New Enfield collector - my first specimen a 1942 Lithgow No. 1 Mk III*

[57Overlander]

I was curious about that. So the major parts were stamped when they were produced and the final assembly date is on the stock. Correct?

Are there any remnants of the old feeder factories? I've added a visit to the Lithgow museum on my bucket list.

[Aussie48]

You will have a ball at the Lithgow Museum.

You have it in 1 yes the parts were dated when produced and the final assembly/acceptance is on the flat of the butt along with any FTR date.
Of the feeder factories Bathurst Rifle Factory No 2 (BA) was leased in December 1945 and is or was a furniture factory.
Orange Rifle Factory No 3 (OA) was leased in early 1946 by Electricity Meter and Allied Industries later bought by Email Ltd.
Forbes Feeder factory (FA) was closed in 1945, unkown what is left.
Wellington Feeder Factory (WA) was closed in 1945 and became Orana Techincal College.
Slazenger (SLAZ) was not a Government establishment, still making tennis rackets.

[Homer]

Aussie can you confirm if this rifle was assembled in Orange?

[Aussie48]

hard to tell from just the Butt, assembled in 1942 (you knew that), Lithgow records show that Orange took over assembly on 15 March 1942 so if it's serial number is higher than D40000 yes if it is Exxxxx definitely

[Homer]

hard to tell from just the Butt, assembled in 1942 (you knew that), Lithgow records show that Orange took over assembly on 15 March 1942 so if it's serial number is higher than D40000 yes if it is Exxxxx definitely

Doesn't MA Lithgow stamped into the butt indicate it was made in Lithgow?

You did write earlier, that assembly shifted to Orange 1st June 1940 which contradicts your last post.

[CINDERS]

MA ceased in August '45 then I am pretty happy having a '45 MA Mk III also under the bolt handle on the receiver it has 1940 which ties in with what Au 48 said I think anyway it is a 45 and that's all that matters to me.

[muffett.2008]

The overlap of production was about six months, I'd say Lithgow assembly, although some parts on Orange early builds were still marked MA until used up.

[Aussie48]

OK I think I can finally put this one to bed from the Lithgow Museum:

The markings on Lithgow Butts are the date the rifle was accepted into store at Lithgow from the feeder factories.

Manufacture numbers:

00001 to 99999 (1913 – 1918) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
A00001 to A99999 (1918 – 1920s) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
B00001 to B99999 (1920s – 1941) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
C00001 to C99999 (1941) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
D00001 to D99999 (1941 – 1942) Some manufactured in Orange SAF-3
E00001 to E99999 (1942 – 1944) Manufactured Orange SAF-3
F00001 to F39580 (1944 – 1945) Manufactured Orange SAF-3
F39581 to F40580 (1953) Manufactured Lithgow SAF (machinery trials)

My 1940 Lithgow is a strange one B47007 as it is a MKIII with the magazine cut off slot milled in the receiver. Perhaps Homer can explain that one!

[5thBatt]

OK I think I can finally put this one to bed from the Lithgow Museum:

The markings on Lithgow Butts are the date the rifle was accepted into store at Lithgow from the feeder factories.

Manufacture numbers:

00001 to 99999 (1913 – 1918) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
A00001 to A99999 (1918 – 1920s) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
B00001 to B99999 (1920s – 1941) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
C00001 to C99999 (1941) Manufactured Lithgow SAF
D00001 to D99999 (1941 – 1942) Some manufactured in Orange SAF-3
E00001 to E99999 (1942 – 1944) Manufactured Orange SAF-3
F00001 to F39580 (1944 – 1945) Manufactured Orange SAF-3
F39581 to F40580 (1953) Manufactured Lithgow SAF (machinery trials)

My 1940 Lithgow is a strange one B47007 as it is a MKIII with the magazine cut off slot milled in the receiver. Perhaps Homer can explain that one!

That list is of no real use unless you are doing a study on serial number to butt socket dates (not butt dates) & even then its not very accurate.
eg C prefixed Lithgows while nearly all dated 1941 on the butt socket were nearly all assembled in 1942 & D prefix in 1943
Lithgow changed from the MkIII to MkIII* sometime in the last half of 1941.

[57Overlander]

Wow! Thanks guys. I've learned a lot. I've taken some Google map trips to Lithgow and Orange and learned a great deal about govt and factory stamps. The rear sight protector is marked OA so I'm going to assume it's a mix of Lithgow and Orange parts assembled at the Orange feeder factory. So it seems that Jovino did import complete rifles. If it was put in storage, I wonder why the Brits never took possession of it.