Where have the good No5 rifle all gone?

[Brian Dick]

Rest easy. It was Arundel Classic Guns and none got butchered into deacts as far as I know. Arundel Militaria is a different outfit. I was at Worthing Guns with Terry Abrams a couple of times in 2009. You're right about that place. Everything was being butchered into deacts by Terry. Made two trips to the Birmingham Proof House too with Terry.

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[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Here is what happened to one very nice 47.

[GeeRam]

That looked like it was a peach as well

I can't be too critical, as I bought this 02/46 dated de-act No.5 about 20 years ago for my late father to refurb and wall mount, as the No.5 was his favourite of the 3 x Lee's from his wartime/post-war Army service.

I inherited it back after he passed away, and luckily still had it when I finally acquired my live No.5 a couple of years ago, which was very fortunate, as the live one had a rare 'S' short butt fitted, which wasn't that great for me, having long arms etc., but, the de-act was fitted with an equally rare 'L' long butt, so was able to swap the butts over, making mine a lot more comfortable to fire
I was able to sell the de-act a few months later.

[IanS]

My brother bought a No5 recently, along with two other old rifles. It was an elderly neighbour of his in BC, who asked my brother if he would take the rifles off his hands for $150 Can. The No5 needed original wood as it had been "sporterised", he got the original wood from Numrich and finally a front band. Divide 150 by 3 and it cost $50 Can, lucky so and so.

My dad thought they were a great little rifle, but he did say they had a bit more recoil than the No4.

[GeeRam]

My dad thought they were a great little rifle, but he did say they had a bit more recoil than the No4.

They do indeed bite quite a bit more than a No.4, and they bark a lot more as well..........

[IanS]

My dad sold his in the 60's I think, for $24 Can. My brother has dad's No4 Mk1 which was bought unused for $25 Can, back in the 50's, the dealer in Calgary had bought a large consignment. Aren't the No 5's currently around £800 in the UK?

[mrclark303]

They do indeed bite quite a bit more than a No.4, and they bark a lot more as well..........

The recoil element is interesting and perhaps a matter of perception.

If you predominantly shoot .303, 7.62x51 .30-06 etc, the bite is only slightly increased, nothing to write home about.

If you are more use to 5.56mm then the bite will seem excessive.

[philb]

being deactivated as worth more

[GeeRam]

MFL have what looks like a nice one for £750, and it hasn't had its bayonet lug ground off.

http://www.mflclassicfirearms.co.uk/dg/33820/2


Devizes Gunsmith has one as well, with what seems a tight gauging barrel, but is without the bayonet lug, as many are.

[David TS]

MFL have what looks like a nice one for £750, and it hasn't had its bayonet lug ground off.

http://www.mflclassicfirearms.co.uk/dg/33820/2


Devizes Gunsmith has one as well, with what seems a tight gauging barrel, but is without the bayonet lug, as many are.

Life is all about timing........I was with Steve at MFL (he's a mate, and a member of the same rifle club as me) on Friday, I could have had a look at it!