I could not pass this one up

[paulseamus]

119er

Nice looking rifle. Some info on the markings. Lithgow, a town in New South Wales, inland from Sydney, was the main Australian Ordnance factory but during WW2 various factories were set up in towns nearby. The markings indicate thesupplying factory by town

MA = Lithgow, NSW
OA = Orange, NSW
BA = Bathurst, NSW
SLAZ = Slazenger, a sports good manufacturer based in Sydney. They normally made tennis racquets During the war they made the timber for the rifles.

The serial number 1204xx with an A suffix on the rifle indicates that it has been renumbered on the nosecap and on the side of the barrel.

Lithgow rifles were numbered with a Letter followed by up to 5 numbers. Rifles made during WW2 started with a C prefix and ended with a F prefix. A 1945 Rifle should be FXXXXX

Check on the right side of the butt socket and under the rear hand guard. The rear handguard should be able to be gently lifted off from the rear with a large flat screw driver. Lifting the hadguard will enable you to see more markings on the barrel and receiver and perhaps determine its original serial number.

Still a nice rifle. Hope this info helps.

Paul