British Jungle Carbine

[Gil Martin]

I saw a mint and original No. 5 Mark I rifle in a gun shop today with a hang tag price of $475.00. Back in 1965, Adam and I bought mint Jungle Carbines for $26.50 each. How times have changed. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

YES, times have changed since 1965. Let us recall we were paid $128.02 per month as E-3s. Gasoline was 26 cents per gallon, haircuts on base were 90 cents and cigaretts were 17 cents per pack at the PX.

We did, in fact, buy every military arm our meager financial resources allowed and can now, today, enjoy the escalation in value of all the stuff we knew were good deals back then. We still have all the good stuff and are better for it, eh, wot?

Adam

[muledeer]

I can remember back in the early to mid 60's when my dad and I would go a surplus store in Los Angeles and buy 1903 and A3's for just under $50.00. I remember one that had (what appeared to be) dried blood on the bayonet lug. Yah and I remember when gas stations had "gas wars". Sometimes as low as 19 cents a gallon. Fill your car up for $5.00.
muledeer

[Brithunter]

Hmmm I think there is some confusion here. The No. 1 Mark V rifle was the forerunner of the No4 enfield and was a trials only model, only about 2000 being made and it has an aperture rearsight which was used on that model only.

The No5 which is erronously called the Jungle Carbine is a lightedn and shortened No4 really but real no5's are marked No5. I have seen some which looked like the No5 but were marked on the side of the action No4 Conv Jungle carbine is not and never was an official British name.

[Gil Martin]

The designation is British Rifle No. 5 Mark I and commonly (and incorrectly) called the jungle carbine. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Brithunter,

According to John Walter in his book, "Rifles of the World" on page 120 he discusses the Lee-Enfield Rifle Mk V (later Rifle No. 1 MkV). In 1922 the rifle was approved and 20,000 were made up until 1924 when extensive trials caused its introduction to be cancelled.

In his initial post, Gil properly identified the "Jungle Carbine" he saw as a No. 5 Mk1 Rifle. I think the confusion was yours when you called his posting a "No. 1 MkV."

When many No. 5 Mk1 Rifles hit the US market in the late 1950s and 1960s, the sellers called them "Jungle Carbines" and the term stuck, whether or not the Brits called them such is not really too important since we Yanks know what is meant by the term.

Be well.

Adam