Lee Enfield MkV Questions

[Sparkybond007]

I just recently purchased my first No1 MkV. I made a post on gun boards and was informed that the front band and nose cap may not be original. I would really like to know what is original and what is not and I know you guys are much more knowledgeable about these rifles than I am so any help would be greatly appreciated. I can post pictures of whatever I need to. Thanks a lot!

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[Steve H. in N.Y.]

I don't see a problem with the nose cap, but the band is not original-it's profile is flat rather than rounded. I wonder if a narrowed front band from a No.4 rifle was installed at some point. Don't worry about it too much.

[smle addict]

Ditto. Nice, honest-use rifle. The nosecap looks like mine (and the numbering font matches the rest of the rifle). The band does look like a No4. I have had a few Mk 5's over the years, and for some reason, the upper reinforcing bands go missing. My current Mk 5 is all correct, and the upper band is rounded and has bevels where it meets the nosecap. Still a nice rifle and I second what Steve H says about not to worry. If it really bugs you, EFD rifles in the UK has high quality reproduction bands currently in stock. They have a US contact who can handle the order, if you place one. Otherwise, I say enjoy it as.

[Sparkybond007]

Ditto. Nice, honest-use rifle. The nosecap looks like mine (and the numbering font matches the rest of the rifle). The band does look like a No4. I have had a few Mk 5's over the years, and for some reason, the upper reinforcing bands go missing. My current Mk 5 is all correct, and the upper band is rounded and has bevels where it meets the nosecap. Still a nice rifle and I second what Steve H says about not to worry. If it really bugs you, EFD rifles in the UK has high quality reproduction bands currently in stock. They have a US contact who can handle the order, if you place one. Otherwise, I say enjoy it as.

Oh I’m still very happy with it. I really like that it looks like it’s been in some kind of conflict somewhere (although I know the history of these rifles is unclear). Somehow, the bore looks brand new though. So I have a nice rifle that has some history and should also make a great shooter!

[30Three]

Are EFD rifles still trading ? I had heard that Geoffrey had passed away; maybe someone could confirm that or correct me if I'm wrong.
Their website was completely static for a while so I have not looked recently. Bought some stuff from them a few years ago though.

[Roger Payne]

Yes, IIRC Geoffrey passed away last year from leukaemia, sadly. However, his colleague Paul Panagi has continued the business, but I think he may have changed the name to 'Enfield Guns' or similar. Try googling that & I suspect you'll find him. I've certainly done business with him within the last couple of months.

[Brian Dick]

I don't think Paul Panagi stocks any Mk.V spares anymore but could be wrong.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I agree with the previous contributors (and I do actually have a Mk.V myself): all looks OK apart from the front band. This can be described as "pure unobtanium" and a reasonable job has been done with the replacement. So don't fret about getting an original.

As already posted: relax and enjoy! My Mk.V was functionally new, but well dinged from being shunted around for decades. Yours may well be the same, i.e. the internal condition will be a lot better than the surface of the wood leads to to expect.

A point to check: the foresight blade has a stake mark that no longer matches the mounting block. As the sights would have originally been set up quite carefully - with service ammo - before the mark was applied, this suggests that the backsight moved at some time and the blade was drifted to compensate.

On my "shunted" example, the rather flimsy backsight ladder had been knocked skewy, and it took a bit of patience to straighten it out. Check that the (rather fragile) arms of the ladder are still dead straight and parallel AND square to the front end (i.e. not a parallelogram shape). You need a proper engineer's square for this - unaided eyeballs are not good enough.

On your example the slider also seems to be skewy, which is an indication that it is loose. With GREAT care you can pinch the slider slots a gnat's whisker or two, so that it is a closer fit to the ladder, and this might put the aiming point back (or at least closer) to where it was originally.

[browningautorifle]

I really like that it looks like it’s been in some kind of conflict somewhere (although I know the history of these rifles is unclear)

We had pics here of one of these carried by some foreign individual once...NVA? Arab Emirate? I just forget...it was an interesting post...

[gsimmons]

Yes, I remember that, Jim. It was NVA or Viet Cong.
I’ve seen a photo of a Home Guard sergeant carrying one on patrol, the two privates with him had No1s or P14s, I forget which.