No.5.Mk1.

[aqbill]

Dear Fellow Enfield Enthusiasts,

I have the good fortune to inherit a very nice looking "Jungle Carbine." Has No.5.Mk.1 on the left side of the receiver. It appears to have been produced in England in 1945 and has markings of M/47C, England and fainter BD5124 on the left back strap - the strap between the trigger guard and the back of the action - and same number BD5124 on the bolt handle. It also has some BMP under crown markings and 18.5. (which is the barrel length, I believe), .303 and 2.222 Tons PER O" on the exposed part of the barrel. The bore appears very good indeed. It does have the flash suppressor, winged front sight and the bayonet stub. Finally it has a green web sling that has no markings but appears to be original to the piece and it came to me with a 5-shot magazine.

Can any of you provide more info about this piece? And, mostly, I want to know whether or not to let it be a "safe queen" or to shoot it occasionally as my father did? Finally, what should I insure it for? If anyone's interested, I can try to take some photos and upload them to the site. Many thanks in advance.


AQBill

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.

[tbonesmith]

It was made at BSA Shirley in 1945. The number on the wrist and bolt handle is the serial number. If it's been used at all then there's no harm continuing to do so.
The BMP mark is more likely BNP which stands for British Nitro Proof, and I'm not sure about this but I think that the ENGLAND stamp indicates that it left England at one point and then returned (please correct me on this someone).
Value is dependent on condition, and importantly your location in the world.
The correct mag is 10 rnd capactity

[Tom in N.J.]

IMHO "England" is the U.S. pre 1968 imprt mark, country of origin, in 1968 the marks were changed to the ones in use now. Importer, importer's address, caliber, country of origin.

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Further translation of the commercial proof marks;
.303=caliber
2.222=nominal case length of the cartridge
18.5 tons per []"=proof pressure per square inch

Sounds like a nice rifle.

[Beerhunter]

BNP is Birmingham Nitro Proof - as opposed to the Gunmakers Company (London) - not British Nitro Proof.

I shoot mine (London Proofed) all the time.

[burgie]

aqbill thanks for posting, we like photos, and a photo of your 5 round magazine would be nice. Is it stamped santa fe and made in japan?

Thank you for your time.

burgie

[aqbill]

Haven't figured out how to get the pics small enough to fit in forum space as of yet. Did look at the 5-round magazine though and no markings at all on the outside although the "riser" plate - the metal piece on top of the spring has a 4-5 on it. I've heard that real 5-round mags are of interest. Is this true? Seems like I might have one...

[aqbill]

Hope y'all can see these!

[madcratebuilder]

Nice BSA No5.

IMHO "England" is the U.S. pre 1968 imprt mark, country of origin, in 1968 the marks were changed to the ones in use now. Importer, importer's address, caliber, country of origin.

Tom, I have read several different explanations of the "ENGLAND" mark. I'm inclined to believe it's a British private export mark pre-1968. It's found on the majority of No5's I have looked at, on some No4's. I don't think it's US import mark because other countries fire arms are not marked with country of origin before 1968.