Today was a good day. A friend placed in my hands a dusty, apparently neglected No5 Mk1(F) and said "do you want this old thing".
Of course, I said that I would take it off his hands, along with 4 other SMLE variants, a Springfield 1903 and an Eddystone 1917.
After I had dashed home to the cleaning gear I found the Jungle Carbine was in beautiful condition, and my search was over - I am really happy that I didn't buy one of the overpriced pieces of junk that I had looked at over the past 18 months. Sometimes patience beats instant gratification hands down.
I will clean up the others over the next month or two, but I have to think of a name for my new baby first.
Does anyone know what the (F) represents??
Posts: 323 | Location: Back Home in Aus. | Registered: 24 September 2001
Thanks Shaun, looks like I am the proud owner of an Excellent + condition original. Rear fold up sight is marked to 800, a few F's around the place. The bore is mint, no rust and the bolt face has no marks - hasn't seen a lot of use.
Posts: 323 | Location: Back Home in Aus. | Registered: 24 September 2001
Good on you. With the current gun amnesty "no questions asked", there are a lot of old pieces floating around. I finally got a 1901 Martini Enfield Calvary Carbine Mk2 as well as a PH No 4 sporter. Picked up 2xWin 94's last week in 32/40. One is 1908 and the other 1912, both in good shootable condition.
What form is that 1903 Springfield. I have a real soft spot for the 30.06 and have several M17's made by Winchester.
Posts: 1785 | Location: Kingaroy, Australia | Registered: 29 April 2002
A shit one around here in Brisbane are asking $400 in the shops.Most of the barrels are shot out.The No5 barrel is unique to them,although a No4 will fit OK.
No5 on the left with lightning flutes,Lithgow No1 Heavy,No1 Std.
Posts: 479 | Location: Brisbane,Australia. | Registered: 28 September 2004
AW bugger my rifles barrel is not crash hot but it shoots bloody well it is actually very good with 144gr ADI 308 bullets maybe the rough bore gets a good grip on the smaller bullet!!
Posts: 249 | Location: Australia | Registered: 13 July 2003
HiWall if you can give your NO5 a dose of sweets leave it in for about 15 minutes if the patch comes out with even a hint of blue or green it has been fired I did this on my M38 Swede it looked perfect and after sweets I can honestly say it had not been fired nice pick up for $150!!!
Posts: 249 | Location: Australia | Registered: 13 July 2003
That's a good, common sense idea, which probably explains why I didn't think of it. Got a slight trace of fouling so I am of to the range to put a few rounds through it - not feeling guilty at all now
Posts: 323 | Location: Back Home in Aus. | Registered: 24 September 2001