Guns International #: 101681267
Seller's Inventory #: M21-1290

Category - Enfield Rifles - Military Rifles - Non-US

Category
Enfield Rifles
Military Rifles - Non-US

1950's Vintage Sante Fe No.5 Jungle Carbine Conversion from a 1943 Enfield in .303 British ** Excellent Condition ** SOLD

Description:
This is a very cool 1950's conversion to a Jungle Carbine from a WW2 1943 British Enfield by the Sante Fe Division of the Golden State Arms Corporation of California.  The Sante Fe Division was a large importer of British Military Enfields in the 1950's and early 1960's before going out of business.  They would import a large number of Enfields into the States and then do various conversions on them to give them more appeal and usefulness as a recreational firearm.  Among the models they offered were: a plain-jane military Enfield that they called the "1943 Standard Model", a "1941 Supreme" which was a commercially restocked, checkered, and sporterized Enfield,  a "Mountaineer" Enfield with a sporter stock and extra long barrel, a "Sante Fe 1944" model which was like the Supreme but had a sporterized military stock instead of the commercial checkered stock, and a "Jungle Carbine" model like the rifle in this listing.  The rifles from Sante Fe all showed very good workmanship and they did quite well for a time selling from catalogs.  Increased competition and the rising prices of surplus arms put Golden State Arms out of business in the early 1960's, and while several of Golden States employees went on to found the company Federal Ordnance, most of the conversions that Sante Fe did were never duplicated there.  This particular No.5 Jungle Carbine started life as a standard No.4 Mk.2 rifle in 1943.  The Sante Fe Division of G.S.A. converted it to one of their Jungle Carbines by adding a real surplus No.5 buttstock on it, they shortened the front half of the military stock and barrel to a No.5 length, and then they fit a surplus Jungle Carbine flash hider on it.  The magazine was changed to one of their 5-round models, and the gun was then stamped with a "No.5" on the left side of the receiver and the Golden State / Sante Fe name was stamped on the barrel just ahead of the top handguard.  This example appears to have been used very, very little since it was converted in the 1950's.  It is in excellent condition inside and out.  The attractive factory British oil-blackened finish is uniform and clean, rating 95%.  All of the factory markings are crisp and clear, and all of the original British markings are still visible but faint in places.  At some point during the last 60 plus years the left side of the receiver was professionally drilled and tapped for a side-mount optics base.  There are 4 holes in total in a straight line and they all have screws in them but there is no evidence of this carbine ever having a base mounted on it.  Perhaps it was a factory option you could get from Sante Fe.  The bore is mirror-bright and in superb condition, showing sharp and well-defined rifling throughout the barrel with no pitting or visible erosion.  The stock set on this Jungle Carbine is also excellent, with all three pieces of wood free from any cracks, major damage, or repairs.  Outside of a few tiny handling marks it is like-new.  The stock hardware is all intact and in great shape as well, including the original British Military Jungle Carbine buttplate which has a like-new rubber pad and sling bar.  The action on this Enfield is slick and smooth, and the bolt turns into battery tightly with no grit or slop.  All of the controls on this carbine are also in perfect working order, and the 2-stage trigger is quite good for a combat rifle.  This No.5 Jungle Carbine conversion should still function 100% like the day it left the factory.  All in all, this Sante Fe Enfield No.5 Jungle Carbine would be an excellent addition to any WW2 weapons collection as a piece that could be taken to the range or farm and shot without worry.  Priced at $495, it should also prove to be an excellent long-term investment.        

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .303 British
Manufacturer: Sante Fe Division of Golden State Arms Corp.
Model: Enfield No.5 Jungle Carbine
Serial Number: 19912
Barrel Length: 20.75" w/ Flash Hider
Condition: Excellent
Metal Condition: Excellent
Wood Condition: Excellent
Bore Condition: Excellent
Action: Bolt Action Repeater
Finish: British Oil-Blackened Finish
Sights: Adjustable Iron Sights
Manufacture Date: 1943 (Conversion