Short barrel lithgow SMLE

[superbee]

HI
Does anybody have any info on the short barreled SMLE'S?How many were made etc
Skennerton said some were converted during WWII,info is scarce.

I picked up this one at a estate auction of a long time collector who had this one for over 35 years.All matching 1942 Lithgow,barrel is just over 20 inches and was recrowned.Wood work where the fore end was cut down looks professionaly done.

Information

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[Homer]

There's a good thread in the lee Enfield Knowledge Library under Australia.
Serial number would be xp prefix if its 1 of the 100 rifles made at lithgow.

[browningautorifle]

You must beware of these particular rifles as there are copies around. I did one myself for a man some years ago and it exists today. He died a few years ago and I missed picking it up again at the Calgary gun show where I saw it in possession of the new owner. All who saw it said "It looks professionally done"...but if I remember correctly, it had a 1918 action...or maybe not...

[Warren]

A number were done in Canada some (many) years ago. The muzzle crown is usually the first giveaway.

[Paul S.]

In all probability it is one of bastardized "Tanker" rifles produced by Navy Arms Co. in the 1990s. A dead giveaway - besides the markings, will be if the back sight is calibrated the same as a "normal" SMLE.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

From the Lithgow site:

Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum

"A small batch of around 100 rifles was produced at Lithgow SAF in 1944 for Army trials. Experimentation began with two barrel lengths, 18.2 inch and 20.2 inch, with the 18.2 inch dropped for the 20.2 inch for trials production. The serial numbers are preceded by "XP" and range between 1 and about 100.

Apart from the one-piece top handguard and the two longitudinal grooves on both sides of the shortened fore-end, the furniture and fittings are similar to the service No.1 MkIII*. The rear sight is mounted onto the charger bridge and has two push-pull range settings for 200 and 500 yards.

Army trials did not eventuate which resulted in the rifles being stored at SAF Lithgow."

The one "listed" looks a little odd, even from this distance.

[browningautorifle]

Agreed but...it still would be neat to have. Although the flash upon firing will be like an anti tank gun, it would carry and shoot nicely.

[Homer]

I had one and it was great fun to shoot. I'm sure Pete's going to tell me the scopes set too far back. Just call me one eye

Here's a picture of a genuine Lithgow as well. Note the sight.

[Bindi2]

There seems to be more than the odd one about. Not XPs. I have also seen one with yellow cadet paint job here in Aussie.

[Son]

Here's a couple of pics..
First up, as I was told at the Museum, the senior tradesmen were given the task of hand building a shortened verson of the No1 rifle. Several were finished and presented. Two patterns were selected and went on to have "a few" (thought to be less than 10) made which became the Shortened Lightened Short and Shortened Lightened Intermediate prototype rifles. From these "samples" the Intermediate length rifle was chosen and 100 "XP" experimental rifles were made. First pic is a "short" project rifle. Note the position of the rear sight behind the charger bridge

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Next pic, I think this was the intermediate prototype, looks very much like the finished article.

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Third pic.. a rack full of them! Note, most have bayonets... IIRC, there was only about a dozen bayonets made. Third from the end is a protoype No6, second from the end is a prototype Shortened lightened Short rifle.

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Last pic, three XP prototypes on the wall in the museum

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edit to add another pic... a few XP's at the top here, including an S&L with bayonet!

Attachment 55250