Jungle Carbine

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Buying a used Golden State Arms Enfield No.1 Mk.III* Jungle Carbine for $249. Some light rust around primer vent hole and flash suppressor. Built on a 1916 LSA action rearsenaled in 1929. Gun's solid but has a rifle sight attached to the barrel with some funky-lookin' handguards. There is a cut in the charger loading bridge that looks like where the rear sight is supposed to be.

Did I get taken on this or did I find something special? I did see another like it at a gun show today for $50 more that was listed as original but I know they're both post-war copies. Thoughts?

[vmtz]

Real Jungle Carbs are built on Mk 4 receviers not MkIII.

But it is shoots good you did ok.

Fr. Vince

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Have to see if it does. Dude said it might come with ammo which he may or may not include with the sale (I hope it does! Free Ammo!).

Also, the bolt head had a large "U" on it. Is this a factory marking or an undersized bolt head? I know the No.4s had different size heads but I have never seen that on a No.1.

[mitchellh]

That's a Jungle Carbine Copy, not the real thing. The price depends on what you think it's worth. Some collectors frown on the Golden State Arms carbines, and then other like them. If it's a nice copy and you like it, you did well.

How's the bore, and what were your intention? Truck gun, plinker, or for collecting?

I think the ammo should be included:biggrin:

Post some pics when you get a hold of it.

Good Luck.:biggrin:

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Bore was great, but I'll have to check headspace. I haven't bought an Enfield yet that wouldn't take a NOGO (no FIELD yet). I'm lookin' to make it a truck gun once I redo the rear sight setup and put some better HGDs on it. May scope it, dunno.

I don't mind it being a copy so long as it works. Plus, since the lightening cuts weren't made in the receiver I don't have to worry about that "wandering zero" problem I've heard about No.5s having. It does have the mag cut-off slot which may come in handy once I get one installed. I also have a Bubba'd 1915 SMLE that I could scrounge for parts since it's currently down for rebuild.

For what I'm paying the guy, I too think I should get the ammo. Hafta see what he'll do about it. Shouldn't give a kid a toy without battries...:biggrin:

[bykerhd]

I agree with mitchellh.
As long as you are happy, it should be fine.
The carbine is what it is. You had no part in modifying it and there is little point in trying to restore it back to what it originally was.
Use it as you like without guilt.

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Hmm... Well, assuming that pawn shop is still open I might get the damn gun sometime this week. Bugger's been closed longer than I thought (@2 wks). How long would you guys give the owner to open up and either A) receive final payment and transfer weapon or B) give me back my $140?

Apparently I can't legally take action against the guy if he shut the store down and keeps my cash. If he don't open up I think I might have just got screwed.:(

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Yep. I got screwed. Lane Proffitt said he was going to be there today at 1130 to 1200 at his pawn shop and so I sat down there and waited. About noon, a Suburban full of cleanly dressed gentlemen show up and ask me when the shop opened. I told them Lane hadn't showed up yet. They say they've been lookin' for him for three years. I ask "who you with" and get "FBI" as a response (oh shit! Hope they don't search me!). Bastard had been selling stolen stuff and had apparently flown the coup. So now I'm out $140 and a neat little rifle.

Least the Feds had enough courtesy to say "Thanks." Still feel pretty boned...:uhoh: :cry:

Hope the system works just this one time very smoothly and Lane gets his ass thrown in the Federal pen for a few decades.

[mitchellh]

Jeeze, that sucks. Sorry to hear the news.

[bykerhd]

The guy had a shop open to the public and it took the FBI three YEARS to find him ? Actually, to find out where he WAS, not IS ?

Wow.

So much for the all seeing, all knowing Big Brother bit.
Either that, or I will buy the book the guy on the run eventually puts out about how to stay ahead of the Feds.

Hope you get your cash back. Was this a one-man shop ?
I might be tempted to check the place out again tomorrow first thing. He may have been tipped about the Feds and is just lying low. For the moment anyway.

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Naw, he skipped town about two weeks ago apparently. He's been in that establishment for about three years. What gets me is that the regular city cops have been in there along with TBI agents checking out his books several times for the same shit. I think one of his employees had been or is a deputy or something LE-affiliated. That's probably how he got tipped off if not by the other cops who know him. We have some of those guys here too, ya know?

Seems he's done this shit before. It'll catch up to him. I could swear a warrant out for him but that's $125 I don't have (anymore) that I'd probably never get back anyway. A $15 profit on the operation wouldn't exactly cover me up with $$$. I don't think it'll be too long before he's caught, he's been operating in this area for years in other stores and counties, so it's just a matter of time before someone else he screwed over sees him again. Might hear about it on the news...:devil: :skull:

[1MOR]

I feel sick, just reading your story. A few years ago, I left a S&W custom shop 357 at a gun shop for the installation of a couple of items and some engraving. When I went back on the day that the work was to completed on, the door to the gunshop was locked. I pounded on the door and two LEOs opened the door and stated that the store had gone bankrupt and the assets had been seized! Ouchie!! About this time, one of the employees who knew me, came to the door and returned my custom M19, kinda palmed it to me and told me to go quickly. I guess I go lucky! I wish you had the same luck.

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Thanks. My grandpa thinks he may have seen the carbine getting loaded into the evidence van by the ATF. Kinda wish I'd been along to tell them guys it's half mine (my half is on the inside, of course!). Who knows, maybe they'd have give it to me :rolleyes: .

I've been assured by others who know Lane that he is now in really deep since the Feds are involved. He's running out of friends real quick and gaining people wishing him ill wherever he steps. It would be worth it to hear of him getting bounced off the back of a cruiser on his way to the federal pen for what he has done.

I feel really bad for the folks who had pawned stuff to feed their kids and now can't get their stuff back. It really sux for them.:(

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Hmm... Well, looks like I got all worked up over nothing. Lane opened up here recently again and said I could pick the little rifle up Friday. Turns out the Feds were after a few guns that were pawned illegally but not sold. Lane's grandmother was in the hospital for a series of at least two strokes and that's where he's been.

I feel really bad about this. I gave the guy down the road and he really had a family emergency and is being cool enough to let me get this thing nearly two months after the end date. Lesson in humility, I guess. Of course, karma is going to really bite my ass on this one.:eek:

Advantage is that I will be getting a jungle carbine and an IMBEL on Friday, so it has worked out somewhat. That takes the edge off at least.:tongue:

[mitchellh]

It's good this ended on a positive note.

Post a pic when you get it.

My little clone.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2484/copy2ofl1010063ab8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[MAINER]

Stoney, that Carbine is worth more now that it has a story to go with it!! :D

Was offered a "Jungle Carbine" for $150 some years back. I knew it was a good buy, but just wasn't interested at the time. Live and learn! :sad:

Glad it worked out for you!

[Dumpster Baby]

http://armsbid.com/ks7pix/7kj-031.jpg

That's the infamous "No. 7 Jungle Carbine", made by modifying Ishapore 2A's, which started out as No. 3 Mk 1 rifles circa WW1. I have one that's in mint condition but unfired by me yet. The only thing I don't like about it is the very short sight radius and the location of the rear sight.

I also have a No.4 and a genuine No.5 rifle.

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Well, preliminary inspection is pretty good. She's got a little rust here and there but nothing that can't be fixed with a Dremel. I'm mystified by the cut charger bridge, it looks like there might have been a No.4 rear sight plopped in there at one point. The forestock and handguards are all kinds of jacked up but nothing that is beyond repair. She'll take a NOGO gauge but I haven't bought an Enfield yet that won't. Looks like I need to call Springfield Sporters and get a case of new bolts for the No.1/2s (got 4 of the bloody things).

Two questions:

1) Was the sling bar supposed to be on the right side of the gun?

2) Okay, how do I do the Photobucket thing? (soon as I make up the $144 I just spent getting this thing out it'll be time to contribute!)

Nice carbines, BTW! We just about need a thread for turnbolt carbines... :biggrin:

[skiprobinson]

I bought a "Nato Carbine" from J&G sales last year. I had been hankering for a .308 truck gun and found several .308's at the J&G website. I was about to place the order for a standard Ishapore .308 and for some reason I went back and looked at the carbines that they had made by cutting the barrel and stock down and adding the fame flash hider. I bought it and it was at my FFL quickly.

I REALLY wish I had bought the standard Ishapore rather then the carbine-ized version. I know it isnt a "real" jungle carbine but for some reason I had a bad case of buyers remorse which is very rare for me if it involves a gun. I did have to go thru and replace a lot of boogered up screws on the one i bought, thank the Lord for Numrich!

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

I haven't met an Enfield that I didn't have to fix something.

Pride in ownership and workmanship. I love this hobby!

[Czechsix]

Good that you finally got it. I've got my Dad's old Golden State JC, still in .303. It was our ranch coyote gun for many years, still a fun gun to shoot.

[STGThndr]

Glad it worked out in your favor. I'm guessing by the mag that this is a 7.62 NATO? If so I'd be concerned about the high pressure bein too much for that old action.... the #5s had a beefier action than the III and 4s.
A friend and myself bought into Enfields a few years back. We thought that the carbs (original and mechanically minty) would be good as "disposable"- or at least unmourned if lost, rifles. For survival and stash and trunk usage. Well, when we discovered the intense recoil of these things even in the original .303 config..... the recoil was bruising to the shoulder and the web of the hand.... didnt take us long to figger out that we needed to find something else. I kept a nice, accurate #4 Faz that had come with a lot of Winchester-made lend lease ammo, some of it in bandoliers- and got rid of the rest. The cool factor just didnt make up for the intense recoil and blast effect. The Enfield in any of the various marks are fine rifles, but that carbine idea just wasnt very good.
BTW, it is my opinion that the "wandering zero" these carbines are famous for is the progressive dislocation and flattening of the shoulder of the shooter.

[m1tommygun]

I a carbine just like the one you just purchased. I am glad the deal worked out in the good side. Anyhow, mine was given to me from a friend for helping him on his house. When I first saw it I thought it was an original jungle carbine. Upon closer examination I found it to be a 1917 dated No.1. Mine also had the stripper clip bridge notched out with a flip site installed. That sight was all but useless. I had a friend weld a small piece of metal in its place and installed an original No.1 rear sight. I also made a new upper stock. I have been toying with eventually restoring it to its original specs, but right now I have a nice little scout rifle.

Scott

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

I wondered if that notch was for a flip sight. Too bad it'd nearly block the charger bridge when on I'd think. Mine has a barrel-mounted No.1 rear sight on it. I think my AK has a longer sight radius, but for the shooting around my neck of the woods it'll do. Now that she's all cleaned up I need to take her to the range and see how much pain I can inflict upon myself. I reckon the blast off the barrel is going to be noticeable.:devil:

[m1tommygun]

I have not shot mine yet to check for any accuracy, but I am itching to try it along with my new L1A1. I hope you have fun inflicting that pain! Any pain shooting is always better than no pain from work.

Scott