1915 Lithgow H model

[Homer2]

I won this back in October from Gunbroker and never realized what a catch it was. The reason I wanted it was the correct early wood with parts of the volley sights intact. I still need a correct pre-1916 SMLE with volley sights, but that's another matter. I've learned that this rifle was a club rifle in Australia that had a heavy barrel installed and was later called back up to national service during WW2. Most of these club rifles never made it back to their original owners. Mine seems to have wood shaved from the forend for a target sight near the lower volley sight.

Some very knowledgeable folks at Gunboards pointed out that this is an H model, not just an early Lithgow (which was a good enough reason to get it). The numbers are all matching on this one. The hand guards have been replaced with SLAZ 43 parts, and the cocking piece and possibly some other bolt parts have been updated.

The barrel is 9'36 with serial number matching the rest of the rifle. 'Central' at Gunboards indicated that Lithgow, rather than club armorers, likely did the conversion as the barrel was matched to the rest of the rifle. All parts are Lithgow and have the early star. The cut off was removed as were the volley sights.













---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 PM ----------

More.













---------- Post added at 11:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

No middle band.




Nose piece.


Trigger guard.


Lower sight base has different serial number as does the sight leaf.





---------- Post added at 11:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 PM ----------

The rearly magazine was a real bonus.

Information

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[RJW NZ]

Hi Homer2, Thanks for the photos, thats a very interesting rifle if not downright historic, well done.
The hole through the nose cap, do you think its been opened up more than stock?
And ...
at the same area, re the usual No1 Mk3 stud and spring under the barrel, is that in place or was the barrel floating there?
I can see how the barrel channel has been opened up, it suggests that the barrel might have been 100% floating?
And, what about the bearing area under the reinforce, does that look like a stock no1 mk3 set up or has it been reduced in area?
Like I said, a very interesting rifle, unlike a target or range pattern enfield, which can have all manner of modifications during civilian life, your rifle stands a good chance of being as it was set up by the military, and the type of bedding they prefer on H barrels we don't often see good examples of, or at least, I don't see them ...
Do you have any pictures showing inside the barrel channel?

I just noticed a JJ CO under the charger bridge!!! You are soooo lucky they didn't take a sanding machine to that wood to purty it up!! I've got a lovely 1918 lithy they did over and the damage they did with that is cringe worthy, none of those marks on the butt would have survived.

I'm also intrigued by the half 'sold out of service' marks on the knox and barrel, very odd way, unless it was a way of showing that it was called back up again .


thanks R

[Tsargood]

I have a 1915 for comparison , all matching including its original barrel with a good bore. Not sure how it survived all these years intact. Only a couple of thousand away from yours in serial number.

[RJW NZ]

Wow, the twins, those are two amazing rifles, and I agree, that is amazing that they survived and weren't messed with. I especially like the kangaroo on the stock. Its kind of interesting that so much is serial numbered, I guess they were held in some regard when they were made and issued.
What sort of soldier woudl have these? Would it have been a trained sniper issue or perhaps the unit best shot, or maybe just whoever had the most clout?

[fergs]

From what i have heard they had called back in a lot of the service rifles from the rifle clubs of the period and rebuilt and tweaked them back to specs. from hear they were either made into marksman rifles or back to general service rifles. I will need to do some more research on this, maybe some of the others out there might be able to shed some light on this. Either way they are both very nice survivors of smle's
Regards
Fergs