Where have the good No5 rifle all gone?

[David TS]

Have you tried Ian at ITL Shooting Supplies - he did have a few of them, described "as new"?

Yes I have, thanks, they all went at the Shooting Show, whilst I was waiting for my variation to come through!

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Around these parts you can find them in reasonable condition for $500, sometimes less.

[Sunray]

No. 5's were never made in large quantities in the first place. Mind you, the days of there being large numbers of any kind of milsurp in decent condition are long gone. So are the days of there being warehouses full of rifles in 'war storage'.
"...more readily available in North America..." Yep. Your government couldn't get 'em out of the country fast enough. Needed strong currencies.
Fazakerley production was supposedly only 2/3 of the entire 250,000. And only between 1944 and 1947.
Any found in 'new' or 'like new' condition have been made that way by somebody with a lot of time on their hands.

[Promo]

I'm glad my rifle found a good home, and I hope you will show it to the guys here once you have received it!

[mrclark303]

I'm glad my rifle found a good home, and I hope you will show it to the guys here once you have received it!

Will do Georg, I very much look forward to repatriating a No5 back to the old country! Pics when I get her guys.

[Brian Dick]

I lost count of how many I exported back to the UK ten plus years ago to one dealer in particular in West Sussex. Many were pretty much excellent to "as new" because that's how they were originally imported to the USA from the UK prior to 1968. I hung on to a couple of nice examples. I've always been a great fan of the No.5Mk.1.

[mrclark303]

I suppose I can see why so many disappeared to all points of the compass.

They were surplus to requirments much earlier than the No4. I am guessing that many went straight from the factory to store.

I wonder, did the examples used in the Malayan emergency remain on issue despite obsolescence being declared some years earlier, or did a small number have to be taken from store?

[Brian Dick]

I think many new condition No.5 rifles were surplused and exported to the USA by companies like Interarms in the 50's and 60's simply because they were obsolete in British service The Indian and southeast Asian weapons are a different kettle of fish and most have seen very hard use in the hot, humid environments of that region of the world. Peter L was at 40 Base Workshops during the huge rebuild programs in the 60's and maybe he can elaborate more.

[GeeRam]

I lost count of how many I exported back to the UK ten plus years ago to one dealer in particular in West Sussex. Many were pretty much excellent to "as new" because that's how they were originally imported to the USA from the UK prior to 1968.

That sends a shiver down my spine, as if that West Sussex dealer was Worthing Guns or Arundel Militaria, then I can pretty much say that they would have all ended up being cut and de-activated

[Brian Dick]

Rest easy. It was Arundel Classic Guns and none got butchered into deacts as far as I know. Arundel Militaria is a different outfit. I was at Worthing Guns with Terry Abrams a couple of times in 2009. You're right about that place. Everything was being butchered into deacts by Terry. Made two trips to the Birmingham Proof House too with Terry.