I can't believe this is mine - 1914 Lithgow SMLE Mk III

[A square 10]

i never tire of seeing fine riflkes in original nick , i note the 4MD on the buttstock , its the marking of the 4th military district home defence service , that would account for the great condition of this rifle ,

1914-1816 were hard years of service for issue weapons on the front line ,

the brass plate sugests some kind of museum display and nothing i am saying is gospell , i am willing to listen to any with differing thoughts ,

it is a very nice example of a mkIII SMLE , congrats , she is a beauty

[Bindi2]

4 MD is not home defence it shows which state the rifle was issued to. If the butt stock disc is fitted or marked this identifies which unit it was issued. The states raised their own battalions which formed the Australian army before the CMF came into being ( another butt stamp)

[Homer]

Is it 4MD or 1MD?

[Bindi2]

Is it 4MD or 1MD?

Looks like 1MD to me.

[Homer]

Looks like 1MD to me.

And me. Beautiful tropical Queensland.

[A square 10]

i stand corrected it is indeed 1MD , with CMF above it , did he indicate what was on the brass disc ?

[RangeRover]

Sorry. Dropped offline for a bit there. It is indeed 1MD. Here's a different shot of the buttstock markings. There is nothing but the Lithgow star on the stock disc.



I've since had a chance to get a little closer into the working bits of the rifle, and have taken more photos. I've stuck a couple more below. The rifle is all-matching, is Lithgow production through and through and is still configured for Mk VI ammunition (rear sight bed, etc.).

I remain boggled at the condition of the rifle - with the damage and plaque not NIB, but apparently with all of the same parts with which it left the factory in 1914, right down to the matching pencilled assembly markings on the underside of the upper and lower handguards.

[Homer]

Truly remarkable rifle. This would be one of the rarest of all the lithgows.