1903A3 Jungle Carbine

[Daan Kemp]

The flash eliminator for the no5 is a distinctive characteristic for it, that one is probably aftermarket as you say. The British parachute brigade used the no 5 in Norway, Denmark and Holland, the commandos were a different organisation; there were marine commandos and similar army commandos in WWII.

[303 Gunner]

"Jungle"? Yeah, right.

Although "Jungle Carbine" was colloquial and not official terminology, the term was used during the development of the No. 5 as it was intended for use in the jungles of the Far East, where the No. 4 was deemed too long and ungainly. The rifle was also heavily used in the Malayan Emergency, so I don't know that I'd dismiss the term quite so eagerly...

[Daan Kemp]

Seems the jungle nickname started after WWII when many LE were reworked to be that short, just longer than the 'tanker' version. Can't remember the company in west USA that started the name right now.

[GeeRam]

Ain't no myth. Have you shot a "Jungle" carbine?

If you mean a Lee Enfield No.5, then they really are not a viscous to shoot as the myth claims. I used to own a Norwegian capture K98k (K98kF1) that the Noggies converted to 30-06 in the early 50's to make use of the 30-06 ammo being handed out to NATO armies, and that thing was way more vicious on my shoulder than shooting my .303 Lee Enfield No.5 is.
No wonder the Norwegian's left their G.33/40 Carbine's that they gave to their Police in their original 7.92x57 calibre and didn't convert them to 30-06...!!!

[GeeRam]

Although "Jungle Carbine" was colloquial and not official terminology, the term was used during the development of the No. 5 as it was intended for use in the jungles of the Far East, where the No. 4 was deemed too long and ungainly.

Not really, intended use was Airborne, Mountain and Amphibious troop use, as well as mobile troop use in much the same way as the M1 Carbine was issued out, and the G.33/40 was issued in the Wehrmacht. The No.4 didn't appear in the Far East until the last year of the war, and well after the No.5 went into production, as all No.4's were issued to the European campaign as priority, as there was sufficient supply of No.3 rifles in Far East and Middle East and Med theatre's up until the war in Europe was drawing to a close and supplies could be sent to the Far East for the build up to the invasion of Japan.
The term Jungle Carbine was very definately a post war term applied to the rifle, and never originated in the UK. My father carried a No.5 for his 12 month operational tour in Palestine in 1946-47 (as did two uncles that served in Palestine in 46-47) and up until my father left the Army in 1948, he had never heard anyone in the Army refer to the No.5 as a 'Jungle Carbine'.

[browningautorifle]

he had never heard anyone in the Army refer to the No.5 as a 'Jungle Carbine'.

I'm betting that's a term we the after market came up with.

[Daan Kemp]

Golden State Arms in California marketed under Santa Fe was the company that started the term. I presume Gibbs got it from them.

Seems the jungle nickname started after WWII when many LE were reworked to be that short, just longer than the 'tanker' version. Can't remember the company in west USA that started the name right now.

[browningautorifle]

Golden State Arms in California marketed under Santa Fe

after WWII when many LE were reworked to be that short, just longer than the 'tanker' version

I had one of those back in about 1976, thought it looked neat. Found out it just rattled part when fired. I sold it to a guy for a truck gun.

[usabaker]

1960 Jungle Carbine ADAttachment 111142

[CINDERS]

Gads the prices JC's go for a min $1000 Aud for an average and No.4's $800 - $4500.oo for a mumm wrapped 1955 No.4..........if only we knew then though I was a tad young only 3 at the time!!