No5 MkI Rifle

History

A No5 MkI

 

 

 

 

 

Although the SMLE and it's improved replacement the No4 rifle were originally conceived to provide a single rifle for all services. It was soon recognized that another arm was needed for the jungles of South East Asia. As early as 1942 requests were being made for a shorter, lighter rifle for issue in tropical theaters.

In 1943 trials began in England on a modified No4 rifle. These modifications, included reducing the barrel length to 19-1/4 inches and fitting it with a conical flash hider, lightening the rifle by milling portions of the barrel Knox form, bolt handle and receiver. Further weight reduction was achieved by hollowing out the buttstock, shortening the fore-end and eliminating the front handguard. Lastly, the carbine was fitted with an 800 yard rear sight and a unique buttplate incorporating a rubber recoil pad and side mounted sling swivel. Despite one significant flaw, that being a "wandering zero" problem, the rifle was accepted for service, with continuing tests ordered to attempt to solve the zero problem. So what was initially called the No4 Lightened Rifle" became the No5 MkI rifle, which in turn became the "Jungle Carbine".

As trials were conducted with the No4 shortened rifle in the UK, a similar program began on the No1 rifle at the small arms factory in Lithgow Australia. These trials resulted in two prototypes, the No6 MkI and the No6 MkI/I. More can be read on these rifles on the No6 page. Similarly, a program began at the small arms factory in Long Branch Canada where the No4 rifle was again used to provide the basis of a Lightened and Shortened version of the No4 MkI* rifle, more can be read about this variant on the Canadian Lightweight Rifle page. Both the Australian and Canadian carbines only achieved limited success as the war ended before either rifle could move past the early trial phase, very limited quantities of either carbine were ever built, making them another extremely scarce version of the Lee-Enfield family.

Production of the No5 MkI however began in earnest in 1944 at the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) Fazakerley and at Birmingham Small Arms Co. Shirley (BSA Shirley) and continued until 1947 before production was ordered halted. With the war over and the *wandering zero problem still persistent, the War Office decided on suspending further production of the No5 and maintained the No4 MkI and Mk2 as the standard rifle. In total between 1944 and 1947 ROF Fazakerley and BSA Shirley had produced a combined 250,000+ No5 MkI's.

* There continues to this day a debate on whether the No5 ever really had a wandering zero problem or if it was just a nervous Army that did not want to be stuck with the Carbine while other militaries were arming with SLR’s and “invented” the problem as a means to cast disrepute on the little carbine. There is certainly an argument that can be made suggesting the lightening cuts to the receiver caused to much flex during firing. Yet many happy surplus No5 owners report that they have never experienced the wandering zero phenomenon, this owner can be included. I have never experienced it and would suggest to any fence sitters not to use this excuse as a argument not to buy one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1947 FAZAKERLEY built No5 MkI
(with metal nosecap on fore-end)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1945 FAZAKERLEY built No5 MkI
(earlier version without metal nosecap)

 

 

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