My latest finds

G'day folks,

I picked up two more SMLEs yesterday. They were passed on to me by a friend who picked them up from someone who didn't want them anymore.

The first rifle is a 1917 Lithgow. Sadly, it has been heavily sanded, but all numbers match and I have a set of nice Queensand Maple for it. I'm undecided as to whether I should replace the original but sanded buttstock with one in better nick, which is not original to the rifle.

The second rifle is a 1942 Lithgow which has been converted to No2 MkIV* status. I've been looking for a .22 SMLE for a while, and this one was cheap...well free. It doesn't have any conversion details on the wood or metal, but this is not unheard of, as they were converted at many evels.

Interestingly enough, it has what appears to be a far-older barrel. It has an '04 stamp under the knox form, and looks ike the re-use of a worn-out barrel with a .22 sleeve.

I restocked it with WW2 Aussie wood and metal, and is good to go. Oh yeah, the BSA air rifle came with it. Just the thing for shooting defenceless drink cans!

Cheers,
Matt

The 1917 Lithgow. See what I mean about the heavy sanding job?!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jollygreenslugg

I'm undecided as to whether I should replace the original but sanded buttstock with one in better nick, which is not original to the rifle.
Cheers,
Matt

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The rifle is already a "Bubba". As long as you don't try to pass it of as an original anything you do to make it better is all good. Does the replacement wood have the serial number from another rifle on it by chance?

Pity about the sanding job, some people just shouldnt be allowed anywhere near classic rifles! I too have been looking around for a .22 SMLE, especially when other people hear a tiny little 'crack' from what they expect to be a large caliber rifle!!

I pulled the 1916 Lithgow down last night. I'm going to keep the wood with the rifle, and will see what a good BLO treatment will do.

Any ideas what the question mark in the circle stamped on the receiver might be? Discussions elsewhere seem to indicate that it is a Lithgow factory stamp, and it seems to be a 1916-17 thing.

Cheers,
Matt

No idea on the ? marking but what is that stippling on the knox form? Also, if it were mine, I'd consider swapping out the mag unless it's serialized matching ;)

Hmmm, I recognise the stippling on the nocks form flat as the mark of a certain famous amateur gunsmith. I have rifles with similar markings here in Canada.

The stippling appears to be similar to the pattern left as an imprint by the unprotected teeth of bench vise jaws. There also appears to be what could be pipe wrench jaw marks on the receiver ring over that lower serial number.

Bench vise, monkey wrench, sandpaper. Red flag! Check her out carefully JollyGreen, you don't know who has been buggering about with it in the garage and what they might have done.

Good points Englishman. I'm not planning on shooting it, but wil have it carefully checked if I do.

Claven, I have a spare Lithgow 3 mag...somewhere!

Cheers,
Matt