This Lee-Enfield No 5 Mk 1 Jungle Carbine was made in 1944 (first year production) at Fazakerley (ROF). Like so many jungle carbines the electro-stencil is almost completely gone so the month in front of the year code is extremely hard to discern. Best guess is this was a 10/44

This jungle carbine chambered in .303 British is in very good condition. The stock and hand guard have no cracks or splits. There is one small gouge at front left stock. The finish is good with minor wear. There are a few spots of paint in various places most likely a unit or armorer’s marking.

The finish on the barrel is good showing minor wear with complete finish loss around muzzle. The receiver finish is about 70% with minor wear. Metal butt plate finish mostly gone and the rubber butt pad has a crack at bottom and shows minor deterioration.

The bolt is very good with a small circle of surface rust on the bolt face which should clean off easily. There is almost complete finish loss on the bolt overall. The receiver shows minor wear with minor grime and oil build up.

The bore is fair to good with crisp rifling however there is substantial fouling build up as well as obvious wear and pitting. A good cleaning would benefit the bore.

Mechanically all parts function as they should. This rifle has not been test fired by us.

Please note, the serial number matches to the Receiver, Bolt, and Stock Socket. The magazine does not show a serial. This could have worn off, been covered in a refinish, or this could be a different magazine than what was issued to the rifle.

This rifle includes an olive drab sling that appears period correct but may or may not be original.

The Rifle No. 5 Mk I, nicknamed the “jungle carbine,” is a bolt-action carbine derived from the British Lee–Enfield No. 4 Mk I, developed to give troops a shorter, lighter rifle for jungle warfare and produced from March 1944 to December 1947. It was about 100 mm shorter and nearly 1 kg lighter than the No. 4 thanks to lightening cuts, reduced woodwork, a drilled bolt knob, and the addition of a conical flash suppressor and rubber buttpad. Those changes made it popular in Far East and other jungle campaigns—seeing widespread postwar use in conflicts such as the Indonesian National Revolution, Malayan Emergency, and Vietnam War—although the lighter weight and small buttpad increased felt recoil. The sights replicated the No. 4’s arrangement with a rear aperture battle sight calibrated for 300 yd plus a flip-up ladder sight for 200–800 yd. Only the No. 5 blade bayonet would fit because of the large flash suppressor, and proposed Mk II and takedown variants (including grenade-firing strengthening and receiver-mounted triggers) were trialed but never produced.

No 5 MK 1 ROF (F)– left side receiver (very faint)

??/44 – left side receiver (possibly 10/44, very faint)

C4007 (SN) – left side receiver (very faint)

C4007 – left side stock socket

4007 – back of cocking piece/charging knob

R4 538 – left side butt stock (could be 558)

* – top front receiver

M/56 – top magazine follower

M/47 – left side safety

F – left side front and rear sights