Where have the good No5 rifle all gone?

[GeeRam]

They were, and still are a beautiful light weight rifle in comparison, and just what the jungle ordered.

Except they were never designed for the Jungle.......

Should be referred to the Mountain or Airborne Carbine if anything......

First used in action by 52nd Lowland Division in Holland in 1944, then issued to 1st AB Div for the operations in Norway at wars end. It was then issued to all units fighting and policing in Palestine in 1945-48 (two of my uncles served with the 1st Batt Argyll's in Palestine and both were issued No.5's) and my father was with 717 Construction Squadron RE in Palestine in 1946-47 and was issued a No.5 for the duration of his tour.
The No.5 saw service in Holland, Norway and the Middle East before it ever saw use in a Jungle

[Roger Payne]

I'm sure I've seen photo's of British troops in Norway in 1945 bearing No5's........

[GeeRam]

I'm sure I've seen photo's of British troops in Norway in 1945 bearing No5's........

Yep, 1st Airborne Division were re-equipped with No.5's that they took to Norway in spring of 1945.

Photo's existing of 52nd Div troops with No.5's in Holland in November 1944.

[Mt203]

I realize this is an old thread but I felt I needed to say something anyway. I picked up a Mk5 several months ago here in Montana for $600.00, all serial #s matching, even the # painted on the buttstock in fading blue paint. Strong rifling and not a speck of rust anywhere. Having to retune the magazine lips to get it to feed reliably with my handloads but making progress...is the reason I joined this forum. Ordered a Mk4 magazine a couple days ago from Numrich hoping to luck out and get one that might miraculously work well without any tuning... This carbine rested in my safe til just last week unfired what with my other projects taking up my time.

Never saw any in Havre, you must be in the southern part of the state.

[Alan de Enfield]

I'm sure I've seen photo's of British troops in Norway in 1945 bearing No5's........

1st Picture - 1st Airborne Division Oslo
2nd Picture - Norway 1945
3rd Picture - Palestine 1946-47
4th Picture - Malayan Emergency
5th Picture - Mau Mau uprising.
6th Picture - 6th Army Group

[GeeRam]

The Kings African Rifles were equipped with No.5 during their service in Malaya in the '50's and was still largely equipped with No.5's when disbanded in 1963.
Those No.5's from that source are still being used today by the game wardens in Kenya in the fight against poaching.

Kenyan Game warden patrolling the bush in 2008 with his No.5 with a well worn butt pad.

Attachment 111034

Here is my Uncle Bob and my Uncle Bill together in Palestine in 1946 with their No.5's while both were serving with the 1st Battalion Argyll's.

Attachment 111035

[Roger Payne]

People often ask about markings painted on the woodwork of their rifles - they usually turn out to be rack numbers. There's a classic example of this in photo number 3 of Alan's post.

[Gil Boyd]

Roger,
Your dead right. The times it has been said though or asked on here, they are simply each Battalions Armourer's way of issuing out rifles at a quick pace, signature, bolt back to show its clear, sign the form.....over to you!

[AradoAR234]

Great thread on the No 5, so I thought i'd add my 2c worth. Usually referred to as the Jungle carbine here in Australia for as long as I can remember, I picked up my first one when I was 18 from a shady dealer in North Queensland. Paid $400.00 for it then, which in the 1970's was a huge price for any ex-mil rifle. Considering full wood Lithgow SMLE's were going for @ $65.00 in really good condition ( $12.50 extra for a bayonet! ), and new in the box Long branch No4 rifles were going for $80 from Mick Smiths Gun shop in Sydney, it gives you some idea of their perceived value.

Mine was purchased as a hunting rifle, mainly for wild pigs in thick scrub, which it excelled at, and was my favourite for some years. It was also used extensively on Buffalo and scrub bulls when I moved to the Northern territory in the early eighties. One particularly vivid memory was shooting a running Buffalo one handed from the back of a 4WD at nearly point blank range; my other hand was holding a death like grip on the roll bar. Like previously mentioned, it was a very handy little carbine, and well suited to my needs at the time.

That was 40 years ago now, and what ever faults or criticisms that come up about the No. 5 rifle are pretty well irrelevant to their actual serviceability. Stories of "wandering zeroes', excessive recoil, muzzle blast, drops in velocity etc, are all fine for academic discussion by armchair experts. I'm just happy to have had the time I did with mine.

[browningautorifle]

Paid $400.00 for it then, which in the 1970's was a huge price

Sure was, got my first, a matching numbers gun in mint shape for $125 in about 1975. Even the mag...matched.