Question about 1941 Lithgow No.1 MkIII with Chinese? markings.

[Sapper740]

I'll start off by admitting I'm not a Lithgow expert by any stretch of the imagination so please excuse me if this question has an obvious answer. I'm looking to buy a Lithgow No.1 MkIII (no *) manufactured in 1941. To date, all the Lithgows I have seen manufactured around that time were MkIII*. Further, this rifle appears to have Chinese symbols stamped into the receiver. (please see attached picture)
Can anyone shed further light on this rifle?

[browningautorifle]

Chinese symbols

Do you mean the 5 asterisks I see behind the charger bridge?

[Sapper740]

Do you mean the 5 asterisks I see behind the charger bridge?

Is that what they are? I magnified the picture until it pixellated and was I sure I saw Chinese pictograms. I guess the mind sometimes gets fooled by our expectations. So, next question, is that a . or an * after the III?

[mattyboy82]

Is that what they are? I magnified the picture until it pixellated and was I sure I saw Chinese pictograms. I guess the mind sometimes gets fooled by our expectations. So, next question, is that a . or an * after the III?

The Chinese symbols you ask of are actually small stars with a small ‘A’ inside them. These are Lithgow Small Arms Factory inspection stamps and you will find they’re numbered from 1 to 10. Each inspection point during the rifles production saw the rifle given a stamp with a subsequent number etc.

[Sapper740]

The Chinese symbols you ask of are actually small stars with a small ‘A’ inside them. These are Lithgow Small Arms Factory inspection stamps and you will find they’re numbered from 1 to 10. Each inspection point during the rifles production saw the rifle given a stamp with a subsequent number etc.

Thank you for that info. Like I said, I'm not a Lithgow expert. I was hoping I was bidding on some ultra rare rifle sold to the Chinese to fight the Japanese during the war. (Sigh), instead it's a run of the mill No.1. Hopefully my current bid holds, the auction ends on Saturday.

[mattyboy82]

No it’s not ultra rare as such. Being Australian myself I think it’s a remarkable piece of history. It may not have been sent to China to go fight the Japanese but it most likely was used overseas against the Japanese by Australian forces.
In 1941/1942, Australia was so low on available rifles it was….critical. So basically all newly made rifles went straight to units getting ready to deploy.

In my opinion it makes it more valuable having Australian military history rather than Chinese military history.

[Rowdy]

Not wishing to disappoint anyone but that area on the receiver is usually covered by the fore end which also appears to show signs of looseness against the receiver.
It has a slot for the cutoff so it could have been originally made as a Mk.III.

[browningautorifle]

that area on the receiver is usually covered by the fore end

I noticed the wood there was broken down...and a couple things.

[Sapper740]

I noticed the wood there was broken down...and a couple things.

My very low bid is still #1.....in fact it's the only one and the auction ends tomorrow. I'm not too worried.

[browningautorifle]

I'm not too worried.

At least you'll have one.