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  1. #1
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    Restoring My Poor Lithgow..

    Well i finally got around to pulling my Lithgowicon apart to get rid of all the varnish and other gunk the previous owner applied, as well as removing the scope
    It's my first .303, and i fell in love with it the first time i saw it (mainly because it was a Lithgow, and a .303!) and i looked past some obvious 'issues' such as the scope, and the lower hand gaurd not looking quite right.

    Attachment 3354

    The only decent picture i have of the rifle as it was when i bought it. Shot pretty well considering!!


    Attachment 3355

    So then i took all the wood off and proceeded to strip off all that horrible varnish/stain that had been painted all over it (runs, brush fibres and all)

    Attachment 3356

    And here is the thing i was worried about.. its been played with
    If anyone in Aus has a spare lower hand gaurd to suit a 1922 Lithgow ShtLE that you want to get rid off i would be more than happy to take it off your hands

    Attachment 3357

    Paint and varnish stripper doing its thing! Made all that terrible varnish come off without even trying!

    Attachment 3358

    After all the crud was cleaned off and everything was dry.

    Attachment 3359

    After i gave it a few coats of boiled linseed oilicon, it came up looking ten times better than when i first got it. The wood doesnt quite match and is a little damaged but i can live with that until i find a nicer gun to add to the cabinet.

    Havent yet had time to fit the wood to the rifle yet but i just thought i would post a few pics up in case it interested anyone, aswell as saying G'day to everyone on the forums!

    Cheers Guys
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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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    Hi there smash1911,

    Good job, and I bet the rifle will get the thumbs up now every time you tale it out to the range (or wherever you shoot with others around).

    Hey, how about pictures of the rifle now, reassembled?

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    Just sitting down after a hectic week/weekend of moving, etc so hopefully will have it back together shortly!! Starting to get that 'havent been for a shoot for a while' itch!

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    Attachment 3396

    Just finished putting it back together and im absolutely stoked, came up just how i hoped it would too!

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    Now there's a happy rifle!

    Good job sir,

    Lou

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    The rear of the fore stock intrigues me. Never seen a plate screwed on like that, wonder if it was added by an over enthusiastic target shooter of old.... would it give a more positive fit? the FOX network thinks it will.

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    That's a good question. I don't know if that's an Armorer's official procedure, gbut I can see this as being efficient in salvaging a too-short forend and ensuring positive contact between the rear of the forend and the front face of the butt socket - which is required. Seems well done for sure, I may just use that as a guide for salvaging a No4Mk2 forend that's too short just like that.

    Lou

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    Brass plate

    The woodwork on Lithgowicon rifles is soft, the brass plate on the back of the fore-end is an old NRA trick to tighten up fit on the action.
    The 'factory way' is to build up the recoil lugs inside the stock with wood inserts[seen on many FTR`s],or brass shins as seen on most Lithgow rifles.
    Stuart.

  11. Thank You to S-A-M3 For This Useful Post:


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    Restoring my poor Lithgow

    Great job! I am sure you will enjoy it much more now that you have put all that work into it.

    I was lucky and received my Litgow in good shape and the price was Zero $$$.
    An old military man was trying to sell it at a gun show in southern California and when he was insulted over and over by the low offers. He said he would rather give it away and thats what he did. He GAVE it to my son(military) in the parking lot of the gun show. My son sent it to me. I doesn't get any cheaper than that.

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