1921 Lithgow No. 1 Mk III Unfired

[Bindi2]

Lithgows were paired with a bayonet with the rifle serial number stamped on it then the MD number was added to it and the rifle . This pratice did cease but i dont have the ref handy.
The transport boxes took 8 rifles and bayonets

[aussietomcatter]

I have some Lithgows that are as close to unfired as you can get but they have been proofed greased and stored. They are all XPs and S&Ls the rest have been fired most an awful lot others not so much. One sniper has a Q mark to it dont know all the British No1 Mk3s are well used. Two No4 Mk2s are as close as you can get to NEW RIFLE STATUS. My thoughts are any thing on issue has been fired most alot. There is no such beast as an unfired pre 1918 No1 Mk3 or Mk3* British/Lithgow made they just dont exist. I also doubt that there is such a beast from 1919 to 1945 British even british made No4 Mk1s will have been used. No4 Mk1*s maybe different. There maybe some late Lithgows unissued that did not go to the rifle clubs yet to see one

So when am I visiting again?

[Bindi2]

When your job gets you here

[Homer]

An interesting point. In the UK (I can't speak for Australia) bayonets are issued separately and so a bayonet numbered to the rifle simply would not happen. (Yes I know about those No.4 Mk.2s but they are the exception to the rule.)

This probably happened by very good luck.