My Latest Edition

I guess this ends my importing from NZ:dunno:
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Originally Posted by muffett.2008

I guess this ends my importing from NZ

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Sweet looking girl! I didn't know y'all could import firearms at all anymore. How are things on the rifle ownership front in the AU going. Have they at least let the ranchers have their firearms back?

Nice looking rifle, I like the look of the brass strengthening bolt at the draws...nice rifle.

Is that a rare date Muffet? Forgive my ignorance of Lithies!

In fact, could that '8' be individually stamped? I've seen that on UK made SMLE's - especially interwar BSA's - where presumably older receivers have been stored & completed at a later date. Just thinking out loud.....

She's a looker anyway.

I agree Roger, superb looking Lithgow!

Rog, all the 30's dates were relatively low production, this one has had a relatively hard life, including tapping for a scope.
The serial number puts it in the 1940 assembly bracket, it currently has a 6/45 dated barrel which fits with the repair date on the butt.

For some reason, possibly to fill an outstanding contract, most of the 1936 to 1939 rifles were sent to NZ. other than 150 1937 rifles that went down with HMAS SYDNEY. All these later dates I have sourced from the kiwi's.

Thanks for that. I'll keep my eyes peeled for any '30's dated Lithgow rifles in future, just in case they're of interest.

I have quite a few 20's & 30's dated BSA rifles in poor but restorable condition. All of the 20's dates are Mk3*'s & look like they were new production, yet the MK3's look to have the last two digits of the date hand stamped ('37, '38, & '39), so I just wonder if they were WW1 left over parts that were assembled once it became clear that we were heading for the second round of unpleasantness. Interesting that yours is dated 1938 but not assembled until 1940 & then refurbed in '45.

You tend to see a lot of Lithgows butt marked with 45 dates, here in the UK.

I've always assumed the Australians embarked on a post war FTR, as the coachwood (and barrels) have certainly been replaced on many of the examples I've viewed over the years.

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Originally Posted by Roger Payne

Thanks for that. I'll keep my eyes peeled for any '30's dated Lithgow rifles in future, just in case they're of interest.

I have quite a few 20's & 30's dated BSA rifles in poor but restorable condition. All of the 20's dates are Mk3*'s & look like they were new production, yet the MK3's look to have the last two digits of the date hand stamped ('37, '38, & '39), so I just wonder if they were WW1 left over parts that were assembled once it became clear that we were heading for the second round of unpleasantness. Interesting that yours is dated 1938 but not assembled until 1940 & then refurbed in '45.

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They would have had to remove the Sheild as well so unlikely, Lithgow returned to MkIII manufacture around 1925ish & the markings changed in 1926

Thanks. Wasn't necessarily suggesting that the Australian rifle bodies were as early as Great War, but that they may have been produced a while before they were assembled into complete rifles. I take your point about the change in the markings in the '20's.