I don't think the wandering zero complaint was to make an excuse to go to a semi-auto rifle. They didn't for another ten years, if that was true. But nevertheless the No 5 continued in use in the Far East until the SLR was finally available for issue, and in some case was used alongside the newer rifles (as well as M1 carbines). The No 4 continued not only in use but in production almost until the SLR was being produced. But that was true for the M1, too. One would have to think that, given all that were manufactured during WWII, there would be plenty on hand but maybe wars are hard on things.
Lee Enfield Jungle Carbines still in use
- Thread starter overland
- Start date
There are posts on this on the Lee Enfield Forum at Milsurps. There are several British Armorers on that site, I have attached a URL to one post describing that the wandering zero was a real issue that they could not solve.
http://www.milsurps.com/index.php
http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=18948
http://www.milsurps.com/index.php
http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=18948
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sigshepardo
New member
I bought a Canadian make No.4 Mk. 1. I hate it, and can't wait to sell it. The bolt wont turn down all the way down every time. It makes it quite a hazzard.
Ignition Override
New member
The Aussie (and British?) troops also used the Enfield #5s in the Malaysian Communist Insurgency in '56 to zap some "swine", after the terrorists murdered some British and 'Dutch civilians.
I have one of these which has shiny, dark chocolate finish. Some stored in Malaysia were found to have unsafe rust under the wood, but many of us were fortunate. The other "Jungle" came from "Joesalter" (if you live in NH your wife can blame me. A guy up there told me:"my wife hates you").
Tikirocker has some interesting photos of his fellow countrymen in combat with a few.
Two guys at the Orlando show a few weeks ago each had a nice #5. Only saw the external areas.
I've got one guy's business card, though he's a private seller.
I have one of these which has shiny, dark chocolate finish. Some stored in Malaysia were found to have unsafe rust under the wood, but many of us were fortunate. The other "Jungle" came from "Joesalter" (if you live in NH your wife can blame me. A guy up there told me:"my wife hates you").
Tikirocker has some interesting photos of his fellow countrymen in combat with a few.
Two guys at the Orlando show a few weeks ago each had a nice #5. Only saw the external areas.
I've got one guy's business card, though he's a private seller.
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I've always found it interesting that bolt action military rifles were still being manufactured in the 1950s by which time even the SKS had already been replaced by the AK, at least in some places. However, I think production of the No. 5 ended before 1950. Other countries using the Lee-Enfield experimented with developing a lightened rifle, but other than the No. 5, nothing came of those experiments. Some of them did have "sporting" rubber buttplates, which probably was better than the concoction that was on a No. 5. India and Australia never adopted the No. 4 but used the older SMLE pattern. In fact the Indian No. 4s in 7.62 NATO were manufactured after I got out of the army in 1968 but I have no information of production figures.
