Lithgow Lee Enfield Rifle I suspect is a John Jovino - need help
I need your help in identifying positively if my rifle is a John Jovino Lithgow Lee Engfield or not. My hope is it is not a John Jovino but I suspect it is.
Under the bolt it says Lithgow SHT.LEE III 1915.
Cerial # matches on the nose cap and on the metal up near the bolt action where there is a 5MD, an old 7 pointed star with an A in it and a shield below with ACP in it as well as a second cerial number that matches the cerial number in the wood in the butt stock.
Also on the butt stock is 1915, 5MD, CMF, 18, HV, III and a shield with a kangaroo inside it with the letter A on the left of the kangaroo and C on the right.
On the wood on the underside behind the trigger guard is a 7 pointed star and AUSTRAILIA stamped over it.
On the underneath on the other side of the trigger and the magazine stamped in the wood is Z. You can make out a faint old V two inches further up the wood on the underneath side.
The bolt does not have a matching cereal number. It has the seven pointed star with an A in it as well as MA'41.
The rear site does not have a windgauge screw although the wood shows there was one once. The cereal numbers on the rear site don't match the metal near the bolt or the nose cap or in the wood of the butt stock.
Volley sites are mounted on the gun but the way they are mounted does not look right. For example the forward volley site that looks like a sundial is mounted by a screw instead of being "pinned" in.
The rifle does have brass recoil pads.
The front site has N and an arrow next to it.
The barrell is in very good condition. Here is what is marked on it when I removed the wood. SA with an arrow between them maybe, JJ (one J is higher than the first J), a crown marking that looks to be of India, maybe a I L over 76 over C, maybe a D over a 2 over a C, maybe SA over 2 ?, a square with an O in the center and I L over S A over O maybe.
There are no markings on the Lower Band.
There is an old seven pointed star on the metal behind the front site and the nose guard.
The wood all apears to be original and the same.
I suspect this is a gun by John Jovino. I will try and post some photos if I can figure out how to do it. Great looking Lee Enfield but not sure it is what I hope it to be, a true Lithgow. If anyone has any feedback, please let me know. I hope to hear feedback soon.
New Member and Military Rifle Collector
Hi Everyone,
Just joined and looking forward to those with similar interests.
I am a retired US Army Colonel, both active and reserve.
I am an NRA certified instructor, in both pistol, personal protection and Refuse to be a victim.
My collecting goal was to obtain one example of every major rifle that was ever issued
by the United States Army. Not alternate issues or contract weapons. I have largely
achieved this goal.
I have other questions, but will save for later.
:wave:
Just starting my collection
Made my first purchase in the 80's from my uncle, an unissued 1942 Savage No.4 MK1* in cosomline and paper. My second Enfield came after my fathers passing to start a memorial for him as he served from the beginning to the end with the Royal Canadian Service Corp in WW II... A No. 5 Jungle Carbine (F) 1946. My latest and greatest is a Longbranch No. 7 Canadian Trainer with transit case in pristine condition! Total spent on all three rifles.......$ 950 cdn....$100, $350 and $500 !!!!!! One collector saw all three rifles and said they are museum quality or better.
