Make: Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley
Model: No. 5 Mk. I "Jungle Carbine"
Serial Number: X 4806, all visible numbered parts match
Year of Manufacture: 1946 / ATF Classification: C&R
Caliber/Gauge: .303 British
Action Type: Bolt action, detachable magazine
Barrel Length: 18 3/4", 20.5" to the end of the flash hider
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a bladed post dovetailed into a base between two protective wings. The rear sight is a correct adjustable ladder aperture sight.
Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The three-piece wood furniture is in the iconic Jungle Carbine configuration. The buttplate has some minor handling marks. The wood shows a few very minor pressure dings. The LOP measures about 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are no chips or cracks. The furniture rates in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Suncorite
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp with light fouling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish shows minor handling marks scattered throughout. The action has light operational wear. The screw heads are unmarred and retain turnable slots. The markings are clear and complete. Overall, this rifle rates in Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Sling
Our Assessment: The Rifle No. 5 Mk. I was developed during World War II as a shortened and lightened derivative of the Lee-Enfield No. 4, intended to provide British and Commonwealth troops with a handier rifle for jungle and airborne operations. Officially adopted in 1944, the No. 5 incorporated extensive receiver and barrel lightening cuts, shortened furniture, an 18 3/4" barrel with distinctive conical flash hider, rubber-padded buttplate, and an aperture rear sight graduated to 800 yards. Production was undertaken by Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley and BSA Shirley from 1944 through 1947, with Fazakerley accounting for approximately 169,807 rifles. The familiar "Jungle Carbine" name is a later colloquial designation rather than the official British nomenclature. This example, serial number X 4806, was manufactured at Fazakerley in 1946 and retains matching visible numbered components, its proper military configuration, and the characteristic features that distinguish an authentic No. 5 Mk. I from later commercial No. 4 conversions.
This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish, with only minor handling marks and light operational wear. The three-piece wood furniture remains in Fine condition with only a few very minor pressure dings, no chips or cracks, and a lightly handled buttplate. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and light fouling, with no erosion, rating 9.5/10. The correct protected front sight and adjustable ladder aperture rear sight remain in place, while the 18 3/4" barrel and 20.5" overall measurement through the flash hider correspond to the standard No. 5 configuration. The matching visible numbered components, excellent bore, high finish retention, and correct configuration make this a particularly attractive postwar-production Fazakerley No. 5 Mk. I. Overall, this rifle rates in Fine condition as a C&R firearm. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
