Pics of my Lithgow

[daveboy]

Thanks for all your replies.

No, it does not have a windage adjustable rear sight.

I cleaned up the stock a bit and reoiled it and it looks much better now. Took it to the range today and fired it for the first time. Problem-will not extract cases. The extractor spring was missing. No problem thinks I, as I have an Ishapore for parts. I got the spring out of the Ishapore with no problem, but when installing into my bolthead it does not appear to go in all the way. The outer leg of the spring has a protusion that should snap into the hold on the bolthead. It lines up okay, but does not snap into it. It appears that the other (inside) leg of the spring is not going in completely. I thought it was okay, but when I just now tried to chamber a round the bolt would not close on it. Closes okay with no round, but it appears that with a round in there it pushed the extractor against the barrel and the spring is preventing it from fitting correctly.

Anyway, I am pretty handy with my hands and tools, but I can't figure out what I am doing wrong here. Is this a common problem? Can anyone steer me?

Thanks for any replies. If necessary, will post on the gunsmith forum.

daveboy

[LithgowHT]

Any chance of a close up photo?, check to see if there are any remaining pieces of old spring or debris in there, apart from that do a close inspection of the ishapore bolt head if you still have it and check for minor sizing differences.

Wouldn't be the first time I've used the bench grinder to slightly modify spring steel either, but be careful.

[Son]

Nice wood strengthening peg patching on the lower handguard. REAL Bandiana trained RAEME armourers work there!

Pity it isn't still being taught! Not much call for woodworking expertise these days. Mag58 butts and Charlie Gutsache grips are about it... hang on, still the occasional wombat gun around too.

Gotta appreciate the art! I'm afraid it's all but lost. Look after her well, daveboy, she's a treasure.

[Peter Laidler]

There's a blast from the past Son.....WOMBATS. Do you mean the 120mm anti tank Wombat? Woweeeeee. My bread and butter for ages. Our GPMG/Mag58/L7A2's are now all plastic woodwork... if you see what I mean!

Do you still have M8C spotting rifles fitted to the Bats?

[Son]

I didn't even know there was an "official" wombat. No, the woodwork is on the M79 grenade launchers, effectionately (?) called the wombat gun. Almost all the GPMG's here still have wooden butts, but they aren't repaired either.

[daveboy]

Installed a new extractor spring today. Seems to work fine now. Can't wait to fire it again and this time do some accuracy testing.

daveboy