1910 Lithgow SMLE

[TheAlpineWolf]

Hi All,
I have been offered the chance to purchase a 1910 Lithgow SMLE.
Is this a rare piece? I haven't seen many around, mainly 1916 ones.
Should I buy it and how much is reasonable offer?
Thanks Everyone!

Information

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[muffett.2008]

Considering they didn't make them until 1912/13 that would be a pretty rare one.

[TheAlpineWolf]

Hahahaha,
Ill have to check in with the owner.
I thought that was the case as from my own research as I found the same results!
Maybe a trials production?

[Bindi2]

As Muff said super rare ..

---------- Post added at 07:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 PM ----------

Nope not even trails.

[TheAlpineWolf]

Interesting, I wonder why he is marketing it as a 1910 Lithgow then. Its not an easy smle mark to confuse!

[TheAlpineWolf]

Sadly this is the only photo to work off for tonight. Will need to get in contact with him in the morning about it.

[Roger Payne]

It'll probably turn out to be either a mis-read date on a Lithgow rifle or a British rifle that's been through Lithgow........

I tried enlarging the photo to look at the markings on the butt socket, but it gets really grainy very quickly. Even so, I got the impression that what little I could make out looked more like a British Royal cypher than typical early Aussie markings. No doubt the mystery will be revealed fairly soon.

[TheAlpineWolf]

Will do Roger, going to get on the phone with him tomorrow morning and get a photo sent through!

[TheAlpineWolf]

Also whilst you guys are here, opinions on this 1916 Lithgow?
Only hesitating due to the scallop of wood taken of the LHS of the forestock

[smerdon42]

Nice 1916 rifle good luck in finding the volley sights that are Lithgow marked like chooks teeth . Lithgow didn’t make a 1910 rifle but a 1912 /1913 is just as rare , I have a 1913 /14/15/16/17 and 18 they didn’t do volley sights after 1917 /18 . I have 3 x 1914 that all spent time in different countries one in English hands , one Australian then onto Austrian police post ww2 and another that ended up in India post ww2 and was refurbished in 1932 in India it still has the original stock and is serialized to original number even with Indian parts .which is weird as they normallly would scrub off original manufacturer markings