Lee Enfield No 5 Mk 1 “Jungle Carbine”

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  • Derwood

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 2, 2011
    1,075
    DC area
    Hi- I recently got very lucky and inherited a collection from a relative who passed away. I am trying to understand each piece and get a ballpark estimate of the value for insurance purposes. Any help is very much appreciated. I will do my best to post clear and detailed photos and to not spam the board with too many at once...so this will be the last one for a while. Thanks!!!

    This one is very interesting to me. It has more markings than a prison gang leader. So I suppose it has seen and done some things. With all the tiny marks, it is like deciphering hieroglyphics to determine its provenance. Or maybe it isn’t...? Perhaps it will make it easier. If there is an original serial number, it must be under the wood and I don’t want to disassemble it until I learn more.

    Markings:
    See photos...there are so many. I can take more if needed.
    It’s stamped “Santa Fe Jungle Carbine Mk1 MD 12### Golden State Arma Corp Pasadena Calif”

    It seems to be in perfect working order and it’s got a bayonet lug. My research so far suggests that’s an important clue. What do you think?
     

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    BFMIN

    Ultimate Member
    Nov 5, 2010
    2,767
    Eastern shore
    You have a no 1 MkIII that was shortened & modified by Golden State Arms, probably because the barrel was "Cord Worn" near the muzzle.
    Its not a "Real" No5 Mk1, but a No1 MkIII sporterised to look like one.
    I'd estimate value, depending on bore condition & what parts still match at between $125 & 200 tops.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    It’s a fantasy piece made up from a cut down no 1 rifle.
    Even with that what it is, it looks to be nicely done and would be worth maybe a little more than a well done sporter to the average person.
    Any original no 5 parts that are on it are worth more pieced out than than what they are assembled to the rifle.
    To break it down for inspection, tap on either side of the stock with a mallet at either side of action body side walls. Pulling down from the front can harm recoil surfaces. Always remove the fore stock first in the manner described. Turning the stock bolt from the rear to remove buttstock will split the forestock because of the square end to the bolt Front and interference with the timber tie plate at the rear.
    Close up pictures of the armorers marks can be referenced with the right books or from saved notes. I have some notes available if you can provide close ups or even care to.
     

    G O B

    Ultimate Member
    Nov 17, 2007
    1,940
    Cen TX
    It's a clone, but still a damn fine deer rifle! I would guess about $300 to the right person.
     

    303_enfield

    Ultimate Member
    May 30, 2007
    4,651
    DelMarVa
    Welcome to 1967. Golden State modified everything to something else. Their #5 cost $25, now it will bring $300-400+/-. People collect them for some reason. Now, I do have one of their Tanker Garands from back in the day.

    The bad about your #5. You can't even recue the receiver as it was drilled for the sight. Golden State didn't use "junk" rifles like Navy Arms did for the remakes.

    Now, the important question. Did you get any ammo with the rifle?

    Old info:
    https://www.enfield-rifles.com/topic3711.html
    https://www.guns.com/news/2019/10/17/milsurp-bambi-dusters-sporterized-military-rifles
    http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_santafe.html
    Enfield link:
    https://webpages.uidaho.edu/stratton/SantaFeRifles.htm
     

    Derwood

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 2, 2011
    1,075
    DC area
    Thank you all for the helpful information!

    So it's not a #5 after all but still a pretty sweet rifle! I would love to take it deer hunting some day...but first I'll need ammo. I looked around a little bit today and it seems to be hard to find right now. I also think it deserves to have a bayonet with it, so I'm going to be looking for one.

    It being a sporterized thing that could be purchased in the late 60s/70s makes sense based on a previous owner, who liked to buy/trade at the local pawn shop in those days.

    @Doco do you need additional photos to reference your notes? I can disassemble it if there are marks that can't be seen while assembled. Thank you!


    There is a lot of dust in the barrel and receiver, and the entire rifle sort of smells like old oil/safe...you know the smell haha. It smells like an old gun or air trapped in a safe from the 1970s. Anyway, I want to properly clean it and put it away until I am able to try shooting it one day. What's the best thing to do? I know it's not exactly a collectible at this point but I still don't want to do anything to take away from its story. For all of my other guns, I usually just clean with Balistol and then wipe dry and I've never had rust issues. Would that be OK?
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    If you just remove the top handguard and look at the barrel reinforce-(Knox form) there may be some additional markings that will be interesting. It's been through an FTR so the original barrel more than likely has been swapped out so a whole lot may not be present.
    Still fun to look at though. I attached pictures of some Enfield stuff to look at/reference.

    IMG_2164.jpg

    inspectorsmarksenfield.jpg

    IMG_1077.jpg

    20200706_161305_2020-07-07_00-37-44 - Copy.jpg
     

    Derwood

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 2, 2011
    1,075
    DC area
    Wow it really is like hieroglyphs. Here are some photos of the barrel markings.
     

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    Jimbob2.0

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 20, 2008
    16,600
    You have a no 1 MkIII that was shortened & modified by Golden State Arms, probably because the barrel was "Cord Worn" near the muzzle.
    Its not a "Real" No5 Mk1, but a No1 MkIII sporterised to look like one.
    I'd estimate value, depending on bore condition & what parts still match at between $125 & 200 tops.

    As others have said this is right, though these were often good shooters for field work. At the time they were made there was a lot of demand for carbines.

    Ive almost bought one or two over the years, they have a very minor collectors market. Definately more valuable than some no name local smith cut down. I would probably say the value is a little higher perhaps around $250 to $300.
     

    Derwood

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 2, 2011
    1,075
    DC area
    Thank you. I'm going to put it as $300 on my insurance sheet. I'm never going to sell any of these as they've got sentimental value.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    If that's a D in circle on the top of the knox, that's draw lapped barrel, the caliber 303 net to 2.222 is chamber and 18.5 pressure proof. Others are manufacturer and commercial proof. There's a squiggly looking mark( fancy cursive R with seriffs) partially obscured the no 4 handguard ring on there and it has specific meaning for the original barrel, could be found rusty by armorer but hard to make out. O not in circle (top of knox) means un-lapped barrel. I think there is also a broad arrow on there top left of the reinforce (government acceptance-Quality control) (Broad arrow in circle is Canadian accepted mark) M or U on the bolt head are heat lot/manufacture codes

    Action body and barrel have matching serial numbers nothing barred out or re-serialed. Bolt should match but worry about it. I'd keep it around find some ammo and make some holes in something.
    Capture proof(s).jpg
     

    Derwood

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 2, 2011
    1,075
    DC area
    Doco you are the man thank you so much! This is really interesting to learn about. I'm going to make a hole in a deer with it next year if all goes well!
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    Doco you are the man thank you so much! This is really interesting to learn about. I'm going to make a hole in a deer with it next year if all goes well!

    "Frickin A Right" that thing will shuck them right out all day long like it was meant to a century ago. GO bang every time with no fiddly gas block or boutique Adam and Eve lube discrepancies. George Rex approved and all that.
    Watch that flash suppressor though, its a killer on the dB meter.

    In all seriousness though, one of the most intriguing things regarding those rifles at least to me, in their original form is the compensation engineered in to the barrels at original length.
    At distance, the form and pressure bedding of them will throw ammo with differing velocity into a better group at longer than shorter range due to muzzle jump and vibration. British textbook of small arms has all the goods.

    Look at the barrel knox and then diameter, its a pencil to save weight for the trooper and strong with wood/steel at the end to support a long bayonet to gouge guys on horseback. In original configuration there is an adjustable tension screw in the fore-stock that adjusts bedding characteristics to control jump vibration and whip.

    Quick explanation-Enjoy your rifle!

    http://www.sportingshooter.com.au/news/lee-enfields-magnificent-long-range-performers
     

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