Lithgow Rifles Survey

[muffett.2008]

Thank You for your input.

[muffett.2008]

Jan. 2016 update.
Attachment 69989 -- Attachment 69990 -- Attachment 69991 -- Attachment 69992 -- Attachment 69993 -- Attachment 69994 -- Attachment 69995

[No.6]

Many thanks for your reply.

Barrel has '43 on it on the LHS, so 1943 I imagine.

Just in front of this is a '9', but there aren't any numbers on the RHS visible above the forend, but of course there might be if I strip it down.

I've also just noticed that on the rear of the backsight bed there is also an 'R' - but no circle. Replacement as well?

Thanks, Ian

[Miningengineer13]

One more Lithgow to add:

1941 No.1 MK III,
W/cutoff
B 55230
Barrel date 4/'41
1943 Slaz stock
#55320 (dyslexic or not?)
No import marks.
Rifle in 95%+ condition.

Thanks!
Gary

[muffett.2008]

Anomalies just keep jumping out at you.
This 1926 with an FTR renumber in 1950. Note the heavy grind flat on the receiver, and the remnants of original number on the bolt.
Attachment 71853Attachment 71852

[LSUTigersFan]

1942 No.1 Mk.III*
E 4622 w/matching bolt
FTR and D^D ("Defense Department")
Unfortunately, import marked

Barrel had matching number, but an original number in the 3,000's was crossed through with the 4622 marked above it.

Going to tear down again and get the rest of barrel markings. Wrote them down along with some other markings I saw...and them promptly lost the note.

[Homer]

Anomalies just keep jumping out at you.
This 1926 with an FTR renumber in 1950. Note the heavy grind flat on the receiver, and the remnants of original number on the bolt.
Attachment 71853Attachment 71852

Scrubbed and renumbered receivers is probably more common than you think muffer. I have one the same and seen others. In each case the barrel was a previously used item. Action renumbered to match the barrel?

[muffett.2008]

It was normal procedure to renumber the action pre 1926, the barrel was the primary accountable component.
Australia was late into the FTR program, England and India were both up and running with this system a lot earlier, the requirements for FTR were laid down by the pom's, India varied the program to suit their needs......full scrub and renumber, Oz started to follow the Brit. line by renumbering, but realised this was an unnecessary step and ceased the practice 6 months into 1950.
So the actual number of restruck Numbers (405 in 49/50 and 16888 in 50/51) would be effectively halved, making these anomalies pretty rare.

[Homer]

You lost me in all that mate.

So there was 405 actions scrubbed and renumbered in 49/50 and 16888 in 50/51?

If it was a practice, is it really an anomaly?

[muffett.2008]

No, the total refurbed in 49/50 was 405 rifles, as the program only commenced in 1950 and numbers were scrubbed for only six months, then only the percentage made in 1950 would be involved........50% =202 as a guess.
16888 rifles were FTR'd in 50/51, so if there was an overlap, a small percentage of these may have been done also.
But the practice ceased and the original number was retained for all FTR years up to 58/59, a total FTR of 128841 rifles.