Dose anyone know if rarer then other years? whats the story behind them? Cheers guys
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Dose anyone know if rarer then other years? whats the story behind them? Cheers guys
All 30's dated lithgow actions are rare but I have found the 1935 date to be a little more common than the others.
1937 and 1938 seem to be nearly non existent.
Production figures No.1 Mk III from Lithgow SAF 1912 - 200, 1930 - 257 (Depression), 1931 - 245, 1932 - 278, 1933 - 271, 1934 - 268, 1935 - 285, 1936 - 283 Source Ian Skennertons 1993 ed "The Lee Enfield Story" Page 308 Australian Production I have not gone through his latest book to see if the figures have changed, nor the 2 volume set I have on the Lithgow small arms factory from 1912 till it closed in the 90's just a bit slack anyway there ya go.......
But it has new owners who are producing weapons again.:beerchug:
I've never seen those figures before and to my knowledge lithgow stopped manufacturing rifles between 1930 and 1934. Are you sure that those figures are for rifles manufactured?
I must agree Andrew, those figures don't gel.
I don't have The LES to check but someone else will I'm sure.
Noworries guys better contact Ian Skennerton who compiled the figures and has done a limited bit of research on the MLE, SMLE all Marks, No.4's, 5's, 8', 9's. The figures were quoted straight from his 1993 edition as stated Lithgow Australian production, sorry guys I am quoting from a book, one of the moderators might have different figures but the effort Ian S and Brian Labudda and others put into these books, as well as having direct access to the source the Lithgow Factory in Australia I reckon they are pretty dam close.
What say all ye in cyber space!!!! :confused:
Mate quite familiar with his work but those figures are annual staff numbers employed at the factory.
You will have to forgive him Andrew, he is out west after all, though Ned would never let him forget it.:lol:
Cinders, read slowly, even the Kiwi's don't make those mistakes.
If you want the actual breakdown of rifles manufactured in each financial year, Skennerton gives those figures, if you want to break it down to monthly production, be prepared to pay, researching the Archives ain't cheap.
S.A.I.S No.19
1929/30 340
no production
1934/35 500
1935/36 1141
1936/37 900
1937/38 421
1938/39 860
1939/40 3480
I am out west so hope my data is OK
Hey Bindii, the sun set on the western Empire yet?
Your data is only good because you copied it from the East, but don't start Demo on Gods Own Country though, I think there is a 1935 on Used Guns at the moment.
Muff the planning to float you lot off is moving along nicely.;) The sun is down for today just back from eating out. I know what you mean about Demo but then Gods own country is right out west not on the East coast.:D Will have a look at that 35.:thup:
You generally can work out someone's age when they are home from eating out before sun down.
Dont forget that those figures that bindi has posted do not necessarily represent actions dated to that year. Many rifles were assembled with much earlier dated actions, up to 10 years in some cases.
Well then I hope I get it before you do lol, If I dont then that makes my 2nd 1935 lithgow ;-)
I definitely don't want another. Did you buy it?Quote:
Originally Posted by FTX03
Hi Bindi, would you know the production figures for the 1928 Lithgow SMLE?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindi2
For the fiscal year July to June.Quote:
Originally Posted by martins8589
to 1913 40
1913-14 4,760
1914-15 13,786
1915-16 30,460
1916-17 23,960
1917-18 23,251
1918-19 42,129
1919-20 25,570
1921-22 14,440
1922-23 2,700
1923-24 3,320
1924-25 3,140
1925-26 2,760
1926-27 3,000
1927-28 3,200
1928-29 3,200
1929-30 340
1934-35 500
1935-36 1,141
1936-37 900
1937-38 421
1938-39 860
1939-40 3,480
1940-41 35,140
1941-42 82,098
1942-43 138,700
1943-44 116,200
1944-45 38,310
1953-56 1,000
Source : Skennertons "Identification series"
Remember that the 1930s was also when Lithgow was getting serious about Bren and Vickers production. On the other hand, during the Depression and whenever "Defence" orders were scarce, they turned to other industrial; production: Shearing hand-pieces, sewing-machine components, aircraft parts. Anything to keep a workforce and the associated skills on the job.
It's not like the possibility of more war in the near future was not considered.
The figures can be slightly misleading, particularly with these rarer inter war years. For example, the quoted figure for 1928/29 production would be made up with some 1928 actions but also earlier dated actions as well……1925, 1926, 1927.Quote:
Originally Posted by martins8589
1928 actions were assembled as late as 1940 so it’s almost impossible to know true numbers.
I saw a 1934 at the Birmingham (AL) collectors show a decade ago. I had just bought the first N.9 .22 I had ever seen in the flesh and was tapped out. When I went back an hour later with a recharged wallet it was gone. IIRC it was right under 1K.