Lithgow 1917 SMLE...HELP NEEDED

It's also captured in documents in the AWM and NAA how Australia sent equipment to Britain in the late-ish 1930s but not after Dunkirk. Britain made a request for small arms and ammunition after Dunkirk and Australia said no to small arms but yes to ammunition.

So despite a lot of people saying that Australia sent equipment to Britain after Dunkirk, the answer is actually a no. Australia was also struggling in terms of providing small arms to its forces.

In fact, in 2020 a 1920 Lithgow was recovered from a creek in Arras that was the scene of a defeat in 1940 and this would have been part of the provided equipment from the late-ish 1930s.

Dear OP - still waiting to hear if you bought the rifle and will be sharing photos :)

Waiting for it to arrive in the mail but with Canada Post on the verge of another strike, who knows how long that will be!

I would post pictures and do have a number from the seller but under "the new old system of posting pictures" I have no idea how to. I used to be able to post pictures but again since they changed the system I'm at a lost.

Jim has helped me so many times that I'm embarrassed to ask him again.

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Originally Posted by bros

I'm embarrassed to ask

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No, not a problem. See your PM for email to send pics...I'll post them up.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

No, not a problem. See your PM for email to send pics...I'll post them up.

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Ok Jim, thanks again. Pictures going to your email.

OK, Pics are here. These are the OPs rifle. Well handled veteran...

Nothing wrong with that one. Good honest rifle.

That is a great honest example I say.

I note the MA IX stamp which I've been leaning towards over the last couple of years that it signifies an inspection stamp for reused barrels from other rifles. And the 2 barrel fitment dates does go with this theory.

Lithgow star VII / MA VII - Barrel fitted at factory as new
MA IX - Barrel fitted but reused from another rifle.

I have 4 SMLEs with MA IX stamped barrels and all have been reused and have other serials on them and some have the newer stamped alongside.

Is there a different rifle serial number on the other side?

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Originally Posted by mattyboy82

That is a great honest example I say.

I note the MA IX stamp which I've been leaning towards over the last couple of years that it signifies an inspection stamp for reused barrels from other rifles. And the 2 barrel fitment dates does go with this theory.

Lithgow star VII / MA VII - Barrel fitted at factory as new
MA IX - Barrel fitted but reused from another rifle.

I have 4 SMLEs with MA IX stamped barrels and all have been reused and have other serials on them and some have the newer stamped alongside.

Is there a different rifle serial number on the other side?

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mattyboy, from what I can tell there is only one serial number on the right side of the barrel in it's usual place and nothing on the other side. I give you more of a definitive answer when I have rifle in hand as right now. "Mostly" I only have the same photos that you have.

The wood is very dark albeit the light in the photos might be throwing me off a bit but I'm wondering if it's stocked in coachwood but just very dirty. Lots of impressions in the wood leads me to think that it is soft but this rifle has been around the block a time or two, so hard to say. I do have a couple other photos that were not posted and they are taken of the underside of the forearm, looks to be a "Crown" and a "E" and thats about it.

Another question I have is the 2 dates on the barrel knox, 12.42 and 3.40. what do they refer too?

I was told by a very reliable source that the 1.45 (stamped on the butt) is the date when this rifle went thru an FTR and most likely received the barrel change. So could one of those dates be the manufacturing date of the barrel?
Mattyboy82 your thoughts are this was re-barreled prior to 1.45?

thanks all for replying to my thread and especially Jim who helped out again.

The 1.45 on the butt will be a 'storage date'. Along with the '3.A' which from research, it appears this stands for '3rd Australian Ordnance Depot'. I have a lot more info on this period and why we often see SMLEs with mid-1944 to early 1945 stores dates.

The 2 barrel fitment dates will be for the original rifle fitment date and the 2nd one will be when that barrel was placed on your rifle. It's not unusual for it to not have the new serial number stamped on it especially as time was rather precious for Australia during 1942....

On the subject of an FTR, the wartime markings will often have an R/MA with a date to signify refurb at Lithgow and in the 1950s there was an FTR program for rifles to be used by the National Service Scheme. But there nothing to indicate an refurb or FTR on yours.