1916 Lithgow No. 1 Mk. 111

Hi,

I picked this up at the Puyallup, WA show three weeks ago. Interestingly enough, the fore-end is marked "1941 Slaz." I didn't think that Slazenger's made anything but coachwood fore-ends. The barrel is dated 1941 and has the Lithgow proofs but has no 'HV' marks and the barrel is almost like new and shines with excellent sharp rifling. Sold-out-of-service marks are present on both the butt-stock and the receiver. The nosecap has a matching serial number however it is not Lithgow marked nor does it have any marking on it for that matter.

Pretty nice old lady for ninety-eight years old!

Best,

Al

Nice, I'd pinch the timber off you.

The HV stamp is on the butt and will be on the barrel knox as well when and if you strip it down :thup::super:

Geez that's lovely wood. Can we see a photo of the Slaz41? Should be able to see the HV stamp on the barrel without stripping it down. Is the barrel and forend serial numbered and do those numbers on the butt match the rifle?
Its an interesting one.

The slaz 41 is very faint, but there. the forend is matched to the rifle but also faint. There is no HV behind the rear sight as there should be. The numbers on the but match the numbers on the receiver, barrel, bolt, foreend and front band. the number blotted out on the but match the one blotted out on the receiver. The rear sight is a replacement.

So can you tell if the rear sight ramp is suited to MkVI or MkVII? Sounds really interesting for a few reasons and in lovely condition by the look of it.

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The front band being numbered is a little odd.

Nice timber work. There is a guy here in Australia selling a 1916 Lithgow H rifle that is only 38 numbers out from yours.

I would be inclined to think this should have a heavy barrel, if it has it will not be stamped HV.
Most of the 16's I have seen went through a repair program in the '41 to '46 timeframe. There are some marks up the wrist, cannot make them out.
Attachment 53028
It should also have T for tapered pin on the side of the rearsight.

Interesting I have a 5MD '16 Lithgow with a H stamp on the Butts wrist and windage rear sight and mag cut off I think it still has the original H barrel, now I may be wrong and have in the past it has no scalloped section on the left rear of the fore wood for a sight plate.
I have heard that WWI Marksman were issued these with the heavier barrel, I will dig it out of the safe as it only sees the light couple of times a year for a drink of BLO/Min turps and an oil up and wipe down and back in the safe it has a pristine 5MD Lithgow 07 and '16 Lithgow Teardrop scabb as well they cost more than the rifle to get together !!!
I may get it out of the safe it resides in and post some pics for the forum to interpret it is nothing special just I was born in W.A and have a connection to the 10th ALH and 25th LH hence the 5MD, it is a right pain in the butt to get to due to the position of the safe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by muffett.2008

I would be inclined to think this should have a heavy barrel, if it has it will not be stamped HV.
Most of the 16's I have seen went through a repair program in the '41 to '46 timeframe. There are some marks up the wrist, cannot make them out.
Attachment 53028
It should also have T for tapered pin on the side of the rearsight.

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Muffer why would a heavy barrel not be stamped HV. Surprising if it is a heavy barrel, being dated 1941.

This rifle to me, doesn't fit the same category as one marked R over MA over 45.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

Interesting I have a 5MD '16 Lithgow with a H stamp on the Butts wrist and windage rear sight and mag cut off I think it still has the original H barrel, now I may be wrong and have in the past it has no scalloped section on the left rear of the fore wood for a sight plate.
I have heard that WWI Marksman were issued these with the heavier barrel, I will dig it out of the safe as it only sees the light couple of times a year for a drink of BLO/Min turps and an oil up and wipe down and back in the safe it has a pristine 5MD Lithgow 07 and '16 Lithgow Teardrop scabb as well they cost more than the rifle to get together !!!
I may feel energetic and get it out of the safe as the safe it resides in is a right pain in the rectum to get to.

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Cinders the earliest lithgow heavy barrels are dated early 30's or perhaps late 20's, I can't remember and the factory H model conversions were modified during the 30's. It sounds like you have one of these but its Not likely any WW1 marksmen would have used used them.

It does not have a heavy barrel. I have a Lithgow sniper and 2 other Heavy barreled lithgow target rifles and know what a heavey barrel looks like

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Originally Posted by smlemk111

It does not have a heavy barrel. I have a Lithgow sniper and 2 other Heavy barreled lithgow target rifles and know what a heavey barrel looks like

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Yes mate, my previous reply was in response to cinders. No suggestion from me that it was a heavy barrel.

Your rifle certainly is an interesting one. I'm curious if it has recoil inserts. You may be able to tell looking through the action past the sear, without pulling it down.

Hi Homer no worries I have taken the forestock & handguards off almost first thing when I got it home, also checked the but trap as sometimes I have found treasure there ( no joy this time ) . There are the copper recoil lugs present so its good to go. It has a new looking marked 52 bolt head as well.

Nice score!:)

I will dig the ol girl out and get the fore woods off and have a gecko for you Homer so I can satisfy my curiosity to put a myth to bed, do not take this personally mkIII you need to chill out a bit and not be so feisty rather read who the respondent is referring to before you expound on what you have and your knowledge on the aforementioned subject pertaining to the particular weaponry you have procured and are seeking information on.

As believe me bloke I have done the same to a few forumers here fallen foul and have found the information line dried up drier that a camels date in the Sahara desert at sunset with its nose facing east! :madsmile:

Good question Andrew, I am probably wrong, but all my heavy barrels do not have HV near the rearsight.
As the H barrels were produced from 1933 on, the same time as the Mk.7 round was allowed to be used by the Rifle Club movement, I just made the assumption.
The Mk.6 rounds were used up by 1934, the HV round effectively introduced at the same time as the H rifles in 1933.
1930 saw trials with the modified LE barrel, 1932 saw the production of the first dedicated H barrel and it's subsequent issue to Rifle Clubs thru 1932-34.
The H rifle was for sale at four pounds, a barrel without sights one pound sixteen shillings.

Just noticed that I have one heavy barrel with SC/HV on it, but it is a shortened LE barrel.

Muffer I'd say that heavy barrels probably weren't marked HV if they never had the rear sight fitted. Those that had a sight bed fitted from factory would have been stamped to indicate it was sighted for high velocity MkVII. Mine certainly are. The Mottys and other commercial jobs probably aren't.