New Member with a New (to me) Lithgow No. 1 Mk. III*

Hello all. :)

I recently acquired a rifle, as listed in the title. It's an interesting piece. I think I've decoded a lot of what it is and where it came from, but there are some things I'm still not clear about and I'm looking to see if anyone here knows something.

Anyway, here's what I have been able to figure out:

The receiver, bolt, nose cap, and I *think* the stock (only the last two digits of the serial number are visible) have matching serial numbers. The receiver and bolt also have "assembly numbers" (at least based on their placement, I assume that's what they are) which match as well. What I read was that assembly numbers were given to rifles that didn't have a normal serial number, but I've been unable to find what that means. The serial number is C 18574. The assembly number is U 1705.

The barrel has a couple of markings I can't account for. One is a '44' on the left side of the area just ahead of the receiver. There also a pair of really thick lines next to the 44, looking kind of like: ll. There's also an MA over VI that I'm not sure what to make of either. There's a broad arrow on it, and the same later type Lithgow proof mark as on the receiver. There an asterisk over the chamber, which I assume is the marking for "Light Rust in Barrel" that I've read about.

The receiver is dated 1941, but the stock is dated 1942. The stock is marked MA Lithgow S.M.L.E. III *, and it doesn't look like the typical coachwood that I've seen on others. I don't know what type of wood it is, but looking at the dents, dings, gouges, and scrapes, I can easily believe it's been on the rifle since 1942. Under the dirt/grease, the wood seems to be a very light tan with the grain being a reddish-brown. There is also an "HV" marking. The brass buttplate looks as if it has seen lots of hard contact with the ground.

Both the stock and the barrel have 12/54 stamped on them, but there's no "FTR" stamping on it. From my reading, I would have figured it should have one. The only other part that I question is the bolt head. It is stamped '53' on the underside. My guess would be that it was probably replaced at the same time as the barrel. I'd also guess from the color of the finish that the rear sight leaf spring and the front sight blade were replaced at the same time as well. I assume the barrel is a replacement because of the lack of a serial number.

I plan on getting some pictures of it in the sunlight tomorrow when I take it to the range. I'll see if I can post them here tomorrow night.

In the mean-time, if anyone here as some input on what an "assembly number" is for, the meanings of the marks on the barrel, whether the barrel is a replacement, tips on identifying the type of wood used for the stock, etc. I'd be very grateful.

The assembly number was stamped on when the bolt was fitted to the reciever before the rifle received a serial number. It is the true test of whether a Lithgow bolt is original to the receiver. That is what I understand anyway.

Ah, thank you. That is helpful.

I'd like to think that this rifle is pretty much as it was when originally manufactured, just with a few parts replaced when it came back to the factory for a check-up, mere months after the Korean War went cold. It may not mean much in terms of collectability, but I like it. It may be hard to part with this one, even though I got it as a gift for my father. At one time in his youth he had a Lithgow No.1 Mk. 3* that he absolutely loved. Times got hard though, and he had to sell it. He's always missed it. So, when I saw this one right before his birthday, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

Ok, so here are those pictures I promised:

Attachment 56918
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Attachment 56924

This is five shots at fifty yards. Ammunition was '61 South African.
Attachment 56925

Another five shots, this time at 100 yards - same ammo. I think if I used a solid black target I could have avoided some of the stringing. Overall I'm very impressed.
Attachment 56926

I did shoot it at 200 as well, but didn't get any groups worth posting. All of the shots were low (despite the rear sight being set at 200) and left. I have no idea what role the wind played, if any. I need to go back and take my time at that distance.


... it's definitely going to be hard to part with this one.

Nice looking rifle. At some point, someone had it apart enough that they put the rear sight protector "ears" on backwards during reassembly, but that's easily corrected.

I have one with an R on the knox form, it had a largish rust spot about halfway down the bore that required some effort to reduce to a useable point, but it still shoots quite accurately.

Beautiful looking Lithgow SMLE, i managed to buy a Aussie Lithgow about 25 years ago, it had been made in 1942, but FTR in 1952, new furnature, barrel, and is a excellent shooter,

The Aussie government went stupid some years back, and most of Australian War Reserve SMLE rifles,Bren Guns and Owen smg, all which had been FTR, were cut up, and dumped into the Great Barrier reef, t

Nice looking rifle. All the marks in it's wood make it even more desirable in my mind.

Somehow I doubt that anything was dumped on the Reef...........it sure wouldn't stay there long:lol:

From the sheer quantity of Lithgow Mk1 Brens in 1 BOD marked chests and No1 rifles plus L1A1's just on the UK deactivation market would seem to back up Muffer. VAST quantities of Aust stockpiles were disposed of through the trade........

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

From the sheer quantity of Lithgow Mk1 Brens in 1 BOD marked chests and No1 rifles plus L1A1's just on the UK deactivation market would seem to back up Muffer. VAST quantities of Aust stockpiles were disposed of through the trade........

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But not to the local market. The local market no longer has access to used brass it is being buried not even sold for scrap. Political correctness has totally gone mad our service personel are not to wear their uniforms off station, reverse racism is the norm, the school curriculum has been cleansed and we are being told to accept PC. I wonder for how long.

Bindi, believe me. Once this PC nonsense is there, it's there for good. Would you have believed, say, 10 years ago that the term 'blackboard' would be deemed offensive? Nope, nor would I. But as I say. Once it's taken hold, it's there for ever

It must be ten years or more ago now (maybe 15, time flies) but Ryton Arms bought up a huge stock of Australian kit. That is why deactivated Brens were so cheap on the UK market for so long, & also why WW2 Vickers were pretty reasonable. It's only relatively recently that the prices have started to creep up again as they've all been bought up.