No.5 Value?
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Rifles
Forum Description: Anything that has to do with the great Enfield rifles!
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11178
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 2:51pm
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Topic: No.5 Value?
Posted By: Logan.Lacher
Subject: No.5 Value?
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 12:26am
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Good evening everyone, I have the future possibility of purchasing a No.5 from an estate sale, sight unseen. Is there a value that should not be exceeded for these rifles? I understand less were produced than the No4s, but that they were a flop with accuracy. I personally just wanted to add one to the collection, but is it worth it? I cant seem to find many for sale, but I do see stripped receivers and barrels for 300 on gunbroker or numbers matching for $1000. Kinda wide of a spread there. Thanks, Logan
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Replies:
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 4:13am
| I've owned three, and all were decent shooters, so I'm not sure the inaccuracy myth is 100% true. As far as price? In Canada, the average price for a #'s matching is around $750. You can get decent ones for $650 CAD. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 4:52am
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WOW..I got mine for $250 Cdn a tad back. Added sling bayo & scabbard later. As for accuracy - theres alot of info for & agin. I can't hit nowt with mine - ever! Yet my late hunt pard (he was a Limey) would pick it up, fire 3 thru the ring & pronounce it spot-on.(Always the "other"guy!  )Then theres the jabber about the "wandering zero" All in all - they are interesting, tho ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 9:22am
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About US$ 650~750 round here for an all-matching one with a good bore in nice condition overall. About $100 more than a comparable No4 Mk1 in general. If you're thinking of the (In) famous "Wandering Zero" problem, I really wouldn't at this point in time. Some had it some didn't. But they knew & were fixing it "back in the day". Because of that you'd be hard pressed to fin one with it now as it was either fixed & reissued or condemned & scrapped so very few offenders remain. Mine is about the same accuracy as my SMLE, about half of what my No4 Mk2 is capable of.
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Logan.Lacher
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 9:50am
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That's great to hear. As far as the setup of the rifle goes, I hear a lot of them had triggers like the No4 Mk1 and some possibly had triggers like a Mk2. I assume most of them were like mk1s? And same for the wood. I heard a few people talk about jungle carbines with beech wood. Does any of the above affect the value? As I mentioned earlier, I'm buying sight unseen. I guess I'm just curious if any of that makes my deal any less sweet
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 11:34am
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I know of no production No5's with the Mk2 "Hung trigger" To me it would be a red flag & I'd be looking for evidence of fakery, which abounds. The easy way to tell is the wood at the back of the forend. If theres a recessed cross bolt & nut its a Mk2, A Mk1/2, or a Mk 1/3. If its a riveted strap its a Mk 1. Anything other than the riveted strap is a warning no 1/2 or 1/5 No5's were ever made. Wood isn't really a factor, but condition of it is. A lot of the beech stocks have been stained over the years too. The presence, or lack of a metal end cap maybe more important. Things like bore condition, overall appearance, matching serial numbers, sanded or refinished wood or metal, & presence of the bayonet lug & so on will have a big effect on value though.
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Logan.Lacher
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 12:16pm
| Thank you for the details. These are priced at $300 or so, but are part of a larger Enfield collection which contains some expensive rifles alongside. Im suspecting that the individual selling believes them to be sporterized and is thus looking to part with them at sporterized prices, but itd be nice to know im actually stumbling on a hidden gem |
Posted By: devrep
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 1:10pm
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I would not purchase anything sight unseen. ------------- double gun |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 1:14pm
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Do you know how, in detail, to tell a sported No4 from a legit No5? Those prices (if legit) are incredible for today's market. Just remember 1: if it sounds too good to be true it probably is! 2: Caveat emptor, Bad Latin for "Its a crap shewt out there"! Can you at least get pictures of them?
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Logan.Lacher
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 1:19pm
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I think I understand the general gist of spotting them. I have the Enfield Bible which seems to give enough detail of the particulars, along with what folks have mentioned thus far. Fortunately the person selling the rifle will allow me to back out of the purchase if I can prove it's a fake. The sale starts soon so I'll want to commit to buy asap to avoid missing out because I took too long to decide if it was real or fake. That said, if there is a quick way of knowing, that would be the most helpful. Sight unseen in this regard simply means that as far as i know, i could be getting the most abused, albeit legit, No.5 out there
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 1:24pm
Fair disclaimer, these are not my images I got them of the web, I don't remember where any longer. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Logan.Lacher
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 1:32pm
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Ah okay, so my best bets will be the lightening cuts to the rear of the receiver, I wasnt aware of those. Even if the No5 is completely beat, I'd imagine it's still worth $300, correct? From what I read in earlier forums, the wood alone is worth some money. I have plenty of spare BHs, I've got headspace gauges and such. The issue is that once the sale starts, everyone and their mother will be allowed in to browse. I simply want to commit asap rather than have it sold out from under me. It's not ideal, but it's also significantly cheaper than No5s I see anywhere else so im alright with a little gamble
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 1:46pm
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Well if worst comes to worst you have the images to show him & get a refund if nothing else.  Its definitely a great price assuming theres nothing "bent" we're missing. The RTI junkers are going for considerably more! Cuts at the rear of the receiver & the breech end of the barrel. Those were apparently a pain to make so the forgers simply didn't bother! Not shown is the LARGE (penny sized almost) hole in the bolt knob. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 8:00pm
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this is one of those times i really want to tell you to walk away , but , in fairness you learn nothing from that recommendation , so instead im going to tell you to read and study what was posted above carefully then study the rifle to see if it matches , do a bunch of research so you dont get screwed the no5 is one of those that seems to have gotten the short end of the stick up front about hitting targets and now because they were produced in limited quantity have been the target of those wanting bigger bucks from their sported no4 , when you do own one [i had two] you will find they shoot downright fine , they handle well , are fun to own and shoot and they look great ,
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Posted By: Logan.Lacher
Date Posted: January 31 2021 at 8:48pm
| I appreciate that. Honestly, I'm willing to take the risk. I'll definitely post the outcome whatever it may be. Im confident that if I do get my hands on them before anyone else that I'll win out. Practically memorized the No5 at this point and have a checklist ready |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: February 01 2021 at 5:20am
| Take a quick check of the rear apature sight. No5's elevate to 800 yards and No4'5 to 1000. (Guys, correct me if I got the numbers wrong!) This might be another quick check. |
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: February 01 2021 at 6:17am
| No. 4 Mk 1 machined rear sight graduated to 1300 yards. |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: February 01 2021 at 7:02am
Thanks! I new there was a difference but was to lazy to open the gun safe! I know these are easy to change but might be a quick check. |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: February 01 2021 at 11:07am
| never the less good point HT , a definite clue to "real" |
Posted By: shiloh
Date Posted: February 01 2021 at 2:59pm
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do both real Faz and BSA`s have the designation electro penciled on the left side of the receiver? My Faz has No5/mk1 and the date below, not sure about the BSA`s
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Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: February 01 2021 at 7:43pm
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no , the BSA were marked on the left wrist , generally with M47C , and the date , and serial number , BSA was still operating within the wartime dispersal system , sub-production facilities were marked with N-northern , M-middle , S-southern for location and a number , part of the fun of collecting enfield is all the confusion but it is all sortable within those that have studied these over all the years we have collected , each of us have had some kind of experiences so someone can add to what you get in bits and pieces , take notes and/or buy references , this is an addicting habit to form i assure you , take your photos and archive as you will be revisiting them as well as those of others ,
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