Australian Lithgow Sniper - $650?

[Badger]

Here's a good one to start with........

Feedback and comments anyone?

ZEFARM Item no. 2116 - Australian LEE-ENFIELD SMLE SNIPER RIFLE (click here)

Offered here is a scarcely encountered Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mark III Sniper Rifle manufactured at Lithgow Arsenal, Australia dated 1916. Serial number is 45081 this is one of 1612 of these rifles converted at the Lithgow facility in 1945-1946. The serial numbers are listed in the Lee-Enfield Story...there are 24 listed in the 45xxx range, and this is because armourers sought out 1914-1916 Lithgow actions for the conversions. Features include a 25 inch ( 640mm ) Heavy Sniper barrel with original scope bases, 10 shot detachable magazine and leather sling. Finish is grey-green parkerized, barrel, fore-stock and buttstock are correctly stamped with the letter "H" signifying the heavy barrel configuration ( fore-stock has a deeper-wider channel to accomodate the larger diameter heavy barrel ) rifle bolt and magazine are serial numbered differently from the receiver, nose cap is un-numbered. Overall condition is very good, bore is dark but shows strong rifling. Non-Restricted class firearm.

Price $650.00 CAD

Regards,
Badger

Information

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[Claven2]

Hmm... well, it's a real Lithy sniper, but it's a restored sporter wearing real (but not original to this rifle) HT mounts. The furniture is Ishapore Luan Mahogany.

Essentially a "put together". Maybe worth the asking price just forthe parts, but a collector it is not.

You can clearly see the splice in the forestock where the Indian re-inforcing strap was removed and patched.

You'd think someone trumping up an HT sniper could at least afford to junk a sewer bore Lithgow to get decent coachwood furniture to flog that.... thing.

[Max Power]

dead give away for me is the fresh nicely blued screws holdin the front mount on.

[tiriaq]

Those screws certainly do stand out, don't they? What about the price? If the rifle were correct, what would be reasonable?

[Badger]

Those screws certainly do stand out, don't they? What about the price? If the rifle were correct, what would be reasonable?

If it were all correct ............. at that price you'd be seeing it in my collection, not still for sale...

Regards,
Badger

[Claven2]

About $2000-3000 is about right it it were "right".

[tiriaq]

My first thought when viewing the ad was that the price was far too low, given what a standard SMLE will bring these days. The price alone, from an experienced seller, is an indication that the rifle is not all that one might hope that it is.
I get a kick out of the "dark with strong rifling" description that is so often applied to bore condition. Then again, I don't care for "rearsenaled" (presumable refurbished in a government facility, as opposed to privately restored), or "forced matched", instead of simply "renumbered".

[Son]

This one came up for discussion on another board a while back. I blew all the pics up and studied them intently. I recall noting the rifle in my "HT survey" at the time. This is what I wrote... "ishy screw, bad fitting timber at butt socket, unsure wood type, bridge rivets rough" I also noted on the survey it had un-numbered mount bases. Where I have struck this before, it is unusual and would indicate replacements. The charger bridge is a serious concern as these rifles were originally assembled by the best craftsmen in the factory. Such a bogus looking bridge would not have gotten out of the factory. If it hasn't been off, then someone has tried to remove it. A couple of other things, the "H" on the butt wrist is wrong, and as someone else noted, it has had the Ishapore foreend tie strap removed and wood repaired.
Yes, it was a Lithgow sniper rifle. If someone had the resources to restore it, it would probably be worth the asking price. By resources, I would think you'd need an A.O.C. Patt18 scope with rings on your bench.

Brad.