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Hello again, I picked up another LE, a Bubba'ed 1941 Lithgow No1 MkIII that I would like to restore. The receiver matches the barrel, but not the bolt. The rear site base and inner band are both missing, so I am attempting to remove the front sight base. The single pin seems to be missing but the sight base is not budging. I have it soaking in Kroil atm. So a good whack with a block of wood and a hammer towards the muzzle usually does the trick? I will post some pics of the project as I go.
CP
Sure some enterprising Bubba did not sweat the front sight on!
Attachment 134769
A pic of the rifle as a starting point. :yikes: Ugh, pretty ugly right now.
I was able to get the front site base off with a soak in kroil and a bit of heat.
I would get rid of that rifle and buy a complete original rifle. You will be money ahead and have something worth having in the end. IMHO.
If your not to fussed with "Original" there are places doing repro stocks you may be able to do a swap of timber with another owner who wants to bubba their rig.
Unless you got that dirt cheap like $100 the cost of getting it back to mil spec trim will be a rather costly affair even then it will still be a bitsa and NAI'ed, been down that rabbit hole with my 1916 Lithgow 5MD getting the correct era bits !
Listen to the guys, they're giving you good advice. You'll spend far more than the finished rifle will be worth so unless you're doing this to gain some experience in firearm restoration I'd keep it as is for a shooter or sell it. There are good deals out if you're patient. I picked up an all matching Lithgow MkIII at the online Texas HiBid auctions for $400 recently. It wasn't perfect as it had a little stock damage but nothing that affected its functionality.
Thanks guys, I understand your points. For me its not about the expense or trouble, it about the history, the hunt, the feeling of satisfaction of getting a rifle back to "original appearing" condition. Although it may not be true, I feel like I am saving history. Not planning on selling anytime soon as I enjoy working on them and shooting. I have already restored 2 sporters and really enjoyed the experience. They are not exactly perfect, the k98k has '37-'40 stock on a '43 and my dads LE Long Branch has a repro fore-stock that I got from prestigious wood stocks (as well as the usual MM that happens in this situation) .Attachment 134774
I have several "correct or near correct" historical rifles too and enjoy owning shooting them just as much.
For this new one, I really liked what I got from prestigious, and thinking of going with the all black walnut stock set. It will be a slow process and probably take most of '24 to complete.
Thanks again for the input.
CP
I understand entirely where you're coming from. In the past I have restored rifles that I never made a profit out of, but I really enjoyed doing it. There's a good feeling that you've dragged a piece of history back from the precipice!
I suppose it comes down to whether ultimate profitability is important to the restorer, or not.
I bit on a sporter NZ marked no4 mk1* and lucked up on an LB stock fully intact in an auction with most of the hardware. The mag and stock are not matching serials to the rifle but all parts are Canadian except the rear site and I accept that was likely a proper replacement.
I would say I have maybe 500$US so I'm probly in the good considering it's NZ marked.
I have passed on other sporters as they command 400$ + locally now and Id rather take a flyer on an RTI with the Ethiopia pedigree than pay that much for a bubba.
My 5MD Lithgow 1916 was a rather tedious @8 year affair sourcing the very early parts endless hours of trolling the net o/seas & here like an early Lithgow star marked piling swivel how often have one of those come up along with sear, mag floor plates, early star marked full safety (Dumbbell spring type) the mag housing all took time.
So the rifle originally cost me $100/Aud but came with no mag, no safety & no sling.
The all up cost for getting the '16 5MD to where I felt she is all done including the Wrights 1916 black sling (Not blanco'ed), 5MD 1916 07 Lithgow bayonet, 5MD 1916 teardrop Lithgow scabbard, all in I'd say close to @$900-$1000 Aud not counting the time spent searching for the gear, yep and I know it is a bitsa now.
I'm sure everyone gets where the OP is coming from but some of us would rather have two original rifles for the price of one Bubba. With a limited budget and a whole galaxy of various Lee Enfield marks and models to add to a collection one must choose their expenditures wisely....well, at least I do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Payne
---------- Post added at 06:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:01 AM ----------
Now there's a labour of love!Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
Almost done with the resto, just a few pieces to get it to mostly Australian. Only missing the handguards.
It is a bit of a mix, right now of various era Australian parts and an Indian DP forstock (not stamped DP). Just trying to find a hand guard set to get it to the range. Then I will keep eyes open for better, correct era parts down the road.
CP
I think it's worth the time and effort if the rifle means a bit to you or has some history to it.
I've got some restos in the works for 3 of my No.1 Mk.IIIs.
There's a sportered 1914 Lithgow in there but I'm leaving it as the wood is original to the rifle.
I've got most of the parts but just need to fit some wood from Prestigious stocks for a 1913 Lithgow and a 1915 Lithgow and source a good fore-end for the 1953 Lithgow.
I think it will be worth the cost in the end when I finish them and get them to the range.
The pic is a couple of years old and I've added another 7 SMLEs since then;
3 x 1916 Lithgows, a 1914 Enfield, a 1929 Lithgow, a ConD IV and a 1912 BSA to the collection since then.
I've always had a thing about making a project a labour of love for historic rifles.
1913 was 1 year after Lithgow started making the No 1 MKIII also the early MkIII's are reasonably scarce considering the Old country wanted them plus our troops took them o/seas to battle where I think the life expectancy of a rifle was 2 weeks roughly.
My friend has a 1915 shoots really well but he has no plans to move it on.
That's a nice rifle and one that is 29 numbers before my 5 MD 1916 Lithgow's inventory number!
3 of my SMLEs have been used by 5 MD. My 1908 Enfield, 1913 Lithgow and 1916 Lithgow.
The 5 rifles I posted in the last photo before are my special rifles. 2 x 1913 Lithgows, 2 x 1914 Lithgows and a 1915 Lithgow - why? Because they're ex-AIF rifles that were part of the 95,000 - 100,000 SMLEs that went with the AIF from Nov 1914 until Oct 1915 when Britain started issuing rifles as Australian stocks began to run low.
They've been through the Brit refurb system and the 1914s are marked to South Africa and Canada.
Mattyboy82 ~ Does your 1916 5MD sport this stamping as we have yet to fully uncover what the story is behind it, I have posed the question a few times here.
The circle with a ? in it well that's what it appears to be.
Mine had the H barrel fitted in 1937 and has the stamping "H" on the top of the butts wrist, it still had it's mag cut off which I think was said here they discontinued in April 1916 AFAIK.
I just added the remaining handguards. Looks good. Not had a chance to shoot it yet. It is all Australian* except the forestock and front handguard. I will keep searching, improving, one day the remaining correct pieces will be found.
*may not be correct time/model/markings
It appears your rear sight protection ears are reversed the straight section faces to the rear see pic of my rifle, the latter No 1 MkIII's did not have the milled protectors but solid ears but as you have said it's a mix master brought back to military spec, FTR's never worried about making them period correct just get them out the door.
Nice job, looking good, now for the range report:thup:
Really good job Baconslayer!
A nice labour of love there and look forward to hearing how it shoots.
Cinders, Lithgow only stopped the mag cut-offs in late 1918. Volley sights disappeared from Dec 1916. My 5 MD 1916 is serial 54021 and has volley sights and H barrel dated 9'44 and undated 1930s era QLD Maple butt with no disc and MA LITHGOW on it.
Looking at your serial of 58xxx, it would be a January 1917 made rifle I think.
Think they ran June to June with production which would make sense.
These make interesting reading.
Just fixed, thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by CINDERS
Took to the range yesterday, 50 yd indoor. Ammo: SMK 174 grn, PPU brass, Varget 40 grn.
Started off with the rear sight adjustment all the way rearward. Shots placed 3" left and 4" down. About 2-3 inch group.
Adjusted the rear sight a click forward (still way below the 200 yd mark). Still 3" left and now 2" down. Group tightened up a little to 1.5".
Set the rear sight at the 200 yd mark. Still 3" left but 1" high. Group at 1.0".
Adjusted rear sight to 1 click rear of the 200 yd mark. Still 3" left with 3 of 4 shots in bullseye 1.5 inch group.
I will be getting a sight adjustment tool to make the windage adjustments to the front sight. Thanks all!:thup:
Good to hear mate! Solid range report this.