No1mk3 Heavy barreled sporter

[CINDERS]

BA = Rifle Factory No.2 Bathurst NSW Australia

MA= LSAF (Lithgow Small Arms Factory Australia) post 1926 (on both rifles & bayonets)

[nijalninja]

'MA' on the barrel just means the barrel was made at Lithgow, and the 'BA' on the trigger guard I think means it was made at the Orange factory. Bunch of different factories came around later and built components and assembled rifles. If I am not mistaken however the Orange factory was not around in 1916 when your rifle was first built, which makes me think the trigger guard has been replaced. History of factories is not my thing so check with someone else first.

[CINDERS]

Sorry Nijal different factory OA= Rifle Factory No.3 Orange not the Bathurst factory;

Factory Marks

BA Rifle Factory No.2 Bathurst
CA Cowra Annexe
DA Dubbo Annexe
FA Forbes Annexe Lithgow LSAF up to 1926 (on both rifles & bayonets)
MA LSAF post 1926 (on both rifles & bayonets)
MAO Rifle Factory No.3 Orange (butt marking)
OA Rifle Factory No.3 Orange
PA Parkes Annexe
PA Portland Annexe SLAZ Slazenger Annexe (supplied wood furniture from 1941)
WA Wellington Annexe

[jonh172]

Unreal thanks guys!

CINDERS, what does the star on the sight leaf and sear tell us?

[CINDERS]

Lithgow used the 7 pointed star with the internal "A" up until 1926 on the MKIII & MkIII* whilst post 1926 they just went with MA as per 5th statement above

[nijalninja]

Ah I knew I would screw it up. Thanks for the correction Cinders.

[Aussie Long Tom]

Heavy barrel conversion from the 30’s, referred to as H model marksmen conversion. Only done in the Lithgow factory.

H model for me too. Factory conversion, hence the barrel serialed to match. Is the sight base numbered?

[jonh172]

H model for me too. Factory conversion, hence the barrel serialed to match. Is the sight base numbered?

It is numbered, but not matched.

[jonh172]

Do we agree its a factory converted piece with no replaced parts (post conversion) with just the wood knocked down and butt replaced??

So the big question, what now??

Is this a good enough candidate to put back to military config or does the drilled receiver take too much away to make it worth my while and money?

[CINDERS]

I just noticed John172 what appears to be a blob of brass brazing under the rear adjustable sight holding it from moving is this so then tats a bit of a bugger.
Drilling & taping of the receiver & charger bridge will always affect the value they can be filled and made almost invisible but the thing is you cannot disguise the fact I would leave it and enjoy it as it is and look for another full wood.