The huge gap is also a result of having taken off the stock for cleaning. I suppose if I give it a few light taps from front the gap would become smaller. It isn't noticeable when in hands, seems though I exactly positioned the camera at the perfect position to show it.
No plans to shoot it anyway. And I had already mentioned in my starting post in the second sentence that the nosecap is matching, but I cannot find one on the foreend (I suppose for it having seen so much usage).
Based on the replies may I therefore assume this is its original barrel? I failed to find another one with a barrel from this period, all 1924 dating Lithgowrifles a Google search came up with were with a barrel from 1940s.
Also forgot to ask, anyone an idea on what the Z on the receiver ring means?