1916 Lithgow SMLE Mk. III

[Eaglelord17]

Hi all,

Well a 1916 Lithgow SMLE Mk. III happened along my way, and I decided to buy it. Hopefully this turns out better than my last attempt at a Mk. III (which turned out to be a restored sporter).

In any case I haven't stripped her yet, but here is some photos. The Bolt, Receiver, and Nose cap are matching, and the rear sight has a different number (maybe a assembly number, I shall find out later). Only thing that has me questioning it so far is the rear volley sight is missing, but otherwise everything seems to be MA marked and or matching.

In any case please let me know what you think and any info you would like to share. I will have more photos later on once I strip it down.

Information

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[Bruce_in_Oz]

Lithgow heavy barrel?

[jrhead75]

What do the markings on the right side of the butt look like?

[Homer]

Forend looks very early English with pin in front of the front band.
Definitely a heavy barrel.

[CINDERS]

Have a look to see when the barrel was changed my 1916 5MD was changed to a heavy barrel and was stamped on the butt wrist as such think that happened in 1937 for a lot of them for some reason here is a couple of pics it still has the original wood mine is a 4/16 build, it wears a Lithgow 5MD 1916 '07 bayonet which with the 5MD Lithgow 1916 Scabbard plus a black (not blackened) Wright 1916 sling which together cost me 5 1/2 times what the rifle cost which was a a miserly $100 for the rifle. But it was missing the mag & safety & sling.

The circle with the question mark in the circle on the reinforce no one on this site has been able to decipher it I cannot find anything on it either.

[browningautorifle]

Has this one been re-blued? The metal finish and polish is extremely shiney for original.

[Brian Dick]

My thoughts exactly Jim.

[Eaglelord17]

The bluing is suspect to me as well. That being said though, I don't know if it was refinished as the stock doesn't have any marks either (other than the odd scratch here and there) as well as no obvious refinishing signs (like sanded stock, finish changed, finish over the metal on parts, etc.). It could possibly just be a barely/never used piece, I don't know it isn't my forte. In any case here is some more photos, I am going to start stripping it down now and will share what I find.




This is on the forend right before the nose cap



This is the only marking on the right hand side of the stock, the left hand side is blank

[browningautorifle]

The stock shows signs of sanding at the disc for instance, dished in. The stock looks to have tru-oil or some such applied. I'm sure the blue is a recent polish and hot blue...specially at the Lithgow marking seems evident.

[Brian Dick]

I'd say the wood has definitely been sanded. Maybe it was completely redone/restocked when it was changed to heavy barrel configuration? My 1916 Lithgow is stocked in Queensland maple which is a much lighter wood and the buttstock has all of the typical Australian manufacture and issue markings.