What's Your Addiction?

[Son]

Hello. My name is Son... and I'm a Lithgow addict.

Amongst firearm owners circles, most would have seen their particular facination refered to as an addiction. We all know the feeling of "just one more, I'd really like one of those..."
Well for me it is everything Lithgow. Being here in Australia makes these about the easiest milsurps to collect, but even here they are getting much harder to find in good nick. The main reason for this would be the changing face of our gun laws. I won't be drawn into the politics, but what it did by removing semi autos from circulation several years ago, was to push keener shooters and collectors towards bolt guns.

I started very late in the scheme of things, and have been very selective in what I aquired (some were virtually given to me...). As well as several Lithgows, I have an LSA MLE MkI*, two of the rarer British .22 trainers, a BSA MkI***, a British No1 MkIII bitsa and an early ROF F No5. There are a couple of others in my safe, but even these are British of origin and the newest firearm I own was made in 1945.

For me, like others here I suspect, this forum provides the opportunity to see and learn about milsurps that are either out of my reach financially or legally, or outside what is currently my main interest. With this in mind, I invite everyone to hit this thread with a little background info and a pic or two of your favourites.

Here's my three favourite Lithgows, the top one is the most recent made rifle in my safe.....

1) No6 Mk1/1
2) No1 MkIII* HT(AUST)/1
3) No1 MkIII* FTR '55

[Dimitri]

That No1 MkIII* HT(AUST)/1 looks like a thing of beauty!

Dimitri

[Oatmeal Savage]

That top one is a beaut. I have a fondness for the silhouette of the N0.1 Mk.III.

[Claven2]

That top one is a beaut. I have a fondness for the silhouette of the N0.1 Mk.III.

It's not a sportered No.1MkIII* - it's an Australian No.6 Shortened and Lightened rifle.

[Oatmeal Savage]

I did realized the top rifle was an Australian No.6 Shortened and Lightened rifle. I personally like the No.1Mk.III profile.

[Tombstone Arms]

That #1 HT is very nice.
Since you were talking about addicitons . . . Mine is the 1941 Johnson.
I collect mostly US arms, and also a few #1 MkIII's . . . But nothing quite as nice as that middle one in your photo.
That really is sharp.

[Son]

That #1 HT is very nice.
Since you were talking about addicitons . . . Mine is the 1941 Johnson.
I collect mostly US arms, and also a few #1 MkIII's . . . But nothing quite as nice as that middle one in your photo.
That really is sharp.

I've read a couple of articles on the 1941 Johnson. One I'd like to have if things were a little easier down here. It'd sit up with a Bren on the top shelf of my collection (if I had either, that is) Can you post some pics?

[woodchopper]

you can send me the top 2 anytime.

beautiful rifles you have there, my own lithgow collection is much smaller and not nearly as sexy




I tend to collect all types of enfields. even the odd enfield revolver

[Riflechair]

Any Milsurp that I find mechanically reliable and aesthetically pleasing

[Son]

Hey woodchopper, did you ever notice the asterix on your '41 is the "A in a star" inspection stamp? When Lithgow went from making No1 MkIII (with cut-off) to the No1 MkIII* again in 1941 it seems they didn't have the correct stamp. They had to use something untill they made new ones. I have a '41 marked the same, my '42 has a propper asterix.