1915 Lithgow

Picked this one up recently. 1915 Lithgow sent to stores March 1916.

The Rifle is still sighted for MkVI ammunition and has no sold out of service stamps or any upgrades to HV.

It also still retains it's original No2 magazine, which as far as Lithgow made magazines are concerned are pretty hard to find.

Also for comparison is my other 1915 Lithgow stocked in Walnut is also completely matching still sighted for MkVI and has no sold out of service or HV stamps.

Bore is like a mirror and has heaps of rifling.

In my opinion only, as far as early Lithgow rifles go, you cant get much more original than this.

That is absolutely fabulous! Well done!

Nice rifle, not so often now you see a full run of matching numbers. Nice...

There is that special feeling when all of the numbers match.....especially on something that went through 2 world wars and 106 years of history.

I doubt this one went through any world wars. Incredibly rare bird, is certainly the finest early Lithgow I’ve seen, I doubt we’ll see another one better.

On the butt stock is 2 MD ~ The 2nd Military District was an administrative district of the Australian Army that covered most of New South Wales, with its headquarters in Sydney. The southern border with the 3rd Military District was the Murrumbidgee River rather than the Murray River, and the western part of the state around Broken Hill was part of the 4th Military District.

Should have the same stamped on top of the reinforce as per pic of my 1916.
One thing that no one here or the other experts in the field can explain Skennerton or Labuda is the circle with the question mark I surmise it may have been an inspector and his inspectors number appears above it.
I heard via another source that this may have been from and inspector sent out from England as apparently they did send out a few to ensure that the rifles were being made to the accepted standard so I cannot rule that out.
It could be correct as there are a couple here in Aus that own similar marked No 1 Mk III's.

Nice looking rifle good catch my friend has a 1915 Lithgow and cleans up with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

On the butt stock is 2 MD ~ The 2nd Military District was an administrative district of the Australian Army that covered most of New South Wales, with its headquarters in Sydney. The southern border with the 3rd Military District was the Murrumbidgee River rather than the Murray River, and the western part of the state around Broken Hill was part of the 4th Military District.

Should have the same stamped on top of the reinforce as per pic of my 1916.
One thing that no one here or the other experts in the field can explain Skennerton or Labuda is the circle with the question mark I surmise it may have been an inspector and his inspectors number appears above it.
I heard via another source that this may have been from and inspector sent out from England as apparently they did send out a few to ensure that the rifles were being made to the accepted standard so I cannot rule that out.
It could be correct as there are a couple here in Aus that own similar marked No 1 Mk III's.

Nice looking rifle good catch my friend has a 1915 Lithgow and cleans up with it.

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Cinders I’d say the question mark stamp is very common , I’ve had more 1916/17 dated rifles with it than without. As far as what it is, pretty sure that’s been discovered and posted in the last year elsewhere. But I can’t remember what it is.😂
Yours is marked nicely, very close numbers to one I’ve had.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

On the butt stock is 2 MD ~

Should have the same stamped on top of the reinforce as per pic of my 1916.

Nice looking rifle good catch my friend has a 1915 Lithgow and cleans up with it.

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See attached photo https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...75f6134b-1.jpg



---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:54 PM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Homer

I doubt this one went through any world wars. Incredibly rare bird, is certainly the finest early Lithgow I’ve seen, I doubt we’ll see another one better.

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Thanks, that means a lot considering the number of rifles you have seen and owned.

Cinders, believe me when I say that stamp is just a steel identifier mark, common to 1916/17 rifles only.

The story is what is the most interesting, you need to do a fair bit of research to discover the reason behind this stamp, the people involved and the time period involved.

Or just wait until I get around to divulging that info.

About the only thing that may help me is the 2 vol set I have about Lithgow and its people or I'll SMS Ian and ask him!:thup:

The * means rust or a cut in the barrel near the mark Pg 100 Armourers markings Skennertons Broad Arrow MkII

Cinders you are correct Kapooka is part of 2Nd MD and 7 camp hospital was apart of 3 md back in the day both on the same base but 2 different command structures even into the 90s not sure if it is the same today.same as soldiers regimental numbers by state and military district dads was 18Xxx Queensland and mine 21xxxx NSW . Funny how we hang onto the tradition.