These are original, British Army issue, Mk.V Oil Bottles. These are the first version of this bottle produced in a chocolate brown colour thermosetting plastic to mimic to some extent the earlier brass bottles.

Designed as a replacement for the brass (MkIV) Butt Trap Oil Bottle originally issued with Lee Enfield Rifles, these plastic MkV (or 5) versions were first issued during the Second World War. Cheaper to produce, lighter and not requiring valuable brass to produce them, these were a natural progression and were of similar design and just a good as their brass predecessor, although some early ones were inclined to warp or bend if left out in the sun. This type, made from a hard brown plastic, was probably brought in at the start of the war. The basic design remained in service unchanged until around the mid 1990's when the design of the cap and seal were changed although these brown versions seemed to be replaced fairly quickly with a translucent orange coloured plastic and finally by black plastic.

This type of bottle was standard issue with No.4 Rifles, No.5 Jungle Carbines, BREN's (for Oil, Low, Cold test and graphite grease), STENs, Sterling SMGs, L1A1 SLRs, No4(T) & L42A1 Sniper Rifles and a host of other contemporary weapons.

The majority of these bottles appear to have been made by Messers Parker-Hale and they are marked as such on the base (see photo).

Unit of sale; 1 Oil Bottle.

British Army Part Number;BA6320 or SM52A.

Stock number; OIL003E

Please note; The type of plastic used to make these oil bottles has a distictive and strong smell! There is nothing wrong with them - they just stink!