Validate my Original Unissued No.5 Mk1 Jungle Carbine

[superbee]

Looks just like my carbine serial # Z59xx
Mine also looks brand new

[Brian Dick]

I'm not sure what forum you were getting all of those exspurt opinions from but I think they ought to get out more or at least buy some books. Your minty No.5Mk.1 is correct and original. It's not unissued but is certainly pretty much unused. They aren't uncommon in that condition because many new ones were culled when they became obsolete in British service and a vast majority exported over here prior to 1968. That's why it sports commercial British proofs, a country of origin stamp and no post 1968 US import marks.

[Hesalite]

Thanks Brian and thanks again everyone for your responses. Love this community.

Diego

[Flying10uk]

You were lucky getting an original No5 bayonet, with your rifle, in such good condition as they are not easy to come by and there are a lot of reproductions about. I too have an original No5 bayonet but not nearly in such good condition and I paid £120 for mine a couple of years ago. Your example, as you probably know, was made at the Poole ordinance factory indicated by the "P" within a circle. All the reproduction No5 bayonets which I have seen have been marked as R.F.I.; has any-one seen a No5 bayonet which they suspect as being a reproduction/fake marked in any other way???

[Peter Laidler]

A very minor point, but the bayonet was not issued with the rifle. A unit was issued with 100 rifles and 100 bayonets. Being fully interchangeable, any bayonet would fit any rifle.

Whether a bayonet marked RFI is a reproduction or not has been aired many times on the bayonet forum. India made some 160,000 - and counting - for their L2A3 Sterling production run. Are these fakes or repros? While the steel blade might differ slightly, it is still reasonably within the allowable tolerances of steel mixing. Mind you, having encountered some of our L1A1 rifle bayonets and SA80 bayonets, our steel mixing leaves something to be desired!!!!!!!!!

[CINDERS]

EXPERT colonial definition EX = (X) an unknown factor XPERT = (Spurt) a drip under pressure thats how we classify experts in Aus

[browningautorifle]

Another point on the bayonet, they originally came in the white didn't they? Matter of fact, a newish blade was often a mirror in finish. This one appears to have been held over and refinished, as in blued for the SMG L2A3 or one of those variants...which tended to happen...

[Peter Laidler]

Funny you mention that BAR. We used to see all types coming through the system. Some in the white with a mirror finish, some in the white bead blasted satin look, chemical blued, chemically blackened and the standard phos-and-black with phosphated grey blade and painted black to 1" or so below the cross piece

[Flying10uk]

My example is with regards the blade, as you say Jim, a shiny finish. It's not in the most pristine condition but then I don't believe it's been refinished and it doesn't have a serial number stamped on it.

[Peter Laidler]

Give them some fine emery or scotchbrite pads, then add some brasso and evcen the newest phosphated bayonet soon becomes a gleaming shining mess!!!!!!! One of the DS at Winchester, one of the former Infantry Recruiting Centres told me ages ago that even though bull-shine was being slowly stamped out during recruit training, the biggest offenders were the recruits themselves. They loved this shiny brasso regime of their own making........