As-issued Lithgow #3 - or #3*

[Aussie48]

My 1940 Lithy is a 3 no star and has the cutout slot but no plate and has never had one as it has the original timber which is 3*. The mind boggles at why they did the things they did, of course it could have been an armourer in 2MD and when the rifle came in with no plate but a slot and No 3 timber took it upon himself or was ordered to by some knowledgeable Rupert to stamp it to what he believed it should be.

Dick

[Homer]

My 1940 Lithy is a 3 no star and has the cutout slot but no plate and has never had one as it has the original timber which is 3*. The mind boggles at why they did the things they did, of course it could have been an armourer in 2MD and when the rifle came in with no plate but a slot and No 3 timber took it upon himself or was ordered to by some knowledgeable Rupert to stamp it to what he believed it should be.

Dick

Dick that all sounds a bit odd. What's the date on the butt and the serial number range?

[Aussie48]

It's in the survey 1940 stamped wrist Mk 3 No * with 3* timber marked 1941, barrel stamped 2-41 Serial number Receiver, Barrel, Bolt and Nose Cap B47007

[Homer]

That is an odd one Dick. Lithgows as MkIII's no star were being made with 1941 actions right up until serial number B75000 in 1941, so I would have thought for sure yours would be a genuine MkIII. I've had three 1941 MkII's B47000, B60000 and B75000 and all were MkIII actions and butts. Could it be yours has had the butt changed and is the forend numbered?

[Aussie48]

Hi Homer,

It is a genuine MkIII and the Butt could have been changed at some point in it's life and yes the forend is numbered same as the rifle B47007, interesting to see it has a serial number only 4 higher than one of yours on a 41 receiver. All parts are marked MA so it wasn't from one of the feeder factories, the only part I'm not sure is original is the back sight leaf as it is too new looking if you know what I mean.

Dick

[Homer]

Dick mine was B47779. I only rounded the numbers for ease of typing. I've had 1940's in the 40000's also and it's about this time they started assembling 1941 actions, but its not unusual to see a lower dated action assembled later. In fact we are just discussing this very subject on another thread.

[mike16]

I dont recall if I read corrctly Skennerton or Stratton stated that the Navy, Astrailian? retrofitted the cut off and did not alter the stamped designation on the side of rifle to indicate the modification.

So cut off installation could be facilitated at several levels.


so either way is correct

I have a 41 MA lithgowIII. it has been cut for the cut off. the screw is installed and clearly has been thier from early on, when these details did not matter. Its blued rather than parked. no damage to the head indicating R&R. My goal is to install a cut off. seems a shame to waste the hole

next compelling question is to identify and locate an MA 40 cut off.

Would they have manufactured cut offs in 40 or 41. at the lowest level the armourers would have probably used existing stocks on hand.

But did the factory produce MA 40 or 41 cut offs and install them on rifles leaving the factory. My bet is probably not. and the Navy relied on existing stocks due to the implementation of thepolicy at the lowest level. I'm just speculating from a lgistical aspect hoe differeing polcies were implemended.

I also understand that the commercial odels manufacured up until 55 the cut off slot cut was optional and the installation of the cut off was a separate option. I wonder what the markings on those later comercial cut offs looked like.

[Homer]

I dont recall if I read corrctly Skennerton or Stratton stated that the Navy, Astrailian? retrofitted the cut off and did not alter the stamped designation on the side of rifle to indicate the modification.

So cut off installation could be facilitated at several levels.


so either way is correct

I have a 41 MA lithgowIII. it has been cut for the cut off. the screw is installed and clearly has been thier from early on, when these details did not matter. Its blued rather than parked. no damage to the head indicating R&R. My goal is to install a cut off. seems a shame to waste the hole

next compelling question is to identify and locate an MA 40 cut off.

Would they have manufactured cut offs in 40 or 41. at the lowest level the armourers would have probably used existing stocks on hand.

But did the factory produce MA 40 or 41 cut offs and install them on rifles leaving the factory. My bet is probably not. and the Navy relied on existing stocks due to the implementation of thepolicy at the lowest level. I'm just speculating from a lgistical aspect hoe differeing polcies were implemended.

I also understand that the commercial odels manufacured up until 55 the cut off slot cut was optional and the installation of the cut off was a separate option. I wonder what the markings on those later comercial cut offs looked like.

Lithgows were manufactured with cutoff up until and during 1941. Ive noted many examples with MA41 marked cutoffs and possibly one or two with MA40. Put either in your rifle if you can find one or one that is marked just MA.

What commercial models were made until 1955? Never heard this before.

[Ridolpho]

Just out of curiosity, would an armourer or arsenal issue a rifle with cutoff removed and without installing a Mk III* type forend to cover the opening with its potential for allowing stuff into the action?

Ridolpho

[Homer]

Just out of curiosity, would an armourer or arsenal issue a rifle with cutoff removed and without installing a Mk III* type forend to cover the opening with its potential for allowing stuff into the action?

Ridolpho

For sure. Australia only made low walled forends. Cutoff slot or not, that part of the action was always exposed.