Lithgow Rifles Survey

[stevebc]

Lithgow 1917 No. I Mk. III no star, serial #79624, rebarrelled in March of 1945

[CINDERS]

1916 58234 5MD "H" barrel stamped on butt wrist

1921 A90694 1921 barrel all original except fore woods

1945 F37239 Heavy barrel fitted

[muffett.2008]

Cinders, what are the years on those H barrels? it gives me an idea if the rifle was part of a repair program, an FTR or was rebarreled by a Civilian.

[CINDERS]

I will dig them out tomorrow muffet and have a gecko and let ya know, I did take pics but as usual having filed them somewhere on my computer and cannot find them

[CINDERS]

Muffet the dates I have on my 2 H barreled Mk III's

1916 5MD Lithgow 4-1937

1945 OA (I think it is and not MA) 6-1959

The 1921 Lithgow is as it left the factory (Apart from the forewoods) and will not accept a .300.5' gauge in the muzzle its barrel is dated 9-21
These 2 live in the safe occasionally I get the '45 out for a bash but the '16 stays put.

The 1921 never goes out except for its 6 monthly oil wipe and BLO treatment.
Purportedly my '21 has not been fired since it received the new forewoods the chap who owned it for 30 years informed me of such, he asked the previous owner who had it for yonks to which he replied he had never fired it either. (Came with '07 1921 Lithgow bayonet numbered to the rifle and a Dble stitch Lithgow 1921 Scabb.)
As it still has cosmoline grease on it in parts there is no real wear on the left of the mag floor plate or other parts as you can see from the pics the grease still on the mag

[muffett.2008]

Thanks Cinders, that made a difference, your '21 was showing up as an anomalie without the correct date.
Your '16 puts it in the H category....is that correct? it would have been selected for conversion in the second run of H rifles,
and your '45 could be a FTR from the 58/59 batch of 2,949......if it is stamped FTR, otherwise a club rebarrel job.

[CINDERS]

Thanks for the info Muffet I will have another look at the 45 tomorrow at is is pretty easy to get to safe wise.
The 45 had on the left side of the barrel where the 6-59 was and that was an L atop number 24 and the broad arrow underneath that (Armourer ?)
Just a question what was the anomaly with the '21 if you could help there as I am interested in why the fore woods are still in the white how would that happen not being finished.
You can see the difference in the pics.

Thanks for the info on the 1916.

Funny thing is on the 45's butt it has MAO atop SMLE funny that !

I have a teak full wood on the 45 at present and the original stock is being preserved infact it is due for its BLO.

[OzzyDavid]

1915 No1 Mk111 34578 H Barrel 6 37 No 34578

1917 No1 Mk111 74300 H Barrel Unable to read No. Covered by a Patt 1918 Scope bracket

1918 No1 Mk111* A42860 Barrel 1919 Un-Numbered Broad Arrow Marked

1918 No1 Mk111* A45520 Barrel 1919 A45520

1921 No1 Mk111* H A90231 Barrel 7 46 Broad Arrow (Marked In a sporter Stock)

1943 No1 Mk111* E36629 Barrel 6 43 36629 FTR55

1945 No1 Mk111* E39341 Barrel Un-Numbered 4 45

[yoopercollector]

You already have my 1944, F21185 barrel 11-44

[muffett.2008]

Thanks lads, keep them coming.
Cinders, your '21 was down as 1921, when the date range actually changed at the end of 1920 to show the month/year.