Once inside my wife was casually gazing around and noticed this rifle on display. Me, I was seriously drooling over their back wall – as always. The following conversation then took place –
Wife – “That’s a very nice rifle”
Me (paying no real attention) – “Mmm, yes dear”
Wife – “The wood on it is really nice”
Me (gaze still rivetted on back wall) – “Mmm, yes dear”
Wife – “I think you should buy it”
Me (now with a serious case of neck strain from whipping my head around to the right) talking at about three times normal speed – “I’ll take that one !!, Which one was it dear ? Could you be a bit more specific ? Yes, but they all look like my other old guns. Yes, yes I want to buy a rifle !! Point it out to me darling !! No, not that one, who buys Mausers anyway ? Ooooooh the one next to it dear ? The Lithgow, yes yes that’s the one. Yes I’ll pay for it now and sort the PTA later.”
And so it came to pass that I acquired a Queensland Maple stocked Lithgow. This was to cost me dearly next time we went to her favourite Jeweller but I don’t care.
Furniture on this rifle shows quite a lot of dents and scrapes, QM being a very soft wood, but is still attractive. For some reason it is lighter towards the nose. Given that it was likely a Cadet rifle I suspect it may have had the yellow paint applied to the nose and somebody has removed it.
Most interwar year Lithgows are scarce due to low production but production figures suggest they didn’t really cut back until 1923, so 1919 rifles aren’t all that uncommon. If you want a rare year try 1937, with only 421 made. In fact I believe the Lithgow Museum’s collection doesn’t have a 1937 made example.
The rifle is all matching with A43812 on the receiver, bolt, nosecap, fore-end, rear sight and barrel.
It still retains the Proof Action Assembly number on the bolt and receiver. This was applied before the serial numbers and indicates the action and bolt have been proofed as a unit and should not now be separated.
There are numerous stampings on the woodwork and metalwork. Beginning on the butt we have the Australian Commonwealth shield around a kangaroo and AC surmounted by the Lithgow Star (seven points with an A inside). Underneath that is the MkIII* designation. On the right is the HV (High Velocity) stamp indicating it was proofed for the MkVII ammunition.
Above it is an interesting stamp. Crossed rifles surmounted by a crown with the letters W M across the centre and a P underneath. Skennerton records the same stamp but with FEH instead of WM. He links it to Lt. F. E. Hart the head of the first Army Inspectorate resident at Lithgow from 1916 to post war. The assumption would be that someone with the initials WM followed Hart as head of the Inspectorate. The initials are also repeated on the barrel.
Also on the barrel and knox form is the ACP stamp for proof.
There is a 37 stamped prominently on the side of the fore-end which I believe is a Cadet marking.
The Lithgow Star abounds on the rifle. As well inspection stamps on the side of the receiver it can be found on almost every part of the rifle.
One of the neighbours dropped by during the photo session and seemed suitably impressed.
Stamped on the barrel, along with another three Lithgow Stars, is a P within a heart. This indicates the rifle barrel has a parallel bore.
There are also a number of other stamps on various parts of the rifle whose meaning is unknown.
Barrel is stamped HV but not SC (Short Cone) unless it is under the rear sight. I find this curious as I thought the HV and SC stamps should both be applied when proofed for MkVII ammunition. I'm not curious enough to remove the sight to find out.
The magazine is an earlier one still sporting the rotatable tab at the front. I believe this was for the MkVI ammunition. The magazine is also Lithgow production and until I acquire a Lithgow marked magazine appropriate to the period will have to stay in place.
Barrel condition is only fair.
Naturally the usual accoutrements round out the rifle. Pullthrough and Lithgow marked oiler in the butt. After a longish search I also have a P 07 bayonet with QM grips to complete the rifle.
So, to a round of applause from my usual audience, we conclude this months GOTM.
. I think from memory it shoots just average, but with a bit of luck I can get some reloading done today and take it to the range tomorrow.