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Thread: Earliest Lithgow Rifles

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    Contributing Member muffett.2008's Avatar
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    Earliest Lithgow Rifles

    We have discussed this before, not reaching any conclusion due to lack of information, but while trawling through a few files I came across a snippet of enlightenment.

    As we have recently been following the Pratt and Whitney rifle sold from the Farris Collection, it reminded me of the followup rifles produced as out of run production before the 1913 rifles were made.

    I have previously put up information on these rifles, the first 10 being in a test run, followed by two presentation rifles, these being presented to Parliament and the Minister of Defence, before the SAF began it's normal production.

    That meant that there were twelve rifles not counted in production figures, manufactured in 1912.
    The question was were they dated 1912?..........it looks like a no.

    Both the presentation rifles were not marked in anyway, clean skins, so we can assume that the preceding 10 rifles(9 given to assembly staff, the other was on display in the managers office, taken by Radcliffe when he resigned) were also cleanskins.

    So for us serious Collectors, the jobs not finished yet.
    Attachment 83255

    Also note the early use of Coachwood.
    Information
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member Homer's Avatar
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    Fascinating. The part about quality surprises me a tad.

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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    I gather you may have these two volumes as well Muffett pretty good info in there.
    Would be nice to view one of them, be worth a pretty penny today though.

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    From what I can gather, the one in the case at front and centre of the Lithgowicon Museum was Clarkson's and it was handed in for destruction by his descendants during the purge of the late 90's.

    Luckily, someone knew, or was told what it was and it found it's way home, and more importantly was saved.

    Sadly, I think the other examples would have been less likely to have had the same opportunity.

    Son or Bindi may wish to chime in here, but I think there were some skeletons of the trials rifles shown to us when we got the back room tour years ago.

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    There was definitely one barrelled action out back. I have pictures of it at home but I'm not there.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lithy View Post
    From what I can gather, the one in the case at front and centre of the Lithgowicon Museum was Clarkson's and it was handed in for destruction by his descendants during the purge of the late 90's.
    Is it true that ADI handed in the whole colleciton and the Museum had to petition the government not to destroy it???

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    Very interesting article.


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    Yeah, at least one barreled action out back during the tour. Mind you, my fave was the ex-Gallipoli 14 Lithgowicon.


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    I remember that one sluggo. Got a photo of you holding it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jollygreenslugg View Post
    Yeah, at least one barreled action out back during the tour. Mind you, my fave was the ex-Gallipoli 14 Lithgowicon.
    Was that the one on its own in a cabinet? If so it wasn't on display when I was there a few weeks ago.


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