My first Lithgow and my first "DP" rifle

The pictures mostly speak for themselves. The bolt and receiver match, but the nose cap does not. Can't find any other serials, but haven't taken it out of the stock. This isn't going to be one of those, "Can I fire a DP rifle" threads. It was cheap and I do not have a Lithgow at the moment. Looks to be in excellent condition. The bore looks great and the bolt is very smooth. Not sure what I'm going to do with it, maybe, put it over the tv to replace the broken m1 carbine that's there now? I don't know. An Australian No1 doesn't scream "Texas". Then again, neither really does an m1 carbine.

Well, it's a nice looking DP at any rate...

Nice rifle, I'd put it over the telly.

I bought a 1918 lithgow DP with the same yellow striping as yours, apart from DP also being stenciled in the forward yellow band. In 10/44 it received a new, different numbered forestock and late model un-numbered nose cap. It has it's original bolt and butstock with the 2MD numbers on receiver and butstock. Someone put a M47/C marked cocking piece on it and a high blue polished bolt head. I bought it simply to have an example of a Australian DP'd rifle with no intentions of firing it. Enjoy it as you found it.

Mike, very nicely marked. Just a suggestion (what I did with my DP Long Branch) is to write out what DP means on a piece of paper, roll it up, and put it in the buttstock hole so that a future generation without your wisdom doesn't try to shoot it.

I recently bought a 1918 Lithgow (not a DP). The stock is marked "R" above "MA" (I believe R means "repair" and MA is the Lithgow arsenal mark -- please correct me experts), with a date of 2/46, indicating a new butt; the forend and handguards are all marked with '45 stamps (indicating replacement of the original wood). Apparently during the Arsenal Repair, along with the wood, the Armourer replaced the button cocker with the late model version (stamped OA'43), and the nose piece with the late model version without the stacking swivel hole (no serial # stamps). 5thMD is stamped on the top of the receiver (not sure what this means) and another set of receiver stamps is been overstamped with XXXXXXX.

Robert

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Originally Posted by Seaspriter

Mike, very nicely marked. Just a suggestion (what I did with my DP Long Branch) is to write out what DP means on a piece of paper, roll it up, and put it in the buttstock hole so that a future generation without your wisdom doesn't try to shoot it.

I recently bought a 1918 Lithgow (not a DP). The stock is marked "R" above "MA" (I believe R means "repair" and MA is the Lithgow arsenal mark -- please correct me experts), with a date of 2/46, indicating a new butt; the forend and handguards are all marked with '45 stamps (indicating replacement of the original wood). Apparently during the Arsenal Repair, along with the wood, the Armourer replaced the button cocker with the late model version (stamped OA'43), and the nose piece with the late model version without the stacking swivel hole (no serial # stamps). 5thMD is stamped on the top of the receiver (not sure what this means) and another set of receiver stamps is been overstamped with XXXXXXX.

Robert

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R above MA 2/46 is returned to stores stamp in 46 FTR. 45 is when the furniture was made. 5MD is the Military stamp for Western Australia the barred out number would have been the inventory number for WA. OA is the stamp for the orange factory 43 the year

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Originally Posted by Bindi2

R above MA 2/46 is returned to stores stamp in 46 FTR. 45 is when the furniture was made. 5MD is the Military stamp for Western Australia the barred out number would have been the inventory number for WA. OA is the stamp for the orange factory 43 the year

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Thanks Bindi
We Yanks always appreciate it when our mates down under help decipher the Lithgow codes. Your info will go with the provenance of the gun for posterity.
Robert

If anyone is keeping a DP rifle in their collection I'd suggest that they renumbner any mismatched parts to match the master number. I don't suppose that it matters toooo much that the numbered parts is/are a perfect fit but........... Recruits are taught during lesson one, day one to check the numbers of the rifle match. It is the first part of the 'introductory lesson' after being warned by the Squad instructor that thereafter, neither he, nor the rest of the class nor will anyone else in the Army EVER overlook it if you point a rifle at anyone, even in jest.

When I was a cadet at my school, back in the very early 60's, we were told that the white band around the top of the handguard and fore-end was a guide as to how far the WTI's (weapon Training Instructors) would shove the muzzle, er......., somewhere painful, if you should ever point a rifle at anyone. It's a lesson I took on board to this day.

Here's some more pictures. Buttstock is marked with another date 11/15 as well. Thanks again for all the info guys.

THey could be assembled '........ as far as practicably possible from worn or downgraded parts' but that having been said, were required to feed and function in exactly the same manner as the standard service rifle. All springs were to be to the service standard.

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

after being warned by the Squad instructor that thereafter, neither he, nor the rest of the class nor will anyone else in the Army EVER overlook it if you point a rifle at anyone, even in jest.

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I had a Marine Drill Sergeant in Corpus Christi Texas make the same threats at officer boot camp. He was the same "gentleman" who barked:

"Excuses!!!!! they're just like AxxHxxxx! Everyone's got 'em and they all STINK!"

His comments had a double meaning for me as I had just returned from liberty having spent the weekend in Mexico with a group of midshipmen. The gunny sergeant poignantly barreled his commentary at me as I was doubling over in pain being attacked by Montezuma's Revenge. I will not be graphic about the denouement of the story, but I do remember his admonitions quite vividly.

Perhaps we should remove the striker pins from our DP rifles, and stow them symbolically in the buttholes of our weapons for "safe keeping." :)

If you remove the strikers, then it simply won't function the way a DP rifle should! Just cut short at the collar was my maxim

So what exactly did they use them for? Marching? Firing blanks? Dummy rounds? Just training before getting a real rifle?

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Originally Posted by Mikesm44

So what exactly did they use them for? Marching? Firing blanks? Dummy rounds? Just training before getting a real rifle?

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For every thing except firing.