Lee-Enfield No. 5 Mk. I "Jungle Carbine"

[Surpmil]

Nice looking No5, seems like no one has noticed that the mag is from an SMLE.

You were first, but not last!

[mag318]

Here's my 1947 brother to yours. I've owned several No5s over the decades but this is the first flat mint one I've come across. I believe it to be unfired since leaving the factory. You're going to love yours.

[mag318]

It seems like quite a few of these late 1947 examples turn up in very nice shape.

[billy67]

One of my favorite. Here is mine, a 1946 with her beautiful Wilkinson Bayonet
Attachment 58914Attachment 58913

[Peter Laidler]

It's the wrong scabbard Billy.

[billy67]

yes... and actually Im looking for the right one with its frog

[Peter Laidler]

Billy raised an important querie in a PM. And it's this.......... Will an Australian L1A1 scabbard be compatible with his UK made/spec No5 bayonet. Well, yes and no! We used to have pooled Ordnance stockpiles of bayonets, scabbards, rifles etc etc and we soon found that the UK made L1 bayonets had squared fullers (SQF) in the blades but the Australian blades had ROUNDED fullers (RF). OK so far..........

Part of the scabbard spring that retains the bayonet in the scabbard is recessed INWARDS and engages in the fuller. It is this part of the spring, engaged in the fuller that gives the last jerk as you pull the bayonet out of the scabbard. This is the problem......... If this spring is Australian, the fuller retainer part is rounded to correspond to the RF type bayonet. If it's the UK pattern, the fuller retainer part is squared to correspond with the SQF type bayonet.

The problem arose when you put a RF blade into a UK square scabbard. Because the fuller part of the spring, being wide and square won't sit down into the narrow and rounded fuller of the RF bayonet! Result, the spring remains wide apart as bayonet is inserted into scabbard, jambs up internally against the scabbard wall and bayonet won't go into scabbard.

You couldn't have a situation where some blades would fit and others wouldn't so we had to inspect and modify all the bloody scabbard springs to Aust pattern!

To sum-up
SQF bayonet like Billys No5 and your UK made L1A1's WILL fit Australian round fuller shaped spring scabbards AND all UK scabbards of course
RF bayonet blades will only fit Aust scabbards with round fuller shaped spring retainers unless you take scabbard apart and grind retainer bit to suit. And when you've got 250 to look at, it's a pain in the xxxx

So Billy, you can use any scabbard

Just another useless bit of Enfield info

[browningautorifle]

If you can find one around you, that is here in Canada, it probably fit because it's a Canadian FN C1 scabbard. That's what you usually see anywayzzz...at many of the gunshows. You could try Welcome to Collector's Source - Military Collectibles Online - Collector's Source, Military Collectibles Online or Discounted Accessories - Hunting or Marstar Canada - Accessories . They all carry a bit of that sort of thing.

[Howard]

I have a Jungle Carbine 2/45 that I love and it shoots really well. I can hit an iron pig at 200 yds. at a range where I shoot. It does kick quite a bit I put a slip on recoil pad when I shoot it. I could not shoot over 20 rounds with out it. I also have an M1 Carbine and a Mosin M44 the JC is my favorite.

[fjruple]

I have a 8/45 built No. 5 MkI Carbine that I love to shoot. Unfortunately, the recoil is like going three rounds with Mohammand Ali, the boxer. I have reloaded my .303 rounds to a light load so the recoil is "tamed" a bit.

Just a side "silly" question on the No. 5 MkI Carbine for my knowledge. Why is the rear sling swivel on the same side as the bolt handle? I would think that rear sling swivel would be on the opposite side as the bolt handle. I am sure there is good explanation. I hope this not a "meaning of life" question.

Cheers

--fjruple