1934 Lithgow fixer upper "Acquisition"

All:
This 1934 Lithgow MK III followed me home from the local pawn shop yesterday. The receiver is marked 1934 and the barrel is dated May 1935. It has been sporterized with a mismatched bolt, but the barrel is full length and looks pretty good. For what I paid for it, I'm definitely restoring it.

The bolt is a Bathurst marked "28227"" and all the parts are Ozzy. The receiver main serial # is "B22096" and the Lithgow Serial by the bolt track is "A49". The bolt looks like it has been with this rifle for a long time. Head space is great, but I haven't checked the locking lugs yet.

An interesting find is the stock was fitted with the rear tie plate with the steel pins going forward (see Pic). Even with these installed, the stock is pretty hammered at the draws.

I have a good bit of what is needed to get her back, but I'm gonna need help for sure.

Opinions? Observations??
Thanks!



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Rare year. Was this the one for sale for $649?

As ufo8mydog said, a 1934 production Lithgow would be relatively rare as Lithgow only made 39,492 rifles from 1923 to 1939 for an average annual production of only slightly more thn 2,300 rifles. I don't exactly know how many were built in 1934 but it couldn't have been many.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

As ufo8mydog said, a 1934 production Lithgow would be relatively rare as Lithgow only made 39.492 rifles from 1923 to 1939 for an average annual production of only slightly more thn 2,300 rifles. I don't exactly know how many were built in 1934 but it couldn't have been many.

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For the fiscal year July to June.


1922-23 = 2,700
1923-24 = 3,320
1924-25 = 3,140
1925-26 = 2,760
1926-27 =3,000
1927-28 = 3,200
1928-29 = 3,200
1929-30 = 340
1934-35 = 500
1935-36 = 1,141
1936-37 = 900
1937-38 = 421
1938-39 = 860

It was the one advertised, but I did not pay the listed price.
By the way, there are no import, rebuild or ownership marks anywhere that I could find on the receiver. Unfortunately, the buttstock markings have all been sanded off

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CoatiMundi

It was the one advertised, but I did not pay the listed price.
By the way, there are no import, rebuild or ownership marks anywhere that I could find on the receiver. Unfortunately, the buttstock markings have all been sanded off

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I thought that was the one. It was advertised for ages. I inquired about, unfortunately getting information out of them was like pulling teeth. When I asked questions they replied with everything but the information I wanted. I tried multiple times same thing each time.
I would still restore it. It has the original barrel which is a good start.

---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:14 PM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapper740

As ufo8mydog said, a 1934 production Lithgow would be relatively rare as Lithgow only made 39.492 rifles from 1923 to 1939 for an average annual production of only slightly more thn 2,300 rifles. I don't exactly know how many were built in 1934 but it couldn't have been many.

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Rifles built during the fiscal year didn't always have the same action date. Many 30's dated action where not assembled until 1940 so they fall under 1940 production figures.

I just happened to go by the place and saw it on the rack with a bunch of other uninteresting guns.

Was there procedure on marking replacement bolts by the Australians? This bolt is BA marked, but the serial number on it (if it came from another rifle) would be much earlier than WWII.

Coatimundi most ww2 production rifles where put together of parts from forbe, orange Bathurst and Wellington feeder factories ,if it was built in 1934 it would have a lot more MA marked parts on it . You will find on most FTR rifles there is a mix of those feeder sites stamps .still a rare year rifle i may be able to help you out with a Ma butt plate let me look today for you




QUOTE=CoatiMundi;541276]I just happened to go by the place and saw it on the rack with a bunch of other uninteresting guns.

Was there procedure on marking replacement bolts by the Australians? This bolt is BA marked, but the serial number on it (if it came from another rifle) would be much earlier than WWII.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! Maybe a rebuild before they started stamping the MA and date on the receiver for FTR.
The barrel is dated May 1935 and the rear sight is original and serial matching. The tie plate at the back of the stock has the metal rods to reinforce the draws which I understand was only done for a short time which is neat.
The wood has been really sanded so all the usual info is unreadable.

If the bolt is marked BA, it was most likely a replacement bolt for an earlier rifle at one time, probably a 1915 action.
If it was paired to this action by any military workshops it would have been numbered to match.
The recoil pin arrangement was not effective. Time consuming and the few forends I’ve seen with them were buggered. The pins never even lined up with the sear lugs properly anyway.
I did have a bolt at one time very close to that but it is long gone

Thank you for answering my question on how replacement bolts were marked. All other parts on this rifle are marked “MA” or the have the seven pointed star.

As far as the recoil pins, you can add this stock to the list as “buggered” too. When I get a replacement stock, I will probably install a regular plate and not bother with the original one.

Here are a couple pics of this rifle now. Thanks for the members that helped me with parts and information. It is a good shooter too!

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Looking sharp, nice work.

Looks great mate

That is a transitional fore end for a much earlier rifle.

I had difficulty locating a replacement stock by itself, so I bought a 1924 DP marked Lithgow that had this wood on it. Is it transitional because it has the Volley sight bulge but is not cut out for it?

yes, that is what makes it transitional. Great looking rifle for sure.