an original one, go cruise on gunbroker.com for a good look at JC prices and conditions. if you haven't committed to the $300, either drop it by half, or you could pass on the rifle. If you like it for its character, try $125 and go shoot and enjoy it. Its not a bad deal and not a bad rifle, just in a different group than other enfields. There are other similar rifles by navy arms, go to enfield resource.com and look them up, their stuff looks similar and I liked the one or two I owned, even though the teak stain washed off in the rain, now that was a mess!

[Aragorn243]

I picked up a genuine jungle carbine in great shape for just over $200 not to long ago so they are out there. I'd definitely pass on this one. But that's just my personal preference. I want something as authentic as possible and for just a shooter, there are other models of this out there to be had and still have the opportunity to bring them back to original configuration. This one's been too chopped up.

[mack]

Before you throw this little rifle away, be aware that you can likely buy the rifle for about $225-250. The price you quoted is a few dollars too high, but there is no way that $100 will buy the Santa Fe Jungle Carbine ANYWHERE in this country at any gunshow or shop. If someone insists on that price, let them go out and find one for that. It can't be done.

These rifles shoot decently. I have never owned one but have had occasion to fire them at the range. Ask for a price reduction to about $225 and keep this odd bit of very nice 60's "nostalgia." They really are sort of a niche rifle for collectors, very much like the Gibbs' rifles shown above.

And, keep on the lookout for a No. 5. They will start considerably higher though.

[pvfd304]

Before you throw this little rifle away, be aware that you can likely buy the rifle for about $225-250. The price you quoted is a few dollars too high, but there is no way that $100 will buy the Santa Fe Jungle Carbine ANYWHERE in this country at any gunshow or shop. If someone insists on that price, let them go out and find one for that. It can't be done.

These rifles shoot decently. I have never owned one but have had occasion to fire them at the range. Ask for a price reduction to about $225 and keep this odd bit of very nice 60's "nostalgia." They really are sort of a niche rifle for collectors, very much like the Gibbs' rifles shown above.

And, keep on the lookout for a No. 5. They will start considerably higher though.

I hate to burst your theory but I paid $100 two weeks ago.


http://www.vaguntrader.com/forums/ub...I_ju#Post47851


I was missing the sights on mine too. It was drilled and tapped for a Williams scope mount. I found one and rings on Ebay for less than $20. I want to find a vintage Weaver or Lyman scope now.

I would love to find the correct iron sights though. It's a sweet handling carbine.

[jmoore]

I hate to burst your theory but I paid $100 two weeks ago.


http://www.vaguntrader.com/forums/ub...I_ju#Post47851


I was missing the sights on mine too. It was drilled and tapped for a Williams scope mount. I found one and rings on Ebay for less than $20. I want to find a vintage Weaver or Lyman scope now.

I would love to find the correct iron sights though. It's a sweet handling carbine.

His sight wasn't missing. Plus, subtract value for added holes. So..., you're all about right! Not that a hundred dollars either way amounts to much any more.

[enfield303t]

Why not turn down the deal, save your money and find a authentic No 5 and have a very nice gun. IMHO the gun you have is a truck gun, and really not worth much if anything. I have friends who have cut down Lee Enfields in their truck for when they are in the mountains just in case they run into bear problems etc.

If you really want it be sure it is a shooter otherwise it is worthless.

[finloq]

Just shop and wait for the right deal. I got my No.5 for under $250 a few months ago and that only took a couple of months of searching.
Why have a Yugo when you can have a Mustang for the same price?

[Brit plumber]

I think this is somthing you can only answer yourself. Did you want a Orignal Rifle that you know is a standard service rifle, or did you want this because of the aesthetic pleasure you get from it? If you like the gun, buy it, but at a price you feal fair from comments made by people in the know. If your more intrested in a original rifle, decline the offer, spend a few months here getting to know what you want (After all, there a dozens of varients and all but the rarest are reasonably priced) and maybe a forum member may have a nice example of what you want for sale.

I'm no Lee Enfield expert, but there are various models to consider.

Lee Metford (Not a Enfield Barrel but a Meford rifled barrel) various Marks, versions and Various Manufaturers of different commonwealth countries.
Long Lee Enfield, As above pretty much, AKA LLE or LE
Charger Loading Lee Enfield, as above modified with a charger bridge etc. AKA CLLE
Short Magazine Lee Enfield AKA Sht Lee Enfield, SMLE or Later the Rifle No1 Mk1,3,5,6 etc, Again lots of varients including the MkV and MkVI (V is a troop trials rifle, VI is a lesser produced Trial rifle for the later No.4 Lee Enfield)
Lee Enfield No.4, the Standard WW2 British battle rifle produced after the SMLE
Lee Enfield No.5, AKA the Jungle carbine,
Lee Enfield No.6, A Lithgow Australia produced Jungle carbine built on the SMLE which is the only type of Lee Enfield they mass produced.
Lee Enfield No.7, a .22 version? Experts will explain more on this as I'm not sure.
Lee Enfield No.8, a .22 version based on the No.4 but looks like a simpler Jungle Carbine AKA Cadet Rifle
Lee Enfield No.9 Cant remember

As you can see there are a lifes time worth of varients to collect, if you buy one, guaranteed you will buy another!!!!!!

ATB, Chris.