Joe
"The rifle No 5 Mk 1 serial number FE 670.
The first 1000 No 5 Mk 1 rifles were made at ROF
Fazakerley in February and March 1944 and are
marked 2/44 or 3/44 to signify February or March production.
This rifle is all matching action, bolt, and wood. Unfortunately
the magazine is not the rifles original and it has seen Indian
service hence the usual and rather ugly woodscrew through
the forend.
This rifle has not been apart (yet) to check if the first 1000
may differ from subsequent production however one immediate
and obvious difference to other Mk 5s is the rear sight if you
look at the battle sight aperture you will see that it is smaller
than the normal Mk 5 and is similar (if not the same size) as
the first No 4 Mk 1 rifles (Singer sights) which also had smaller
battle sight apertures."
