Australian LITHGOW collectors

[Colonel Enfield]

Ive always been curious about the colt manufactured enfields, I've never seen even a picture of one. Any in there? Or does anybody have one?

There's a Pratt & Whitney SMLE Mk III in the Lithgow Small Arms Museum in New South Wales. Specifically, this one, dated 1911:

Attachment 63802

Sorry it's not a brilliant photo; it was taken about nearly 10 years ago and digital cameras weren't quite as impressive then, I'm afraid.

[Peter Laidler]

There must be over 1,000 chopped bodies, from Enfield 1896 to Ishapore 50's or so covering all years. It'll be what the medical profession might call a ball-aching job sorting through. I just did 4 tubs to sort most of the Lithgows. Plus a 1947 birthday body for myself. Even though it's chopped, it's still in better shape than me!

[Robert303]

Careful Peter, we'll all want a 'Birthday' Pen Holder. Can I have 53 plus an early WW2 ? Please!

[Smellymarkfive]

Thanks Colonel for the P&W picture. Ive never seen one of those either.

If you guys come accross anything 1903 I would be interested, and no that's not my birth year.

[Brian Dick]

Everyone who want's one of these needs to contact me directly at bdlltd@bellsouth.net and I will do my best to accommodate the requested dates. 1000 count might be a bit of an exaggeration but there are quite a few out there in my drive shed.

[Gingercat]

Everyone who want's one of these needs to contact me directly at bdlltd@bellsouth.net and I will do my best to accommodate the requested dates. 1000 count might be a bit of an exaggeration but there are quite a few out there in my drive shed.

Hi

I thought I'd post pictures of the four pen holders Brian kindly sent me (to the UK). I've initially cleaned them with some engine degreaser and old toothbrush, then will do a final bit with 0000 wire wool and oil before they go on display in my 'man cave' (as the wife calls it).

Ordered a WW1 Lithgow, LSA, Peddled rifle and BSA and am very pleased with them. Go on - treat yourself to a pen holder while stocks last!

[CINDERS]

Maybe I am just sentimental but just the thought of the drop saw thing grates, if they were re-smelted...... anyway I am just a sentimental bloke one may say the Kalashnikov is the best assault weapon but how many of the Commonwealth troops depended on the reliability of the SMLE in the mud and rain when the chips were down. One group of German WWI soldiers facing a group of British soldiers thought they were against a machine gun battalion such was the rate of fire from the trenches they were assaulting

[Son]

Maybe I am just sentimental but just the thought of the drop saw thing grates,

Hmmmm, maybe I should post a drop saw pic that would curl your toenails.... I'll see if I can find it.

On another semi related note... A number of years ago a dealer here had come across a quantity of woodwork and some metal parts to sell to restorers of SHT LE MkI rifles. He made a bit of money off the bits and made a few restorers happy in the process. It was a little later in discussion with him that he told me where he got the parts from. He had bought and cut up a dozen or so Patern 14 No1 .22 Trainers! Yes, there were 412 of these made in 1914/15 and he cut a dozen up. Even sent me pics of a few receivers as I was comparing butt socket markings at the time.

[bigduke6]

He had bought and cut up a dozen or so Patern 14 No1 .22 Trainers! Yes, there were 412 of these made in 1914/15 and he cut a dozen up.

Was there anything wrong with them before the chop?

Only ever had to chop a Mauser and just the body due to it being a right off, saved all the other bits etc.

[Brian Dick]

These were all cut in Canada in the mid 1990's. Most were DP rifles and are marked as such. I've salvaged the small parts for sale/use. The DP barrels off of them along with a good supply of hard to find buttplates are all going back to England to be used on Deacts. Unfortunately, the woodwork had been long sold when I bought all the remaining inventory. I've got a decent supply of SMLE parts for those in need except wood but I'm always struggling to find enough No.4 parts to go around. I do have a good supply of commonly used NOS band screws and extractor springs. Terry and I removed the cut front halves from the barrels last year and several of those are going to Criterion to be used as reference for tooling up to build SMLE barrels. At least they aren't going to waste.