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Can you please tell me the rare/sought after/collectable etc etc Lithgow butt socket marks and/or dates.
I saw a huge tub full of Lithgow No1 rifle bodies, rear ends, cut from 1 inch forward of the charger guide. All dates and markings.
Will look for what you want/need BUT, if I sort them out, do you want then and can you import them. Otherwise only fit for scrap. Let me know…...
1913/14 would be the most desirable.
Not sure if they could be imported into Australia as they are probably still deemed as firearm parts even if they are cut in half.
Did someone mention that a certain 20's date was rocking horse material somewhere?
Any definite word on importing what are effectively paper or fishing weiights. Shame to scrap them……….
anything in the 1930's is hard to find
Hi Peter,
Firstly as they have been cut forward of teh bridge and no barrel can be attached they can be imported without a worry as they are no longer classified as a rifle part.
The rarest years are:
1913 -1914 4,760
1922-1923 2,700
1923-24 3,320
1924-1925 3,140
1925-1926 2,760
1926-1927 3,000
1927-1928 3,200
1928-1929 3,200
1939-1940 3,480
The rarest of the rares are:
1913 60
1929-1930 340
1934-1935 500
1935-1936 1,141
1936-1937 900
1937-1938 421
1938-1939 800
1953-1956 1,000
Cheers
P.S. Would love a 34-35 or a 39-40
Thanks for that. I will go over to see him and look tomorrow. Hold your fire……….
Id definitely want a 1913 as no 1 pick.
Weird, I import enfield wood into NZ from the UK no issues.
Woodwork is one thing SSJ. What Peter is asking about is the rear section of a receiver.Quote:
Originally Posted by ssj
Woodwork don't get me started, I wanted a reproduction M1 Bayonet for my 03A3, all good until they added the postage and it came to over $100 so sad too bad can't ship to you as we don't have an export licence.
Sellers on EBAY must be making a killing currently with these stupid UN Laws.
Dick
I have the problem the other way round since I can import about anything I want to have. I even imported prohibited material since I fullfill all legal requirements and it only took the customs some time to understand that (and ask my authority if I don't tell them BS) - BUT I have real problems to send these outside Europe, since no shipping company would accept "weapon parts". What they do is they scan everything which goes into air mail, and automatically reject such items which appear to have the shape of a gun or a gun part ... These are the same companies which deliver the stuff locally which they get from outside my country. Weird world, isn't it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie48
PS: Didn't only happen once that it took an item two months to arrive, only with having a sticker (yes, you already have a sticker for that) saying "MISSENT TO AUSTRALIA", instead of Austria...
Had a rummage through half of them - about a zillion and this is what I found
'15 - 1
'20 - 1
'22 - 1
'22 overstamped 1923 - 2
'23 - 1
'25 - 1
'27 - 1
1940 - 7. hundreds of 1st and 2nd WW bodies
That's it so far. Anyone interested?
I am interested in the early teens or some 20's with the shield. shoot me a cost or bring them when you come over and I will furnish you with beer money
They're here in SC. I'll sort them out for you.
How did you manage to get your hands on them Brian? If possible can I get one of the old 20's with the Shield please.
Dick
I imported them from Canada many years ago. I'd guess they were originally imported to Canada from India since there are also British and Indian examples present. Peter took interest and sorted them all yesterday while I was engaged in other activities here. I'll be happy to sort them out for anyone who's interested at $10 each. I've saved them instead of hauling them to the scrap yard and I know they can be cleaned and dressed up as ornaments pertinent to the history we love.
---------- Post added at 11:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 PM ----------
Dick, you most certainly can.
These drop-sawed action remnants make fantastic pen holders for one's desk - the screw thread in the wristguard will hold a small or medium pen quite happily. :)
Ive always been curious about the colt manufactured enfields, I've never seen even a picture of one. Any in there? Or does anybody have one?
No, if we'd found an early trials rifle it would be a pen holder on my desk! :)
There is a Gent who posts here from time to time that has one of the Pratt and Whitney rifles. They weren't manufactured by Colt if memory serves. Maybe he'll elaborate.
Hello,
I'd be interested in a nicely marked early WW2 as a 'Pen Holder' in the UK if it's possible to bring one back / post it without any hassle and at reasonable cost.
Thanks.
Robert
There's a Pratt & Whitney SMLE Mk III in the Lithgow Small Arms Museum in New South Wales. Specifically, this one, dated 1911:Quote:
Originally Posted by Smellymarkfive
Attachment 63802
Sorry it's not a brilliant photo; it was taken about nearly 10 years ago and digital cameras weren't quite as impressive then, I'm afraid.
There must be over 1,000 chopped bodies, from Enfield 1896 to Ishapore 50's or so covering all years. It'll be what the medical profession might call a ball-aching job sorting through. I just did 4 tubs to sort most of the Lithgows. Plus a 1947 birthday body for myself. Even though it's chopped, it's still in better shape than me!
Careful Peter, we'll all want a 'Birthday' Pen Holder. Can I have 53 plus an early WW2 ? Please!
Thanks Colonel for the P&W picture. Ive never seen one of those either.
If you guys come accross anything 1903 I would be interested, and no that's not my birth year.
Everyone who want's one of these needs to contact me directly at bdlltd@bellsouth.net and I will do my best to accommodate the requested dates. 1000 count might be a bit of an exaggeration but there are quite a few out there in my drive shed.
HiQuote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
I thought I'd post pictures of the four pen holders Brian kindly sent me (to the UK). I've initially cleaned them with some engine degreaser and old toothbrush, then will do a final bit with 0000 wire wool and oil before they go on display in my 'man cave' (as the wife calls it).
Ordered a WW1 Lithgow, LSA, Peddled rifle and BSA and am very pleased with them. Go on - treat yourself to a pen holder while stocks last! ;)
Maybe I am just sentimental but just the thought of the drop saw thing grates, if they were re-smelted...... anyway I am just a sentimental bloke one may say the Kalashnikov is the best assault weapon but how many of the Commonwealth troops depended on the reliability of the SMLE in the mud and rain when the chips were down. One group of German WWI soldiers facing a group of British soldiers thought they were against a machine gun battalion such was the rate of fire from the trenches they were assaulting :move eek:
Hmmmm, maybe I should post a drop saw pic that would curl your toenails.... I'll see if I can find it.Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
On another semi related note... A number of years ago a dealer here had come across a quantity of woodwork and some metal parts to sell to restorers of SHT LE MkI rifles. He made a bit of money off the bits and made a few restorers happy in the process. It was a little later in discussion with him that he told me where he got the parts from. He had bought and cut up a dozen or so Patern 14 No1 .22 Trainers! Yes, there were 412 of these made in 1914/15 and he cut a dozen up. Even sent me pics of a few receivers as I was comparing butt socket markings at the time.
Was there anything wrong with them before the chop?Quote:
Originally Posted by Son
Only ever had to chop a Mauser and just the body due to it being a right off, saved all the other bits etc.
These were all cut in Canada in the mid 1990's. Most were DP rifles and are marked as such. I've salvaged the small parts for sale/use. The DP barrels off of them along with a good supply of hard to find buttplates are all going back to England to be used on Deacts. Unfortunately, the woodwork had been long sold when I bought all the remaining inventory. I've got a decent supply of SMLE parts for those in need except wood but I'm always struggling to find enough No.4 parts to go around. I do have a good supply of commonly used NOS band screws and extractor springs. Terry and I removed the cut front halves from the barrels last year and several of those are going to Criterion to be used as reference for tooling up to build SMLE barrels. At least they aren't going to waste.
Well Done and thanks for your efforts esp helping Criterion. this eminds me that I must ans youir e mail and send you some money!
Can someone please tell me when you say 1929 - 30 there was 340 produced, are they stamped 1929 or 1930 on the receiver? I guessed it would be 1929 but wanted to check
It appears that when the records say "340 produced" it would refer to completed rifles assembled. Receiver dates would likely have been earlier in the '20s.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie Long Tom
The assembly markings on the barrel nocks form and Butt Stock are the actual assembly (or sometimes FTR) date.
The records are for the financial year 1st July 1929 to 30th June 1930 and the rifles are dated to the calendar year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie Long Tom
This has been a question in my mind also, my survey has no 1930 rifle so far, but I would never say never on this one.
The countback of rifles shown at the Lithgow Museum don't help to clear the confusion either,
Attachment 67395
Though this display is supposedly complete, either 1934 never existed or 1930 didn't.
But there are 1934 examples, so at this stage the '30 gets the shaft.
On a lighter note, I have added a '29 to my lot, leaving only a handful to get:)
Attachment 67397Attachment 67396Attachment 67398
Surely that butt is far too undersize for the butt socket Muffer. It should be slightly proud, like the fore-end.
Send me a PM on what you need Muff I might have a spare at a price of course. But then I might be able to point you in the right direction as I had to go to NZ to get some I needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by muffett.2008
I found a 1929 marked receiver with matching bolt but was rebarreled in 1946. The rear sight is marked to match the barrel and nose cap is Enfield. Original butt in nice condition with markings. If they are that rare I should grab it????
bindi and muff, i think you need to post some pictures so we can drool over mountains of lithgows. please.
Yes. Don't be worried by the barrel change that is part of its history. If somebody tried to sell me what looked like a brand new factory fresh 1929 I would more than likely say nice and walk away, why it would have been in WW2 most likely Borneo and Korea and a few other places just for fun and not get marked or that used been there look I don't think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie Long Tom
henry Muff is the camera man or Demo.
Yeah but Demo's got nothing.