1917 Enfield receiver with 1944 lithgow stock and parts.

[Kiwi]

I've been offered a 1944 Lithgow that apparently has an 1917 Enfield dated receiver on it. All serial numbers including the forewood number match the serial number put on at Lithgow (I understand the original reciever serial number has been struck out and re-numbered to match the rest of the rifle). Apparently it is a very clean specimen and appears to have had very little use if any. How common was the use of old Enfield or BSA donor recievers at Lithgow and does the use of the donor receiver make the rifle somewhat rare or just an authorised mix-master?

Information

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[Thunderbox]

A lot of ex-British rifles ended up in Australian ownership and often being FTR'd by Lithgow. Sometimes all that is left of the original rifle is the receiver, sometimes the rifle is complete and just has Australian markings. The FTR rifles usually have Australian woodwork, with the metalwork being green-parked over the original British blacking.

[Homer]

Can you get hold of it to post pictures?

[Kiwi]

Managed to get some photos from the seller. Not sure that they will be of much help. It appears to be all Lithgow bar the receiver.

[Peter Laidler]

Really, this is no different than the hundreds of Inglis Mk2 Brens that we used to see completely re-worked at Enfield into Mk2/1 spec with the Enfield 1952 FTR marks. That's why the weapons and parts are made fully interchangeable. So it shouldn't seem strange, odd or out of place

[tbonesmith]

Looks like a beaut rifle. You should snap it up.

[Homer]

From those few pictures it looks very nice. Just an English action rebuilt using Lithgow parts. I'd say the action hasn't been renumbered and the number you say that is scrubbed is probably the Military District inventory number but we would need to see it to be sure. It's not going to be stamped FTR if it was refurbished in 1944 and the only indicator would be that date on the butt which could represent a very small repair or total refurb, and that seems to be the case with this rifle. If you do get it, I'd like to see more detailed pictures of all the numbered parts if that's possible for you. Best of luck with it.

[Kiwi]

I'd like to see more detailed pictures of all the numbered parts if that's possible for you

Got some more photos from the seller. The serial number on the 1918 Enfield reciever has been struck out and renumbered with an R prefix serial number. The forewood and nosecap have the same number. I wasn't aware of R prefix lithgows?

[Homer]

I'm not convinced the action has been re-serial numbered. I can't get close enough to determine what the crossed out five digit number is. Is it preceded by a letter or a number above it.

You won't find any R prefix lithgows but this is not a Lithgow action.

[Thunderbox]

The "R 5341" is the original Enfield Rifle number. The top number has been added, then struck out.