Finally found a Lithgow MkIII 1943 issue

[mtbikerwvu]

It was in such good shape and the price was way right so it came home for my birthday present to me. A 1943 issue with an E prefix serial number, she seems to be very tight and intact. Wood does not seem to be coachwood though. I would guess English walnut and I have laid it next to my 1916 BSA and the wood matches really closely. Are Lithy rifles always coachwood in the WWII rifles? There are no recoil pads nor any signs that there ever were. I have read that they were eliminated from wartime production for awhile. The stock looks brand new on the inside.

Information

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[Homer]

Mate lovely looking rifle. Yes it is coachwood and that is the norm for Lithgow production after 1940. You are correct about a period when recoil inserts were deleted from production and yours would fall into that bracket.

Congratulations.

[mtbikerwvu]

Thanks for the info Homer!

[Brian Dick]

Nice rifle. I just pulled out a 1943 Mk.III* that's virtually identical, is tagged, has a green band painted on the buttstock and no recoil plates fitted. Also in the E prefix serial number range.

[mtbikerwvu]

So Brian does that green stripe indicate a cadet rifle safe to fire? I think I read that somewhere.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Beautiful Lithgow. Better get busy on that woodpile. Thanks for sharing.

[Gingercat]

Hi

Nice rifle - I have perhaps a later 'E' prefixed rifle and it does have recoil pads fitted, but has not undergone a FTR as far as I can tell.

Does yours also have the serial stamped on the butt, like my rifle? Just wondered if it left the factory that way, or whether it was done when issued.

All the best
Mike
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[mtbikerwvu]

Yep. exactly the same. Nice rifle, how does yours shoot?

[Gingercat]

Yep. exactly the same. Nice rifle, how does yours shoot?

I'm more a collector than a shooter, but I did take it to my local 100m range for the first time recently and got about 3" group being my best effort (I'm not a marksman!). The barrel fits very tightly in the nose cap, with no 'play' at all as you normally get when you press against the nose cap spring. I did wonder if that would affect accuracy, but apparently not.

[5thBatt]

I have a E prefix Lithgow with no recoil plates & the serial number on the butt, the number has been stamped with a F prefix, a mistake i dont believe was made at the factory as the number is too low, so no to it being done at the factory at the time of assembly.