Saved 1953 lithgow

[muffett.2008]

I see old mate in QLD is selling bits off martini's and LLE's at the moment. Where is this other bloke from?

[tuffbj70]

Demo, congratulations on rescuing a rifle intended to be lost forever to the short sighted money makers. The other point is that people a buying these bits and pieces to make what? Mismatched crap, that they think are worthy to put on a collection? Keep up the good work!

[Anzac15]

Well done.
It never ceases to amaze me what people do with these historical firearms.
A rifle that has seen no end of misery, hardship, God knows what else only to be broken up and sold off just to make a quick buck. It really chaps my a**. I congratulate you on your endeavour.

[markymark]

Demo,

What you have doen to restore these '53's to their former glory is absolutely oustanding.

I know what dramas you went through to achieve this and as RJW NZ has said, you really deserve a medal for bringing these beauties 'back from the brink'.

Sad thing is that even if the person you got these guns / parts from saw the outcome, it would make no difference, as he uses the ebay revenue to supplement his retirement funds.

[muffett.2008]

Or drug funds, surely no one of sane mind can be so stupid.
The question I ask myself is, are these people licenced to have this firearm , and if not why can't we bring them to heel?

[newcastle]

Demo, congratulations on rescuing a rifle intended to be lost forever to the short sighted money makers. The other point is that people a buying these bits and pieces to make what? Mismatched crap, that they think are worthy to put on a collection? Keep up the good work!

Not necessarily. Many people search specifically for parts because they are refurbishing a rifle and want to make it correct. Ask Peter how much the armorers cared about mismatching when putting rifles back together so someone could go off to war with it, which of course is their actual purpose. Use of the phrase "mismatched crap" is a luxury afforded to those of us who don't have to fight and die for our country and who can collect rifles simply because others did.

[tuffbj70]

Not necessarily. Many people search specifically for parts because they are refurbishing a rifle and want to make it correct. Ask Peter how much the armorers cared about mismatching when putting rifles back together so someone could go off to war with it, which of course is their actual purpose. Use of the phrase "mismatched crap" is a luxury afforded to those of us who don't have to fight and die for our country and who can collect rifles simply because others did.

I am meaning no disrespect to our forfarthers, who served to maitain our respective counties. But the term 'mismatched crap' I see all the time.

I mainly collect No 1 Mk3 Lithgows and 90% are matching. I also have a several no 4's as well and understand what peter is discussing about armourers getting rifles in and out asap, as well as wartime production in Britain. But what I can't stand is people pushing rifles especially Lithgows who have been made from parts cobbled together from other rifles as true and correct.