Lithgow 1918 No. 1 Mk. III*

Hello,

I recently bought this from a friend, I posted part of it in another thread because it is missing the extractor spring. Anyway, here is the whole rifle. I am a little confused by the serial numbering. As you can see, there are two sets, any explanations for that? In the spot on the receiver where the number is normally, there is one (A 21696), and that matches the bolt, nosecap and rear sight (though it may be hard to tell). However, there is a different serial number near the wrist that is matching to the bolt also - L 1542. Also, what is the "2 no M 2" marking on the receiver? Let me know if you need to see any more pictures.

Thanks,
Jim

The marking "2ndM.D." is Second Military District, a pretty normal Australian marking.

Notice you are missing the "tails" to your Forward Handguard. Normally, they hide the Bed of the Rear Sight, protect your fingers from the Bed when the rifle is hot.

I think the other numbers are the standard serial in its regular location (A21696) and the other number is an assembly number; they were making these pretty fast when this one was built.

It also appears that something has been cancelled above your Serial on the Body. It won't have been another Serial because Body, Barrel and Bolt all had the same number at time of build.

One of the Australian fellows should be on here when the Sun gets to their side of the world.

They will be more than happy to help you..... and likely tell me that I'm bl**dy full of it!

Nice rifle!
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I can't remember where, but most likely on this forum, I saw a Lithgow with the same scrubbing of a marking above the receiver serial number. Some of it actually remains, see the attached photo. So the second number set, L1542, is a an assembly number and belongs there?

Just thought I would give my 2 cents. Don't know if your looking for an extractor spring or not, but I got mine from midway USA. That was for my savage #4 mk1*. I don't think there the same but it came from a company called Wolf. The website from the package is Wolff Gunsprings - Firearm Springs for Semi-Auto Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles, & Shotguns. I broke 2 till I figured it out so I guess third time really is a charm.

Smellie has it nailed. the canceled # is the inventory # 2MD applied.
Nice original rifle even though i could not see the barrel date

Thanks everyone. Is the canceled inventory number a typical thing to see? And the matching assembly numbers mean that this rifle matches as it did at production, and was not a later renumbering? And I think you can see the barrel date in this photo, although its upside down and I cant make out the last number, just 191. Any ideas on the stock markings?

Q1 yes
Q2 yes production for proof before serial# added
Q3 need better photo
Q4 inspectors stamps

Agree with Aussie Guru, Bindi2, but my interest is the bayonet that accompanied the rifle. Details would be good

I bought the bayonet with the rifle but I do not know if it is correct for it. Any specific photos you want to see Smith?

That No1Mk111 is almost identical to my 1918 Lithgow, mine has the 5th MD stamp on it, other than that it looks the same. The bore is still nice for a rifle that old, it is still as accurate as the first day it was made. :cool:

I have Lithgow 1918 number A13631, no MD marking but D/!\D above 1 on the top flat of the Body, just aft of the Knox-form.

It had new forewood installed in May of 1944 but retains the original butt with 1931 and 1944 servicing dates.

It had been bashed about when I got it, what looked like parade-square bashing, but appeared unfired.

Took it out and shot it and it made wonderful 14-inch groups at 100, no matter what factory or home-load ammo was tried. Analysis showed that it was trying to shoot a pair of groups, each roughly 1 MOA, one about a foot above the other. Ripped her down, fixed The Damned Crack and trimmed back the Muzzle Reinforce to 1 inch, as told by a Canadian Bisley-team shooter, took it out again.

Back on target at 100, shooting my test load off the sandbags, called 2-round groups, first from a dead-cold barrel, second round 1 minute later or less (as it would be in hunting or sniping), came in at a repeatable half-inch or a hair under. Right now, the rifle is a "see-it-hit-it" and I have no complaints at all.

Those old guys REALLY knew how to build a rifle!
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---------- Post added at 07:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:32 PM ----------

BAYONET is the correct TYPE (Pattern 1907) for the rifle but it is British manufacture (Wilkinson Sword, August, 1918) rather than Australian (Lithgow).

If the two have been together for a long time, it might be good to keep them together, then possibly find a Lithgow bayonet to be "original".

Nice set!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 303carbine

The No5 is No1

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Could not agree with that statement more but the No1 and No 4 are a Very close second and third.

D/\D over 1 is a later version of 1MD