Very nice mate. Do you have a photo of the butt broadside?
Type: Posts; User: Homer; Excluded Forums: Milsurp Knowledge Libraries (READ ONLY)
Very nice mate. Do you have a photo of the butt broadside?
I’ve had a couple. A couple years back there was one advertised in Australia for a premium price. The seller had it authenticated by a well known expert as being one of the rifles cut down post war...
The best most up to date resource for this sought of data is “The Lee Enfield” by Ian Skennerton.
The Lithgow SAF produced MkIII no star from 1913 to 1918, MkIII* from 1918 to 1922, MkIII no star...
Mate it’s absolutely incorrect
Oh I see, but not quite. MkIII* from mid 1918 to early 1923 roughly, so not quite decades.
I think your data is incorrect. What’s your source?
Mate I’m not following this thread, can you please explain the point you’re trying to make.
Sorry not trying to be a smart arse
The steel pins attached to the keeper plate was a method to reinforce the draws trialled in the 30’s by the Lithgow SAF. It’s possible the idea of copper recoil plates came before the steel pin...
G’day Muffer
Did you work out what that timber is?
Nice to see ya still banging away ol mate !
I’ve found they can vary in size marginally.
They have one now but it was the last year missing in the display. I had one that was a very good unmolested matching example, no doubt the best one I’ve seen to date, but like so many of the 30’s...
Yep you are rich Muffer, premium prices being asked for just about anything these days.
But does this rifle fall into 1936 production figures or 1940?
Yes but when you tap the stock back to eradicate the gap there, it doesn’t eliminate the problem, it only shifts it to the adjacent end. Should be no allowance to move the forend at all.
Certainly...
One of the harder dates to find without having a major repair or refurb of some degree. Big gap between the wood and action, most likely the draws are collapsed there. No matter, still nice...
Yes and 1912 were numbered also
What do you mean embossing? Butts weren’t always marked when a rifle was rebuilt.
In 1951 your rifle went through an FTR at the Lithgow SAF, indicated by the FTR and MA51 stamps. This was a very stringent refurbishing program that continued for a decade from 1950 to1959(1960...
It’s been noted on the wood as well. One rifle I had was a 1918 Lithgow, a very good well preserved example that had a noticeable thinning in one spot near the front band about the size of your palm....
The figures can be slightly misleading, particularly with these rarer inter war years. For example, the quoted figure for 1928/29 production would be made up with some 1928 actions but also earlier...
Cinders I’d say the question mark stamp is very common , I’ve had more 1916/17 dated rifles with it than without. As far as what it is, pretty sure that’s been discovered and posted in the last year...
I doubt this one went through any world wars. Incredibly rare bird, is certainly the finest early Lithgow I’ve seen, I doubt we’ll see another one better.
Yes Brian, a U prefix is unusual
Nope, never seen a painted stock. Not aware of it ever happening.
Is it an E serial number Brian?
Nice!
Yes that’s right Muffer
Was 1918