No 5 Jungle Carbine………………..( f 512 ) SOLD

Second World War No 5 Jungle Carbine by  ROF Fazakerley

The British answer to fighting in the close-quarter surroundings of the jungle war theatre.  Still chambered in the reliable .303 cartridge with its ten-shot detachable magazine it became shortened and lighter.  The barrel was shortened to 20.5/8″ including the flash hider.  The Bren-like looking appendage had to be added as the short barrel was giving away the users position.  This would occur because the powder from the standard cartridge was not fully burnt by the time it left the barrel, thereby leaving a nice bright muzzle flash for the enemy to train their fire upon. Additionally, as the diameter of the flash hider was much larger than the standard .303 rifle, a new bayonet had to be developed along with fixing point to accommodate the increased size.

The decrease in the barrel length leads to a reduction in the overall length of the rifle to 39.3/4″.  Then the Ordnance designed in a few lightening measures (as in weight reduction); The knox form at the breech end of the barrel had elongated scallops removed from its circumference.  The bolt handle knob was drilled to take out the dead weight of a solid bolt.  The action had diagonal cuts taken from the outer walls, one at either side towards the rear.  This lightening effect tipped the balance in the area of recoil and gave the rifle the kick that is normally associated with it.  So, the end result of the reduction in weight and length produced a weapon that was both less of a dead weight to carry in the uncomfortable conditions of the jungle heat and  a more manoveourable item in the cramped conditions of the dense undergrowth.

The action outer LHS wall is marked as follows: “No 5 MKI (ROF) F / 3/45  K 5751”   The wrist socket on the same side is simply marked “ENGLAND”.  The rear sight assembly is mounted on the rear action bridge and are the correct Carbine type.  They are clearly graduated for distance, from 200 the 800 yards.  To use that particular scale the ladder has to be flipped into the upright position and the smaller aperture used which is set in the center of the moving plate.  The face of the plate is finely macheine cross-hatched to reduce glare from the sun.  Adjustment is performed by rotation of the knurled wheel which sits atop the ladder.  Adjustment is positive and held in position once the correct setting is selected by a spring loaded ball at the top of the assembly.  When the battle sight is required for rapid target acquisition, the ladder is pushed forward and down into the horizontal position and a larger aperture is used set into the unit at 90 degrees to the other.

Just in front of the stowed sight is the loading bridge, included to allow rapid clip loading of the ten shot magazine.   Sprung bolt release to the RHS behind the bridge which acts on a grove in the bolt head.  The bolt head is a No2 fitment. Square cocking piece marked on the base with the following:- “F Y M K ii” Last not easily descenable.  The rear face of the bolt arm is marked with the matching serial number “K 5751”.  The magazine is marked on the underside with the numeric from the serial number.  The trigger guard assembly has the correct steel “loop,” still fitted directly in front of the magazine. Magazine release mounted within the trigger guard to the front.  Smooth-faced trigger. The carbine has a safety catch mounted on the rear LHS of the action which acts directly upon (or under) the cocking piece shoe.  In the rearward position it will stop the rifle firing pushed upwards and forward, will fire.

 Carbine butt with enclosed rubber butt-plate.  The steel surround to the butt-plate incorporates the rear sling mount on the RHS.  Rubber butt-plate showing some battle damage but still functional.  A purist might replace it because he wants the “perfect” Jungle Carbine but, this tough little rifle is sporting all the dings and dents it earned in combat and who am I to change that!  Single barrel band and sling swivel.  Short hand guard above barrel.  At the muzzle end sits the distinctive muzzle flash-hider.  As mentioned earlier developed to both hide the flash and take the bowie-type bayonet.  It has large front sight protection wings.  Front sight adjustment can be affected by drifting the dovetailed insert to either side through one of the side openings. There is a central datum point to work with on the lower fixed part of the unit.

On removal of the bolt, inspection of the bore shows a clean strong bore, with 5-groove RH twist.  There is no pitting or damage to the lands or grooves and no misting.  An excellent bore.  This is an smashing little gun which should pull off some excellent results if the new owner has the patience to tame it!

Included in this sale is an original, looks to be unissued canvass sling.  It has markings on the inside at the rear which appear to read:- “J. & A.H.  1944.”  One other interesting observation; during cleaning and strip-down, it was discovered that the whole rifle (metal components only) had been painted olive green.  Tiny amounts of paint have survived in very hard to get at nooks and crannies on the carbine.

London proofed 2016.

Ask for stock No F 512

£ 685. SOLD

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