Questionable Lithgow No.1 Mk III*

[pisco]

Pull it apart get some copper plates in the draws and oil the wood and shoot it

[ct241]

Thanks everyone. So I think I heard a couple conflicting opinions on this.

Sounds like it could be a cadet service rifle and others observed have had similar text used for the SN and similar paint on the stock?

It sounds (IMO more likely) though that its a partially completed barreled action, with some donor parts added to complete the gun? Maybe the stock was from a cadet rifle?

Regardless, It fills the void in my collection for an Australian gun, and the gun is in good shape. Really just curious to know how it ended up in the state is has. I have to assume it was partially assembled having been proofed and marked to the extent is has been, but maybe not assigned a serial number (until JJCO got their hands on it)?

[BradJ]

Here's my 2 cents worth regarding replacement receivers and Lithgow. I don't know about actual replacement receivers as such but there are many examples of what a lot of collectors in Australia refer to as replacement rifles that came out of Lithgow in the late 40's. There were two distinct refurbishment programs in Australia.

A lot of rifles were refurbished from 1945 into the later 40's which are generally marked on the butt R over MA and the moth and year. Example R over MA 6/45. These rifles will not have the FTR mark on the receiver. A lot of these rifles will have 1945 receivers bearing early serial numbers, more often than not with no prefix letter. I've been told by Australian collectors with far more knowledge than myself that these were essentially rifles built up from parts, new and used, generally with new barreled receivers with the serial number applied from an older firearm that was not salvageable. There are numerous examples of these rifles on the Australian market. There also appears to have been several different fonts used when applying the serial numbers. That said, the bolt and receiver will always have matching serial numbers and the proof of assembly numbers should also be matched. A lot of these refurbished rifles only have the serial number applied to the bolt and receiver with other components being scrubbed or left unnumbered. There are a lot of rifles out there that are genuine Lithgow refurbished examples with serial numbers that don't correlate to the receiver production date from this period.

The actual FTR program didn't start in Australia until 1950 and those rifles will be marked on the receiver FTR. They will also have MA and the year stamped into the receiver above the trigger guard. Example MA/52.

[MJ1]

No prefix or suffix ?

[Bindi2]

E prefix

[MJ1]

E prefix

Where ?

[Bindi2]

The first photo you showed is E
69529
Lithgow production from 1942 to 1944 from Orange.
Lithgow production 1 - 99999 1913 to 1918 had no suffex

[MJ1]

E 60529 is my rifle posted as an example.

The OP's 67234 was posted to show his production receiver would be a WW1 vintage is all I intended.

1942 production receiver should have a D prefix.

Thank you for the reply.

[Bindi2]

D prefix Late 1941 to 1942 (some Orange) D1 - D99999.
E prefix 1942 to 1944 Orange production.
F1 - F39580 1944 to 1945 Orange production.
F39581 - F40580 1953 Lithgow.

[Homer]

Here's my 2 cents worth regarding replacement receivers and Lithgow. I don't know about actual replacement receivers as such but there are many examples of what a lot of collectors in Australia refer to as replacement rifles that came out of Lithgow in the late 40's. There were two distinct refurbishment programs in Australia.

A lot of rifles were refurbished from 1945 into the later 40's which are generally marked on the butt R over MA and the moth and year. Example R over MA 6/45. These rifles will not have the FTR mark on the receiver. A lot of these rifles will have 1945 receivers bearing early serial numbers, more often than not with no prefix letter. I've been told by Australian collectors with far more knowledge than myself that these were essentially rifles built up from parts, new and used, generally with new barreled receivers with the serial number applied from an older firearm that was not salvageable. There are numerous examples of these rifles on the Australian market. There also appears to have been several different fonts used when applying the serial numbers. That said, the bolt and receiver will always have matching serial numbers and the proof of assembly numbers should also be matched. A lot of these refurbished rifles only have the serial number applied to the bolt and receiver with other components being scrubbed or left unnumbered. There are a lot of rifles out there that are genuine Lithgow refurbished examples with serial numbers that don't correlate to the receiver production date from this period.

The actual FTR program didn't start in Australia until 1950 and those rifles will be marked on the receiver FTR. They will also have MA and the year stamped into the receiver above the trigger guard. Example MA/52.

Good post mate. All correct