Thoughts on this Lithgow 1953 SMLE?

Hello all,

I bought this rifle back in 1993 when the US was flush with milsurps. This was in a rack of about 200 other SMLE Mk III's. I had just finished reading the "LE Story" and recognized this serial number to be the last batch of 1000 rifles to come out of the Lithgow Arsenal. I snatched it up for a measly $129.99. Tax and DROS came to $160.38. Ahhh... the good old days.....

Anyways, my question is to those who are in the know regarding Australian rifles. There are no acceptance marks pressed into the stock. Matching numbers, including proof batch numbers. Other particulars:
1.No "HV" over "SC" on the barrel.
2. Receiver dated 1953
3.charger bridge marked MA 52.
4. Stock wrist marked SLAZ 51
5.Trigger Guard marked SLAZ 53
6. Forend marked SLAZ 44 (with copper recoil blocks installed)
7. Upper and lower handguard marked SLAZ 43

It has an early style nosecap with no sight windows, and is drilled for a piling swivel. The barrel end of the rifle was dipped in yellow paint. Paint thinner and WD-40 removed all of that. Bore is a little frosty near the muzzle. Light grease packed throughout rifle.

What was the final fate of the last batch of 1000 SMLE's? Were they pressed into cadet service, and is this rifle a "bitser." I remember the Jovino SMLE 's that were assembled here in the US and advertised as unissued.

Thanks for any input.

Very interesting late Lithgow you have there, I very much look forward to hearing more about it from the experts. I am guessing that this 1,000 was a Cold War frayed nerves "just in case" production test batch, same as the Canadian Arsenals No4's of the same era ?

Love to have your example in my collection...

From the serial number and the receiver and barrel date it is indeed one of the last 1000 rifles produced to prove the machinery and tooling in 1953 last serial number was F40580. The yellow paint denotes that it is serviceable but not up to service standard (usually found on Cadet Corps Riles), it can be something as trivial as the old style nose cap for instance which were phased out in 1941. Nice pickup, one of the last 1000 produced a 1953 receiver with a February 1954 barrel.