New Enfield collector - my first specimen a 1942 Lithgow No. 1 Mk III*

Hi all,

This is the same J.Jovino import I posted about two months back. I finally got it last week. I'm quite shocked, surprised, pleased and suspicious of it's condition. It's looks like it was never used. Park looks great, the only wear is around a few edges and screws. The wood is in excellent shape. It's a bit dark, but has very few dents and scratches. The bore looks to be in great shape too.

One would think it's bins rifle, except it's all numbers matching. I think the stock is a replacement because it's stamped 1943, but the stamp on the bottom is 1942 like the rest of the rifle. I took some pics. So what do you guys think? It looks like a real 1942 Lithgow to me. It's a clever forgery if not. I just don't understand why it's in such great shape, as compared to a Garand or a Mosin from the same period.

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...3&d=1407610549

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...4&d=1407610635

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...5&d=1407610681

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...6&d=1407610709

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...7&d=1407610748

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...8&d=1407610820

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...9&d=1407610859

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...0&d=1407611292

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...1&d=1407611334

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...2&d=1407611378

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...3&d=1407611397

Looks pretty good to me.

A genuine 1942 Lithgow assembled at the Orange Feeder Factory, it could have been one of the 100,000 rifles Britain ordered in 1941 and was placed in war stocks as Britain would have been in full production of the No 4 at that time. Nice Slazenger Coachwood stock all parts matching no butt FTR marks or rack numbers, I will put my chin out and say it has spent it's life in War Stores here in Australia until they were sold off in the 80's.

It is in very good shape but that's not overly unusual so don't be too surprised. Yes the wood is a little dark but that is the normal appearance of unmolestered coachwood. I wouldn't do anything to that stock except rub some linseed oil into it.
Assembled at lithgow factory in 1943 as indicated on the butt.

I'm curious. Whats the barrel date?

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Originally Posted by Homer

It is in very good shape but that's not overly unusual so don't be too surprised. Yes the wood is a little dark but that is the normal appearance of unmolestered coachwood. I wouldn't do anything to that stock except rub some linseed oil into it.
Assembled at lithgow factory in 1943 as indicated on the butt.

I'm curious. Whats the barrel date?

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That's all I intend on doing. Where would the barrel date be located?

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Originally Posted by 57Overlander

That's all I intend on doing. Where would the barrel date be located?

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Left side of barrel under the hand guard.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Homer

Left side of barrel under the hand guard.

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The date on the barrel is 43.

Sorry, it's the month I'm more interested in, if its not too much trouble.

No worries, the date stamp was 3.43

Remember that the receiver date is the date it was made not assembled. All rifle assembly was sent to Orange Feeder factory on 1 June 1940 and ceased on 31 August 1945 the last produced at Orange was F39580. So yours was assembled at the Orange Factory not Lithgow. Lithgow was madly producing Brens and other needed items, note the timber including the butt is marked Slazenger 42, the 43 on the flat of the butt indicates it's final assembly/acceptance was some time in 1943 of which some 136,262 were made between late 1942 and 1943.