Hello gents,
Sorry to come into this thread so late. Ian Skennertons publications on the Lee Enfield rifle are the best reference and would certainly back 5thbatt's information up. My own research would indicate that volley sights were removed from Lithgow production late 1916 around serial number range 50000-55000. Windage adjustment rear sight was phased out early 1918 around serial number 85000 but action dates were still 1917 at this time. Cut-off plates remained with the MkIII up until 1941 but were removed from production with the MkIII* rifle between 1918-1923. Its not clear to me exactly when in 1918 the cut-off was removed but the cut-off slot remained into 1919 production but these were still 1918 dated actions.
The OP's rifle looks very good. The pictures aren't great but forend does look like Qld Maple to me and is in very nice condition for early maple. The front band appears to be painted indicating a later replacement and the nosecap also appears to be a later replacement having a solid piling swivel lug. If it was sold from service in 1935, good chance it has never had recoil plates installed so may not be a good idea to bang away too much. If you don't mind posting it, whats the serial number?
Kennymo the volley sight dial pointer and screw both would have been marked with the lithgow star on a lithgow rifle. Very hard items to obtain these days. I cant exactly recall but wasn't the post also removed from the plate on your rifle?
Also with regard butt disc, I've seen most years of 1920's production with and without butt disc and actions as early as 1918 with out so determining exactly when they were removed from production would be very difficult.
Sorry to come into this thread so late. Ian Skennertons publications on the Lee Enfield rifle are the best reference and would certainly back 5thbatt's information up. My own research would indicate that volley sights were removed from Lithgow production late 1916 around serial number range 50000-55000. Windage adjustment rear sight was phased out early 1918 around serial number 85000 but action dates were still 1917 at this time. Cut-off plates remained with the MkIII up until 1941 but were removed from production with the MkIII* rifle between 1918-1923. Its not clear to me exactly when in 1918 the cut-off was removed but the cut-off slot remained into 1919 production but these were still 1918 dated actions.
The OP's rifle looks very good. The pictures aren't great but forend does look like Qld Maple to me and is in very nice condition for early maple. The front band appears to be painted indicating a later replacement and the nosecap also appears to be a later replacement having a solid piling swivel lug. If it was sold from service in 1935, good chance it has never had recoil plates installed so may not be a good idea to bang away too much. If you don't mind posting it, whats the serial number?
Kennymo the volley sight dial pointer and screw both would have been marked with the lithgow star on a lithgow rifle. Very hard items to obtain these days. I cant exactly recall but wasn't the post also removed from the plate on your rifle?
Also with regard butt disc, I've seen most years of 1920's production with and without butt disc and actions as early as 1918 with out so determining exactly when they were removed from production would be very difficult.
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