This months GOTM is all about aussie pride. Yeah folks, it’s a Lithgow.
This is a my No I MkIII* built when the pressure was really on in ’42, although not stocked up and completed until ‘43.
Finish is probably a bit rougher than usual and it shows most of the manufacturing shortcuts in effect at the time.
First views the right and left sides, as usual.
Butt carries the stampings denoting model (III*), that it is sighted for MkVII (HV) ammunition and that it was assembled at Lithgow. Although rifle assembly commenced at Orange in the second half of ’42 Lithgow did not cease rifle assembly until December ’43. Thus as this butt is stamped MA rather than OA it was probably assembled at Lithgow. The barrel date is '8 '43 so persumably the rifle wasn't completed until around August '43.
Right butt socket carries the usual information. Australia was the only manufacturer to stamp SMLE on its product.
Brass threaded rod to strengthen the rear of the stock is in place.
Rifle is complete and all matching with the serial number stamped on the bolt, receiver, nosecap and forewood but not the rear sight.
Bolt and receiver retain the original Batching Assembly number meaning this combination has been together since manufacture.
Bolt head is marked M – current wisdom is this means a different metal specification although no-one seems to know what exactly.
Magazine is standard and probably original to the rifle. A number 4 shell with a number 3 follower.
Rear sight ears are the unmilled variety and the rear sight is the standard sight of the period without windage adjustment. Sight is unnumbered this was common practice in ’43.
Barrel is marked HV (High Velocity) and SC (Short Cone) although I must say the stamping quality is poor on this particular rifle, not just here but overall.
Nosecap shows one of the shortcuts mentioned previously – the piling swivel boss is unmilled.
Front sight ears are solid, they were windowed slightly later in production (around mid '44) and as part of FTR.
Woodwork would I think be attractive if it wasn’t covered with 66 years of dirt and patina, something I have no intention of changing.
Another manufacturing shortcut was the use of a flat spring to hold the safety in place rather than the dumbell shaped spring.
The Lithgow star abounds on this particular example being everywhere from small parts through to the standard 1 through 10 inspection markings on the receiver denoting inspection at various steps in the manufacturing process.
Of course we have the appropriate bayonet – made at Orange in’43, with the aussie made Mangrovite scabbard. Two things set the WW2 aussie scabbards apart from the brit ones, colour of course and the aussie scabbards have a squarer tip.
Many of the smaller parts show factory stampings. This rifle has covers the complete list of manufacturers – Bathurst (BA) Forbes (FA), Lithgow (MA), Orange (OA), Wellington (WA).
Bore is good to very good, strong rifling, no pitting and bright.
This rifle was obviously manufactured in the time frame where recoil blocks were not inserted into the forewood. Obviously it has been fired although how often is a complete unknown. Have I fired it ? Yes. Have I fired it knowing the recoil blocks weren’t there ? Yes. Do I fire it regularly now ? No. I have always assumed Lithgow knew what it was doing when it omitted the recoil blocks so it was safe (for the rifle furniture) to fire. But they also re-introduced the recoil blocks.
One other feature of these rifles unique to Lithgow is the green tint to the metal work. The finish is really different to the finish on any other SMLE. It is probably best seen in the photo of the buttsocket. Here is a (crappy) side by side shot with a 1919 Lithgow with a very, very nice rust blued finish. Photo doesn’t do either finish justice so I may have to try for better photos sometime.
