No 5 Jungle Carbine………………..(F 1143)
Created on September 16th 2024
Late WW 2 British Jungle Carbine
Built in standard Military specification, chambered in .303 British with a ten shot detachable box magazine. This well presented late World War Two carbine is stocked in alight coloured grained hardwood, three piece stock set, peculiar to the carbine model. Nothing would be interchangeable to the other marks Enfield made. Overall the carbine is 39.1/2″ long. The round blued barrel is 20″ long including flash hider. The trigger pull to centre is 13.”
Developed to aid troops fighting in the close quarter confines of jungle warfare conditions. It was the intent of the developers to provide a weapon that could be easily and quickly brought on target, against an enemy, that could be hiding only feet away in dense undergrowth. An enemy that were expert in camouflage and concealment and ferocious in close quarter hand to hand combat. The No 5 retained the power of the .303 cartridge but the full length of the rifle was reduced in place for a more manoeuvrable weapon. The only problem was, they didn’t alter the powder burn of the cartridge, consequently, you still had powder burning beyond the length of the shortened barrel. This produced a giveaway muzzle flash which would betray your position – hence the development and fitting of the classic flash hider fitted to the carbine barrel. The larger ring size of the flash-hider cone required a larger bayonet ring and thus required a redesign of the bayonet. Eventually resulting in the instantly recognisable Jungle carbine Bowie style knife bayonet associated with this carbine. The end result is a handsome and business like looking outfit which was very much up to the job. It only resulted in one slight disadvantage when going up against a screaming Japanese infantryman armed with the longer reaching Type 38 or Type 99 rifle and long bladed bayonet; your opponents reach! The solution being; shoot him first, before he gets anywhere near you – and that was idea of the shorter rifle – quicker target acquisition.
The LH wrist is marked “ENGLAND”. The LH outer action wall is marked; ” No5 MKI ROF (F) / 12 / 46 Y 8487″. The ROF meaning manufacture at Royal Ordnance Fazakerley. The bolt is matching marked on the reverse of the bolt arm. Drilled bolt knob to reduce weight. No 1 marked bolt head. Rectangular cocking piece. Classic rubber recoil pad with pressed steel surround which incorporates the side bar for the sling. The rubber pad being in good condition. Safety catch to rear LHS of action. Period light tan canvass sling attached. Good bore with strong rifling, some darkenss in the grooves. May clean with use. The underside of the fore-end is stamped with the matching serial number just behind the fore-end steel cap. The detachable ten shot box magazine does have the matching number engraved into its underside but many layers of black paint have made it only deciferable by the naked eye.
The Jungle carbine is instantly recognisable for all the above reasons. There is a great debate about accuracy and wandering zeros etc, but I can only comment drawing from experience; made no difference to me; the only competition I ever appeared on the score sheets for involved my own example of this weapon – so I think the effects are minimal. This example is certainly a handsome looking piece. Coachwood stock with fine clean even clear finished woodwork all over. Virtually no dings or dents to stock surface. The classic and almost standard effect of time on the black finish painted on the action and barrels etc. Some finish remaining in protected areas. Battle sight and flip-up rear carbine ladder sight graduated to 800 yards also marked “F” for Fazakerley. Front sight protected by ears with bayonet lug under the flash hider. There are some interesting letters and numbers stamped into the top side of the bolt arm – meaning unknown, however they look like factory marking of some kind.
Stock No F 1143 – FAC Required
£ 1175.
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