POTD: Enfield No. 5 Mk. 1 Bolt Action “Jungle Carbine”
Sam.S 05.13.22
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Taking a break from the never-ending inventory of American Civil War-era small arms, we are jumping across the pond to post-war England. This is an Enfield No. 5 Mk. 1 Bolt Action “Jungle Carbine”. These slender shorties were designed in 1944 during World War Two and would go on to be produced until 1947. They were designed at the time because of conflicts in southeast Asia that England was taking part in and the dense vegetation or “jungles” of that area required a more handy service rifle.
The result was the “Jungle Carbine” or at least that is what it is referred to today. It was similar to the then common Enfield rifle ( so many variations, I recommend checking them all out) but it sported a shorter barrel, flash hider, shorter stock and handguard, stamped sights (later addition), a rubber butt pad, and lightening cuts throughout to save on weight. These were barely issued or used and are considered one of Great Britain’s shortest-serving small arms.
“Fixed blade front and elevation adjustable ladder and peep rear sight correctly graduated to 800 meters. The barrel has the correct conical flash hider and bayonet lug, as well as the correct lightening cuts just forward of the breech under the handguard. The bolt handle is hollow, and the body has the correct lightening cut on the right side. Receiver marked “No. 5 MKI ROF(F)/8/46 X1217″. Semi pistol grip stock with the correct rubber buttplate.”
Lot 511: Fazakerley No 5 Mk I Carbine 303 British. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/73/511/fazakerley-no-5-mk-i-carbine-303-british.
