Australian Lee Enfields?

oldlithgow

oldlithgow

Regular
Rating - 100%
108   0   0
Location
Cold Lake
I have been an avid collector of Lee Enfields with the majority being Australian. Right now I own several Lithgow SMLEs 1917, 1917 (H) ,1918, 1927, 1941 and two 1942s one of which is a FTR 1952 (Factory through repair). I also have a BSA issued to Australia and a LSA that was rebuilt by Lithgow. Right now I am trying to get a early WW1 Australian Lithgow 1914-1916 to restore that has the volley sights.

What Australian built or issued Lee Enfields do fellow GunNutz have?
 
Last edited:
I wish I had more: Just the 1942 SMLE III* right now, BUT it is kind of interesting....

NOT FTR'd, but in outstanding shape (like: Minty!). Has an Indian front band, an Indian bolthead, ISA stamped onto the Slazenger butt, and the matching serial numbered coach fore-end has been Ishy screwed.

Someone in Oz spoke personally with Ian Skennerton about my rifle, and he CLAIMED that Skennerton BELIEVED that at the end of the Korean conflict, Australia allegedly gave India 1000 rifles for payment for something or other.

I have never been able to confirm this story, but it is "interesting".

In order to protect the coach from splitting, I have re-stocked her in walnut, for shooting purposes - Which she does just fine!

Neal
 
I recently got a sporterized 1944 Lithgow, with perfect bore. So, of course, I'll retrofit it to its full military look. And amazingly enough, I am not planning on selling that one :)

Lou
 
... Just three. All full wood, all matching, 1922,1943 and a 1945 that does not appear to have been issued. The 1922 has the "magazine cut-off" and I've replaced the actual cut-off with one that's probably not Lithgow made. ....... 'Hard to imagine now, but in the early sixties, one could buy, in Brisbane at least, a brand-new, still in the wrap, No3 for around $25 if memory serves. If you were a "Property Owner" ( Rancher) you could apply to the Govt. and get one,or more, free, along with ammunition, for "pest control" read: Kangaroos, Foxes, Dingoes and Rabbits if you didn't want the meat! ....... David K
 
1927 Lithgow

My 1927 is my next project it is 1 of 3000 built that year. I am always amazed how many Lithgows make it to Canada and its neat to hear some coming in from India. Out of 640,226 rifles made from 1913 to 1956 so many are still around just goes to show how well they were made.
 
oldlithgow said:
My 1927 is my next project it is 1 of 3000 built that year. I am always amazed how many Lithgows make it to Canada and its neat to hear some coming in from India. Out of 640,226 rifles made from 1913 to 1956 so many are still around just goes to show how well they were made.
Click to expand...


Aussie SMLE rifles were made on Pratt and Whitney machinery which featured a mass production system which reduced manufacturing time ,..i was told that a Lithgow rifle was always the best of the SMLE rifles...Brit or Indian {Ishsapore}...whether this is true....maybe someone else can shed more info on this...one would think that prewar SMLE rifles would have the best finish as compared to wartime production

I have a 1942 Lithgow FTR in 1952 ,....i bought my SMLE in the late 80's ....froma ad in the GunRunner paper......if i remember approx $200.00 for special selected rifle ..with the long buttstock which i specified
 
... Well, there's certainly a difference in the finish between the 1922 and the 1945 rifles that I have. That being said, the quality of the metals used were always to a high standard, as was the care put into the actual production. The Australian Army always put a get deal of emphasis on proper care and maintenance of their rifles and small arms in general, which went gone a long way toward their preservation. ..... Australia is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, Iron Ore being one of them, and despite Ore Carriers being sunk by Japanese Submarines, there was never a shortage of steel for Armaments ! Now, Labor was another problem ! ..... David K
 
Recently restored a sporterized 1918 No.1 Mk. 3* with a little guidance from Louis. I can not claim it to be a perfect restoration, but I am learning.
 
My 1916 Lithgow which was FTR'd in 12/44

MKIII.jpg
 
Two Lithgow's-

1. The first one is a 1916 Mk. III- has a 2nd M.D. mark on the receiver, and what I assume to be a rebuild mark on the right side of the buttstock:

R
MA
8/46

The disk has a 36 at the top, with a few illegible characters across the bottom.

2. The second one is a 1941 Mk. III* (FTR'd rifle), the disk is blank.
 
When I get a chance, I'll take photos of my unissued '43 and my converted "H" barrel Lithgow. I would like to learn a little more about these heavy barrel rifles getting converted from service rifles. Mine also has the volley sights, cutoff, etc. The butt is covered with markings and maybe you fellows can fill me in on it's background. What are these conversions worth in Canada?
 
.... Digging into dim memories, and I was too young (most of the time anyway) the "Competition Rifles" used heavy barrels from, either Lithgow or perhaps Slazenger and some used barrels from the Vickers Machine Guns. The bedding was probably the same as used in the UK and fairly well documented. Certainly around the Melbourne area (Williams Town Range) hand loading was not practiced,much if at all, as the Govt. provided a lot of Ammunition for Competitive shooters, and for "Land Owners" ,for "pest control". Sights were almost, universally, Parker Hale's. Slings generally, and I think probably, the competition rules limited them, to the "issue web" types. Maybe some had longer slings, same pattern, as the Bren Guns used. I really don't recall many rifles with the rear sight remaining, although no doubt for some of the matches, using them may have been mandated. Believe it or not, but if one was an active competition shooter, it was possible to get a rifle free from Government stocks ! ... A long time ago, and memory fades, plus I wasn't involved in this type/style of shooting. .... David K
 
O.K., I found a few minutes tonight and snapped a couple of photos. Here are the two Lithgows I mentioned:

2%20Lithgows.jpg


The unissued '42 butt markings and receiver markings:

Mk%20III%20star%20butt%20markings.JPG


Mk%20III%20star%20date%20stamp.JPG


Now for the 1916 Mk III (no star) with the H barrel:

Mk%20III%20butt%20markings.jpg


Mk%20III%20date%20stamp.JPG


H barrel markings:

mk%20III%20barrel%20markings.jpg


Close up of what appears to be an "A" and a "C" on either side of a kangaroo inside a shield on the butt stock. I can't make out what is stamped below:

Mk%20III%20butt%20marking%20shield.jpg


I would say the H rifle has been reblued at some point, and the stock may have been cleaned up, but the markings are all still sharp. There was no target sight on it when I bought it and no sign of one. Does anyone know how many of these were converted?
 
.. The "A" and the "C" Possibly, denote, "Australian Commonwealth" ... Just a guess, ... The Parker Hale Target sights, basically, just "bolted on" with the aid of a longer, rear trigger guard screw. .... Sure be interesting to hear the tales that rifle could tell ! .... David k
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom