Difficulties in Obtaining a MK 1 III bolt assembly for Lithgow Rifle

A very slim possibility exists of my obtaining a Lithgow Mk 1 III from WWI that is missing it's bolt.

What difficulties can I expect on replacing the bolt. I have seen bolts for sale for $50 online but will any bolt fit or do I need one LIthgow specific?

I imagine there will be some headspace issues possible but seem to recall there are different sized bolt heads to address this. Is this correct?

Rifle is supposed to be in pretty rough shape but restorable. I have not seen it yet and will not for a few days so I don't know if it is missing anything else.

Aragorn, a brand new Lithgow bolt plus all the necessary bolt components may be obtained from Springfield Sporters for a nominal fee. Follow Pete Laidler's advice on fitting it up to your existing receiver. If you follow him closely, you can do a nice job on headspacing your new bolt no sweat. Good luck!

Thanks. I have to get if first and like I said, only a slim possibility. Nice to know it can be done relatively easily. It's an auction rifle and they tend to go completely crazy at this auction.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Nice to know it can be done relatively easily

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"Relatively easily" is a relative term! Everything's more or less interconnected. The upside is that bolt head fitting is probably easier than on No.4 rifles if you can find a replacement bolthead that hasn't been fit to a rifle before. No "numbers", just lots of work. Overturn, firing pin protrusion, and headspacing (once the rear of the bolt is sorted) are the major components of the front. It's the back half that gets involved...

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I imagine there will be some headspace issues possible but seem to recall there are different sized bolt heads to address this. Is this correct?

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Nope that is for No.4s/5s. As has been alluded to, SMLE bolt heads are "fitted".

If you need to discuss this, PM me and I'll give you a quick course verbally. You'll understand this is not that difficult to undertake. I have adjusted at least half a dozen SMLE bolts for good headspace over the years, so I have a pretty good idea what'll work. In laymen's terms, of course. I'm not a professional armorer but I play one on TeeVee.

Not taking anything from Barbarossa, but I am a real Armourer and have been doing it fo a year or two on one or two rifles and I'd read the illustrated article I wrote about bolt fitting and all the rest of the associated stuff. It's easier to do it wrong and out of sequence than to do it right. Just me 2c's worth...........

I looked the rifle over today. It's a bit of a project but I'm going to go and at least give it a shot. I have lousy luck at this auction so I don't have high hopes for bringing it home. There is very light rust on the exposed surfaces, under the wood looks covered in cosmoline. The stock appears original to the rifle, the unit designations on the wood and metal match. It only has one inventory number, the serial number matches on the nose cap but as pointed out it is missing its bolt and its magazine. The bore had a cobweb in it a few inches in the muzzle but looks crisp and shiny below the cobweb. Above is some light rust but the rifling looks crisp. The stock has some nasty big dings/cuts in it but is usable. Has a bayonet but it is not a Lithgow and has no matching numbers.

The Lithgow stamp is the shield type, the III has been lined out inside the shield. There was a * stamped by the III inside the shield and there is a second III outside the shield and at the end of the line out. If I'm reading my books correctly, this means it was upgraded to III* at some point and then upgraded a second time back to III standard.

I don't have much to spend so I'm hoping the missing bolt keeps the price low and the idiot that pays double what a bayonet is worth isn't there that early in the morning.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The Lithgow stamp is the shield type

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What was the year?

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

I don't have much to spend so I'm hoping the missing bolt keeps the price low and the idiot that pays double what a bayonet is worth isn't there that early in the morning.

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Great fun to restore. My money is on you to leave with a bargin. Finally got some Brownells xxx stain to try for a better match on my forend.