1918 Lithgow Restoration .....

[Brian Dick]

One for our Australian friends. A 1918 Lithgow I just finished. It was MA/FTR 1954 and out of Indian service. A customer from Augusta, Georgia brought it here as a pile of parts. The bolt, receiver, barrel and nose cap were matching and the barrel is in nice condition so he decided to let me restore it from the ground up. A silk purse from a sow's ear for sure. I test fired it yesterday and it's perfect.

ATB, Brian

Information

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[Brit plumber]

Thats some nice wood Brian, is it NOS, repro or is it just in very good condition?

[Bear43]

Holy mother of pearl, that is a gorgeous rifle! That wood is simply fantastic.

[Peter Laidler]

Jeeeeeeees, that is indeed something to behold. If the barrel and body is greased with the XG279 and there's lashings of linseed on the wood, it'll last for another 90 years. Is that your phosphating too Brian?

[Brian Dick]

It's NOS Australian Coachwood. The rifle was stocked up in Ishapore mahogany and pretty beat when he bought it. It's an import from Tennessee Guns. I also replaced all of the Indian parts with original Australian parts, Parkerized all the metal and installed the little copper plates in the sear lug recesses. I had to gently tap the forend into place with a pine block it's so tight as a tick and it's payed off on the range. I've got him a ragged hole test target from 25 yards and I managed a couple of 2.5" - 3" groups at 100 yards which is as good as I can shoot! The muzzle was quite cord worn but I have an old Armourer's hand tool that I used to clean it up. I'm actually surprised at how well it turned out and thought I ought to share, (with Badger's help of course!). It's nice when a project turns out well. They don't always come together as smoothly. Brian

[Demo]

Nice job Brian and a very good save.

Demo

[Son]

Nice job Brian and a very good save.

Demo

+1 on that!

[fergs]

pretty good for almost the century, they still make the heart skip a beat.
regards
Fergs