Lithgow Low Mount Sniper

[841NER]

FireArmSales.com.au :: Fire Arms For Sale & Fire Arms Directory Search Results

Quite a thing!

Information

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[Badger]

Knowledge Library example in the Australia section with 200 pic detailed photo montage ...

Milsurps - 1917/1945 No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle (Short Bracket)

Regards,
Badger

[841NER]

The MKIII HT listed sold in 8hrs, advertised on the web at 11pm it was bought at 7am next morning.

[Badger]

The MKIII HT listed sold in 8hrs, advertised on the web at 11pm it was bought at 7am next morning.

If authentic and all correct, I can understand why, as it was a very good price at $5,500 ....

Save original ad here for posterity and future research ...

Regards,
Badger

A nice example of a very hard to find military rifle. This genuine Lithgow No1 MkIII {no star} (HT) Low Mount Sniper went to store in 1945. It was one of only 480 odd SMLE low-mount SMLEs ever produced & was converted from a 1941 manufactured Lithgow, making this rifle a rare example, as most snipers were based on early WW1 manufactured Lithgows, with a few early English made actions thrown in {approx 10%}. Serial number can be confirmed in Ian Skennertons book, \"The Lee Enfield Story\". All numbers match throughout rifle, & it comes complete with original scope carry case, factory numbered 1588,.... this number matching the top & bottom mounts & the brass eye piece of the scope,....all are marked 1588. Scope is also engraved & numbered to the rifle 74568 & comes complete with original leather lens protectors. Timber is in un-issued condition, with correct \"H\" stamp on wrist. Optics are like NEW. Bore is PERFECT, shiny, with sharp lands & without a blemish. Selling because I need the $ for my next rare purchase. Price not negotiable unless you have something very rare & unusual to trade! **DEPOSIT TAKEN** $5500

Make: Lithgow
Model: No1 MkIII {HT} Sniper
Firearm Calibre: 303 Britis
Serial Number: B74568
Weapon category: Military/Collectable
Dealer Name: Transfer/Consignment via Gun Sport Trading
Dealer Address: Factory 3, 12 Gordon Street, Bairnsdale, Victoria.
Dealer Licence Number: 544-851-10F
Sellers Contact Details Name: Mal Smith
Phone: 0428594384

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[superbee]

Another one is listed on same site

FireArmSales.com.au :: Fire Arms For Sale & Fire Arms Directory Search Results

[Badger]

Saved that one too for posterity ...

Lithgow Sniper Rifle - RIFLES - ID: 1509

Lithgow Low Mount sniper. FTR'd 1954 Bore mint Crystal clear optics. Price is not negotiable. Serial Number is recorded/confirmed as one converted to a sniper. A nice original example of a Short Magazine Lee Enfield, Lithgow Low-mount No1 Mk3* (HT) Sniper... One of One Hundred... This rifle started off life as a standard British manufactured, London Small Arms SMLE No1 Mk3 made in 1911 prior to World War 1 & may have seen service for the Australian Defence Department during this conflict. Towards the end of World War 2, this rifle was converted to a No1 Mk3* (HT) High-mount Sniper and sent to store on Friday the 6th of April 1945, never to see action during this War. Lithgow usually converted early English & Lithgow actions due to superior metallurgy & tighter machining tolerances. The original order for 2500 snipers was terminated early, with only 1612 snipers converted by Lithgow & only 481 of these were Low-mounts. Only approximately 10% had been based on English made actions, similar to this rifle. During 1954, 100 Lithgow snipers were taken from store & underwent FTR as an exercise for the tradesmen at the Lithgow factory, all being converted to low-mount configuration using left over Australian Optics Company telescopic sights from the original, fulfilled contract of 2500 telescopic sights, making this rifle a VERY rare example, 1 of 100. The 1953 dated barrel has a superb shiny bore without wear. Factory stamps & numbers are correct & traceable. Australian Coachwood stock is well oiled & fit\'s like a glove around the action and barrel. The optics are in perfect condition, and comes complete with the original canvas covered scope case & leather lens protectors. *This rifle is one of only 481 Low mounts..... *Of the original 1612 produced, only 100 were FTR'd..... *Only 10% were based on English actions.... *Converted three times = RARE ! $5950

Make: Lithgow
Model: No1 Mk III
Firearm Calibre: .303
Serial Number: L25649
Weapon category: Military/Collectable
Dealer Name: Blackpearl Antique & Collectable Firearms
Dealer Address: QLD
Dealer Licence Number: 50000379

Sellers Contact Details
Name: Andrew Martin
Phone: 0431 280 149

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[841NER]

Nice touch saving the ads Badger! I bought my first SMLE No1 MkIII* from Andrew. They should come with a warning...


...something about addiction.

[Son]

Yeah... I'm afraid his dealer misinterpreted my notes a little bit... If I'd known he was going to use them for a sale (which he didn't at the time back when I wrote the "report" for him, and he has since apologised) I'd have set it out a little different.
The major "inaccuracy's" are

"one of one hundred" implying the FTR'd rifles were more desirable..... hmmm, up to the individual I 'spose...

"Lithgow usually converted early English & Lithgow actions due to superior metallurgy & tighter machining tolerances".... actually the British rifles were not of the same tight tolerences as the EARLY Lithgows. It would have just been another rifle in store at the time that passed the initial inspection, got a H barrel and passed the accuracy testing before being machined for the scope mounts- like all the rest of the non "early Lithgow actions" that were used...

"This rifle is one of only 481 Low mounts"... before 1950 there was only 481- adding the 100 FTR's from the fifties (which like this one, all started out as highmounts) then in the 1950's there were 581.

The "10% based on English actions" comes directly from my research- of the just over 100 rifles in my survey, almost 10% of them were British actions... there are also several Lithgow actions from the inter-war years and a few WW2 vintage Lithgow actions.

Also of note, the rifle retained it's original scope bases at the FTR... not unheard of, just most I've seen got the full "set". The foreend was not original to the rifle, and the rifle it came off was not a converted one. Not saying it wasn't fitted at the FTR, just unusual...

The owner (I don't know the dealer) is a mate, I know he is selling a couple of rifles to fund "a special purchase" (sounds familiar- heads up to a post from me here in the coming days )
If anyone is looking for a Lithgow sniper I'll ask if he is selling any more and see if we can't get some prior warning.

Cheers,
Brad.

[Badger]

FireArmSales.com.au :: Fire Arms For Sale & Fire Arms Directory Search Results

Quite a thing!

An observation I missed that was pointed out in a private email sent to me about this piece. The rifle has been refurbished at some time …. notice front sight ears have been drilled out. Once pics were blown up, I could see it clearer, although the pics are fuzzy with size.

Compare to an "all correct" low mount in the Australia Knowledge Library

Australian No.1 MkIII* H.T. Sniper Rifle

Pic from photo montage of "all correct" piece displayed in Knowledge Library entry ...

Attachment 14390



Enlarged pics from auction piece ...

Attachment 14391 -- Attachment 14392

Still, all in all, a pretty good price for this piece.

Regards,
Badger