A pretty neat 1907 ShtLE

Ran across this really interesting example of a 1907 (first year for the ShtLE, if I'm not mistaken)..ended up in Australia at some point.
On the butt we have 'NSW'..New South Wales.
Then 'ARR'..Australian Rifle Regiment?
Then 4974..this is also on the receiver. A district number?
Then '1/09'..date it was taken into service?
Barrel is Lithgow with a date of 1/30.
'Sold Out of Service' arrows on receiver.
Another unique thing about this rifle (at least around here) is that there is no import mark on it, or even an 'ENGLAND' stamp on it with tonnage proofs. There is 'AUSTRALIA' stamped on the bottom of the wrist.
Glad to have found this one..enjoy the pics!

Something clicks with the USA and the Australia stamping as 07 bayonets were stamped on one scale to denote they were from Australia I know my 1921 Lithgow bayonet has that stamped on it.
The 4974 could be a rack number my 5MD 1916 Lithgow has rack number 4721.

Yep, I've seen a few '07 bayos with the 'AUSTRALIA' stamp.

Rifle would not have the British civilian "tonnage" proof marks on it if it came to the US from Australia, without going through the UK.

Would it be correct that this entered Australian service in Jan of 1909?
ARR-Australian Rifles Regiment?

I bought this Sanderson P07 '15 bayonet from the Shotgun News in 2003 for $50, took over three months to receive it.

It is marked AUSTRALIA on the grip but nothing on the grip. What is the meaning of the AUSTRALIA stamp ?\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Attachment 92618Attachment 92617[ATTACH=CONFIG]9261

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Originally Posted by Anzac15

Would it be correct that this entered Australian service in Jan of 1909?
ARR-Australian Rifles Regiment?

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I think yes to both.

"Australian Rifles" seems to have been the post-WW1 supernumary designation of the 4th Battalion of the militia which was a NSW raised formation.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Battalion_(Australia)

A pre 1968 import to the USA.

Per the 1/09...would it be safe to say this rifle went into Australian service at that time, and if so, safe to say it saw service in the Great War with Australian troops?