Lithgow No1 MkIII* HT Sniper Rifle Survey

**Son** · 10-26-2008 08:42 AM

No1 MkIII* HT Sniper Rifle Survey

Just looking at my profile and making a couple of changes (a bit older, plus a career change...) and noticed the second anniversary of my membership here was just the other day. Membership has mutiplied by over 25 times and the board has grown from a single mixed discussion to the broad range of topics and archived knowledge we currently enjoy.

Here's to Badger and the "Founding Fathers" of Milsurps.com.

And to keep the posting "on topic", here's a list of questions I have had posted on another forum regarding my research into the Lithgow No1 MkIII* HT sniper rifles. Over the last few years I have, through these questions and other means, built up a large spreadsheet of information from over 100 rifles, or nearly 8% of production. If anyone here wishes to contribute (quite a few of the members already have through the other board) please read the cut and paste below.

This survey had been going for a couple of years in it's original form on the old Gunboards site. The posting had 11,225 hits up untill the site was transfered (and another 2,730 on the new board untill today). I had been gathering the data provided on these rifles and between this forum and other contacts I have information on over 100 rifles. To contributors I offer to answer any questions I can in return for their HT's details. The only things I won't tell are exact locations or any personal details (.....if these things become known to me during the process) If you'd rather not share your rifle details on line, let me know and I will e-mail you the questions. To anybody else who so wish, please feel free to comment or ask about stuff you'd like to see. It's all about expanding everyone's knowledge.

Anyway, here's the list of questions. If you are unsure about anything, just ask. I check the forum almost daily. Thankyou.

1)Rifle serial number?
2)Receiver manufacturer?
3)Receiver year stamp?
4)Butt date stamp? (none?)
5)Butt size (S, N, L) "H" stamp?
6)Barrel date stamp?
7)Engraved Scope serial number?
8)Scope brass eyepiece ring stamped number?
9)Mount ring stamped number?
10)Mount base stamped number
11)Mount type (high or low)?
12)Nosecap ears modified for sight adjustment?
13)Kingscrew swivel fitted?
14)Preservative paint under woodwork?
15)Cheekpiece fitted to butt?
16)Comments? (anything you think needs a mention eg extra markings etc...)

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**junebug** · 12-24-2008 03:13 PM

I have a 1920 Lithgow icon

No 1 Mark 3 and am having problems getting a new
magazine to fit it. I have a Mark 4 rifle and the magazine will fit the Mk3. I have a extra magazine that looks and fits the Mk 4, but will not fit the Mk3
My jungle Mk 5 magazine will not fit the Mk3. It too looks like the Mk4. Which magazine goes with this Australian Mk 3. Will the earlier magazine with
the rotation follower retaining tab suppose to fit it? Answer to judobaise@bellsouth.net. Thanks!!

**tbonesmith** · 06-18-2009 04:51 AM

Ive just got a Lithgow icon

HT serial No 9016, receiver manufacturer enfield, date of receiver 1907. Initial made into a HT 1945, FTR'd at Lithgow 1954. Scope matches receiver. Internal s/n of scope matches ring S/n. Have one broken lense in scope (rear most pair) desperately seeking this component. Any ideas?

**Son** · 06-18-2009 05:36 AM

Hello tbonesmith. Welcome to the forum and to ownership of a Lithgow icon

Sniper.

I'm afraid internal parts (or any parts for that matter) of the scopes are virtually non existant. A group got together a little while ago to try to reverse- engineer the scopes in an attempt to come up with diagrams for making repair parts. Peter Laidler icon

had a couple of lenses made, as a test, but I'm pretty sure they were objective lenses. Anyway, they were sold to recoup the cost of making them.

One suggestion is to have a lens set made by taking them to an optics manufacturer and asking them to reproduce the sample. Perhaps start with a couple of phone calls to see if you can get anyone interested in the challenge.
I suppose it will come down to just how much money you are willing to put into it, I'm afraid. Is it unservicable the way it is?

**tbonesmith** · 06-19-2009 08:56 AM

It is unservicable as it is. I've contacted a couple of optical prototyping businesses but no joy. It looked to me that the rear most 2 lenses were a pair, as in identical. Do you know if this is the case?
I know of a pattern 1918 english manufactured scope for sale for $1800, what do think I'd get for this, less the critical lense on e-bay. I'd imaging just for parts I could get $1000 mabe more? What do you recon? If I could get that it might be the way to go.

**Son** · 06-22-2009 08:32 AM

If I remember correctly, there was a difference in the way the lenses were mounted. The English parts may not fit. If you could hold out for a bit, I'll ask someone who may know.

**tbonesmith** · 10-15-2009 04:50 AM

Finished.

**Son** · 10-15-2009 06:53 AM

WOW! Congrats on a great job. All that's missing here is a target with a few holes in the middle! Do you plan on trying it out? I could never resist...

**tbonesmith** · 10-15-2009 01:33 PM

Tested it at 50m at St. Marys indoor range on Tuesday and it was shooting about an inch 5 shot groups, with the 4 load I used. I'm going to shoot it at Malabar in a scoped service shoot on Saturday week, if it performs well, I'll sell it to make way for a new project, A No4 T...