Lithgow Rifles Survey

[fat fred]

Homer the back of the bolt handle, where I understand the seriel number is to be, is scrubbed. The underside, however, has the non-matching F number. Isn't this number called the assembly number or some such? The bolt head has MA42 stamp with a slanted "P" etched alongside.

[fat fred]

Thanks Fred, if you check the front face of the bolt handle, you will find BA stamped next to the handle ball, a bolt replacement program was being run from about 1945 until the completion of the FTR program.

Wow! Thank you! You're right. I would have never known. And I have been depressed all this time that my bolt # didn't match!

[Homer]

Unfortunately Fred, if it's not numbered, it doesnt match. But it's not that big a deal.

[fat fred]

Unfortunately Fred, if it's not numbered, it doesnt match. But it's not that big a deal.

Bloody hell... back to the meds lol
Cheers
Large Fred

[brent65]

Here's my Lithgow H barrel and its without doubt the most accurate .303 I have shot, beautiful light trigger, tight and smooth bolt (for a smle anyway) whoever set this old girl up knew what he was doing. Don't know any of it's history apart from the obvious 1942 bit and no idea what the electro pencil marks on the bolt head mean either.

PS. sorry for the pic quality taken with i phone

[henry r]

nice rifle, possibly built by harry motton, from the "motty" barrel marking.

for a little more on harry motton see Motty Special rifle w/Mues sight

edit: had the nose cap been clearanced around the barrel?

[brent65]

nice rifle, possibly built by harry motton, from the "motty" barrel marking.

for a little more on harry motton see Motty Special rifle w/Mues sight

edit: had the nose cap been clearanced around the barrel?

No the nose cap is a tight fit

[No.6]

Muffett,

Rifle
MA Lithgow SMLE III* 1943
E31954
On top of the barrel knox form is a capital 'R' within a circle - any idea what this means? Skennerton is uncertain - ?"replacement" or "reserve".

Bayonet
D96873

Rifle
MA Lithgow SMLE III* 1945
XP278
Butt is stamped MA 5/45, but, of course, while it says SMLE III* it is a No.6 Mk1/1

Regards,
Ian
(LERA #023, btw)

[muffett.2008]

Thanks, what is the barrel date of the 1943?

Yes, the R in a circle means replacement barrelAttachment 69181

on the right side should be a figure for how many were fitted to that action.......
On early 1913/14 rifles, there could be several barrel changes due to faulty steel, these were indicated on the right side of the barrel, this example on a 1914 shows three barrels were fitted.Attachment 69180
This is also an indication to an Armourer as to wear on a receiver, heavy usage or lack of maintainance.

[Miningengineer13]

Gents,

I have eight new additions, serials numbers and barrel dates:

1916 Mk III "H" 37952 8/'33
1916 Mk III 48324 1916
1941 Mk III* C 19042 3/'42
1942 Mk III* D 732 8/'53 "FTR"
1943 Mk III* E 86654 12/'43
1944 Mk III* E 89702 3/'44
1944 Mk III* E 97228 5/'44
1944 Mk III* F 1417 6/'44

Thanks for providing a list!