Commonly referred to as the "Jungle Carbine", a shortened and lightened version of the Enfield No. 4 rifle, the Enfield No. 5 Mk 1 was adopted in 1944 and was built until 1947.
The No. 5 receiver is the same as the No. 4 except for "lightening" cuts made into the side of the receiver. The term "Lightening" means chunks or slabs of metal were sliced out of the metal of the receiver to reduce weight. The No. 4 barrel was shortened and a conical flash hider/front sight/bayonet lug was installed over the muzzle and secured with pins. There are also "lightening" cuts made in the rear of the exterior of the barrel. The fore-stock was shortened and the No. 5 only has a single hand guard where as the No. 4 has two. The butt stock has a butt plate with a rubber pad insert instead of the traditional brass or steal butt plate found on other Enfields. There is no rear swivel at the bottom rear of the butt stock. Instead there is a sling bar that is integral to the butt plate on the ride side of the butt stock.
The No. 5 was plagued with claims of a wandering zero. Many theories have been produced as to the cause. Some believe the wandering zero problem was likely caused by the "lightening" cuts made in the receiver.
