A new Lithgow, and it really needs a cleaning

[nattcmars]

I picked this up the other day cheap, really cheap, because it was so cruddy and nasty. It was an auction and nobody else wanted it because it was so nasty, but I saw a gem. It is a unmolested, non import, 100% matching, mirror bore(once I got the cobwebs out) Lithgow. So here are some before pics, once I get done cleaning I will post some after pics. Right now it is in a million pieces on my bench.

Information

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[aqbill]

If that rifle could talk, imagine what it might say. It looks as though it was stored next to a dryer vent. Will be anxious to see what's under all that grime and, more importantly, to find out how it shoots.

AQBill

[Homer]

Nice, a 1941 MkIII, not that common.

Although it looks a little sanded to me.

[burb1989]

Heck I would've bought it just for the fact it was all matching. It would look great next to my 1942 Lithgow that was brought home by my grandfather's best friend. Can't believe nobody wanted it

[A square 10]

is there something off in that wrist marking ?

[nattcmars]

actually it does look a little off. Here are pics of my other 41 Lithgow before I cleaned it up

[Homer]

Obvious difference is ones a MkIII, the other a MkIII*.

[nattcmars]

It is currently soaking in a bath of kroil trying to loosen up some of the crud. I feel like i need a putty knife or scraper more than brushes to loosen up some of the krud Everything under the wood line is coated in suncorite and the barrel appears to have had a coat of suncorite then a coat of green paint. There is a bunch of sand inside it, almost every crevice has some kind of sand in it, so i wonder if that is a sign of its history at all. And there appears to be a little bit of damage on the butt socket where the rear guard screw goes. The edges seem to be dinged up a little bit. Does anyone have a chart of the knox markings and what they mean? If I remember the "R" is rust, but they did a nice job cleaning it up because the bore is beautiful, but what does the "P" mean?

Thanks in advance,
Eric

[Homer]

A common view is that P is for paint, as in the case that a rifle has had an application of khaki green paint as a corrosion preventative.
I would try to preserve it if it was mine. The black paint on the barrel under the khaki is most probably factory.

[Aussie48]

P on a Lithgow Knox = Replacement Barrel, R on a Lithgow = Replacement or Reserve grade barrel, you have both, lucky you