I think i'm rich

A 1936 Lithgow appeared for sale on OZGUNS today, asking price $4800. It's barrel date was 5/40, so probably had a bit of use. Still in all a tidy looking rifle with numbers matching. S/N B26776.


I dug mine out for a comparison It is also all matching though the barrel has no number being dated 1/45 and in pristine condition S/N B29512.
Attachment 128617Attachment 128618Attachment 128619


My records show only 1141 produced in the fiscal year, aproximate production for calender year was 570 1st 6 months and 650 for the 2nd half year, a total of 1020 leaving an overflow of 121 from the previous year.

A bloody good asking price.....if they get that my full collection must be worth a fortune.
I can't seem to load the ad, maybe some computer savvy person can do it for me.

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Originally Posted by muffett.2008

I can't seem to load the ad, maybe some computer savvy person can do it for me.

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OZ GUN SALES - Online Firearms Classifieds - 1936 Lithgow No1 Mk3

Maybe 'numbers matching' but the furniture looks a poor fit, it looks like the rear sight protector is mounted backwards and, (question) did they have butt-discs that late ?

Thanks for that ADE.

Yep you are rich Muffer, premium prices being asked for just about anything these days.
But does this rifle fall into 1936 production figures or 1940?

I'm still seeing 91/30s priced from $700 to $850....bit they have been sitting there for awhile so I think prices have peaked and should start coming back down.

I saw the title of your thread Muffett and was halfway through writing my begging letter when I realised I had the wrong end stick....

1936 and 1937 lithgows seem to be rare but surface occasionally here in NZ. It would appear that maybe a small pre/early war shipment made it across the tasman.

Do they surface in Australia? I have heard that even the Lithgow Museum struggled to find one for their display?

They have one now but it was the last year missing in the display. I had one that was a very good unmolested matching example, no doubt the best one I’ve seen to date, but like so many of the 30’s dated actions around, it was assembled in 1940. The production figures are distorted because of this.

I have a 1936 receiver that made it to the US in the JJ Jovino days. I plan to build it into a .22 No2.

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Originally Posted by Homer

They have one now but it was the last year missing in the display. I had one that was a very good unmolested matching example, no doubt the best one I’ve seen to date, but like so many of the 30’s dated actions around, it was assembled in 1940. The production figures are distorted because of this.

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The only other none molested 1937 dated action I have seen was at the Australian Arms Auction a few years.

It was paired with a consecutively dated action which was dated 1938. Both were assembled in 1940.

I don't recall what the final price was for the pair but it was many thousands. Maybe $4000 each? Does anyone remember?