No 5 Mk 1 Grenade Launcher?

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Found this in a referance book on the PTO in WWII. I have never heard of or seen a photo of a No 5 with a grenade launching device. Am I late to the party or is this very rare?

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.

[browningautorifle]

You're correct, they're rare. We had discussed them here a while back though. Just enough to establish they existed though I think. Don't recall anyone having one...

[Frederick303]

I seem to recall that Springfield Sporters had them or a very similar Indian version for 125 dollars around 1997~98.

[Peter Laidler]

So said, the rarest of the accessories for the No4 and 5. Rarer than No4 cup dischargers. Even rarer than sailors parachutes .........

[villiers]

If so ... there must then have been a manual! And I´d like to hear from the brave man who actually fired it.

[Colonel Enfield]

Ian Skennerton's SAIS Guide to the No. 5 Jungle Carbine has a whole section on the grenade launcher, its sights (side mounted and which clamp on to the action), and diagrams from what appears to be a period manual showing its use. It says the range was 200 yards and would also accept US rifle grenades, but it sounds like the whole thing wasn't issued on more than a trials basis and development was shelved in 1947 IIRC.

[Frederick303]

Checked the old Springfield Sporters catalogs. I was wrong, the spigot launcher I recall was for the No1 rifle, not the No 5.

[Peter Laidler]

It was featured in the original parts list but was deleted in amendment 2 or so. The sight - such as it was - was the same as the No4 rifle variant. Strangely it didn't come as an assembly of sight and launcher but separately.

I never heard of one for a No5 until I was at Warminster and found an odd one in a box of old No4 launchers. It was covered in old thick black hardened grease so even then I didn't recognise it initially. And when it was cleaned off, I didn't believe it either!

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Thanks for the replies. Seems as though the No 5 can always spark a lively discusssion.

[Warren]

I seem to recall Springfield had the sights and some spigot launchers for the No.4 and only going from memory here.
Anyhow here is a real one and if anyone has a spare sight kicking around I'd sure be interested for another sight. It's for a different rifle that took the same sight.
Sorry for the order on the photo's...not mastered changing pictures around yet.
This launcher was a "suspected tool room model" according to Herbie Woodend (RIP)
Oops, one incorrect photo and trying to delete it now