No5 Mk1 Questions

[coolhandluke]

I purchased a Jungle Carbine a few months ago and have been trying to figure out what the painted "603" on the buttstock refers to. Do the numbers correspond to an infantry regiment or something else? If the numbers are an infantry, is there any way to pinpoint where the rifle was used in service at?

Here are a few photos...

Information

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[stryker]

Barracks rack number by the look of it. Common in U.S. and British army in peace time.

[SpikeDD]

Hello Coolhandluke,
More than likely, Just a rack number dictation it's position in line. Nice Rifle as well !

[Brit plumber]

I'd go with that too, its quite easy to see when you have dozens of rifles coming back into the armoury.

[coolhandluke]

Thanks for the info guys.

I was hoping that I had came across an old issued warhorse...guess not. Any idea of a current ballpark value on the rifle? It is numbers matching and I would say the bore is 70-80% with a little pitting at the end of the barrel. My price guide from a couple years ago says to add 20% to '44-'45 production years...is this actualy reflected in the market or do all "real" No.5's carry the same approximate value in similar condition?

[303Nut]

From what I have seen, a like new unissued No.5 will bring a lot more than one in good condition even if it is older. Condition seems to set the price.

[finloq]

With only (approx.) 251,300 rifles No.5 made and only for a few years, they are all semi-rare. The exception may be the intial run of 1000 made at ROF(F). Some collectors like war time production, some prefer early/late models with nosecaps; but everybody likes matching receiver/barrel/bolt/furniture/etc. and good bore/metal/wood/etc.

[jgc303]

My uncle left me several WWII rifles when he passed a few yrs ago. I have a legit (correct barrel and lightening cuts) No. 5, production date 5/45, S/N 176 on receiver and bolt. Shiny bore, no major wood issues. Can anyone ballpark a value? I probably won't sell it anytime soon, but would like to have a sense of what it's worth, given it's (apparent) early production. Thanks!

[Beerhunter]

My uncle left me several WWII rifles when he passed a few yrs ago. I have a legit (correct barrel and lightening cuts) No. 5, production date 5/45, S/N 176 on receiver and bolt. Shiny bore, no major wood issues. Can anyone ballpark a value? I probably won't sell it anytime soon, but would like to have a sense of what it's worth, given it's (apparent) early production. Thanks!

Sorry to disillusion you but you do not have one of that initial batch of rifles. They were made in 1944 (February and March) and they have FE serial number prefixes.

In fact all No.5 serial numbers should have an alpha prefix.

What markings are on the left side of the receiver?

[jgc303]

Sorry to disillusion you but you do not have one of that initial batch of rifles. They were made in 1944 (February and March) and they have FE serial number prefixes.

In fact all No.5 serial numbers should have an alpha prefix.

What markings are on the left side of the receiver?

ha - thanks for the chuckle!
it takes WAY more than that to disillusion me... receiver is electric pencil engraved:
No 5 MKL ROF (F)
5/45 N176