Question about the .303 enfields

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45ACPKING

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I have a enfield that has the following markings
LITHGOW SMLE III* 1943
I have seen that in some cases Lithgow models seem to be selling at a higher price than other #III enfields. Is there a reason for this?? I have a few enfields but this one is very accurate and groups really nice. Any info out there would be appreciated, thinking of completely restoring and customizing this rifle for dedicated deer hunting as it was my dad's first rifle and is in great condition.
don't know if it matters much but all the parts have matching numbers, even the bolt and magazine. The one thing i have noticed though is that the other two enfields i have are stamped on the breech "nitro proved" but this lithgow is not. will i have problems using modern 180 grain rounds in a rifle that is not stamped nitro proved or does this matter.
 
I am no expert, but I do know a thing or two about Lee Enfields...

Lithgows are considered to have been amongst the "better" No1MkIIIs, as they were produced far from actual fear of bombing, or desperate wartime economy on the use of steel. I am very pleased with the one I own, and have seen firsthand the museum at Lithgow where these rifles were produced - they really did take care!

Please, please, do not do anything to the rifle that will make it impossible to restore in the future to "as issued" condition - It will carry far more value if it CAN be restored to full military trim, rather than trimming the barrel length or drilling scope mount holes.

"Birmingham Nitro Proofed", or "BNP" stamps will only be on rifles that were exported from England - Not the Lithgows that were produced in Australia, unless they ended up in British service prior to being sold off as surplus.

Your 180 gr loads should be fine, as long as they are commercial loads, or you are sticking to safe reloading data.

Enjoy the old girl!

Cheers,

Neal
 
i am going to completely and carefully remove and restore the wood and stock but they will be put away. I am making a custom black walnut hunting stock that will radically change the appearance and feel but will not alter the rifle itself. I was intending on mounting a scope rail and the one i have is a weaverTO-1 which requires drilling and tapping. This rifle will hold more value to me as a fine hunting arm to be kept in the family and used for what it was built to do.
 
Lithgows were Aussie as well, no?

I have a Parker-Hale converted Lithgow....

303British-RightSideMarkings.JPG


More pics
 
I've been watching this thread not wanting to say anything BUT...Please dont alter a nice original SMLE. The numbers are dwindling and they dont make em anymore.

More value? You say it was your dads. Why do you think he never modified it? Because it is a perfectly acceptable piece the way it is! How would he feel about you butchering his old, faithful warhorse. Value wise, you are taking what sounds like a +300 dollar gun and turning it into a less than 100 dollar POS. Have a look on the exchange forums. Full military condition enfields are going for 300 dollars and more, even for beaters. Sporterized(or "bubba'ed") Enfields, even the very very nicest are never worth more than 150 bucks. Plus, you will have a bunch of collectors wanting to kill you. If you are really determined to scope it, how bout you trade it to me for a nicely sporterized on that already has a scope? If you want to keep it "for what it was built to do", leave it stock, or even get a bayonet for it, because these were designed with killing people in mind. I'm sure there is someone around these forums who would be happy to trade you for a dedicated deer rifle! Just please dont wreck history!

At the very least, think about it for a few months...
 
I understand and appreciate what you guys are saying. I have been looking into alternative scope mounting options, I have designed and fabricated a couple for other rifles i own. I'm not in a rush to have this rifle field ready. I do intend to hunt with it though and it is what my father wants it to be used for. That rifle fed his family when he was younger and it will feed mine for years to come. For the historical guys, I do not plan to physically alter the rifle other than to refinish the original wood and put the wood and hardware away for safe storage and to reblue the entire metal. no rechamberings or barrel shortening, it will be kept 100% factory. I will be restocking it for hunting purposes. as far as resale value or trading the rifle, not concerned with that, it will never leave the family.
 
If you run into problems or ideas for a scope mount take it to Bits of Pieces on Tilbury, See Barry, he fabricated my mount. I took an old bubba's P14 a few years ago, a co-workers, replaced the firing pin (old one broke), put the bug in Barry's ear for a P14 stock, a few months later he had located one for me. Anyhow, I ended up bringing back his P14 close to its former glory

Before:

Dannys303-8.JPG


After:

P14-newfurnature-OA-Left.JPG
 
um...why not buy an already bubba'd enfeild for 100-150 bucks and scope that bad boy (then you can keep your other rifle in original condition and still have an enfield hunting rifle for cheap) :)
 
i am an accuracy nut and this lithgow fit's that bill. Also, i wouldn't be keeping with dad's wishes if i used a different .303, I have 3 of them so regardless theres no need to buy another one.
 
Check the headspace. Matching numbers is no guarantee that it's ok. Drilling and tapping will drop the value of it in half. Changing the stock will likely ruin the accuracy too.
 
my gunsmith has already gone over this rifle meticulously. And I have hunted and target shot it a few times already. my first deer was taken with this rifle, open sighted at about 80 yards plus.
 
I'm glad to hear you are dont want to physically harm the old girl. There are scope mounts that are reversible-they simply replace the old rear sight without gunsmithing(Google "SMLE no gunsmithing scope mount). With that and a new stock, you could have what you want but be able to fully return it to military config in minutes. How do you plan to refinish the stock? Again, be careful when you do this as to remove cartouches(the little stamped markings on the wood) would be removing history and value...I'm sure that if you put up a post when you plan to do this, there will be lots of good advice and techniques for the least intrusive stock resto method...
 
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I've done a lot of furniture stripping and would probably do this job with a chemical stipper and "maybe" some fine diamond cloth. This rifle saw serious combat, it is a "named" rifle and it's war time user inscribed "betsy" with a date inscribed beside it. it also has what would seem to be kill score hash marks on right hand edge of the comb. The bumps and dents in the rifle will add to it's refinished look so i don't want to sand them away. Just refinish the wood to bring out it's original lustre as it has gone thin in many places. I will post some pics when i get this job done. Gonna start the project next week and am gonna really take my time. Don't worry boys, I'll give her the respect she deserves.
 
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