1926 Lithgow, SMLE III

[mozark]

Yesterday I received a Lithgow No.1 Mk III from Aim. This is my first No.1, and what a world of difference from the No.4. The rifle is dated 1926 and does not have the shield, which I believe is early for that change. The metal is excellent and appears unadulterated since a 1954 Lithgow FTR. The finish is 90% or better, and quite consistent. The body is milled for the cut-off, but it is not present. Light Lithgow barrel dated 11 '52. The original Serial number was E7394, which appears under the bolt and on the right upper buttsocket. The ring and barrel are marked FTR B 16053, and that serial number appears on the rear of the bolt handle. The cocking piece is marked OA'43, and the bolthead BA42. The handguards are excellent and appear original. The forend is a Lithgow marked Coachwood replacement. It's nearly new, but was fit carelessly, and will need work to the recoil lugs and bedding. I've seen this before on an excellent No.4 Mk2 with an RFI replaced forend which was hacked out with a machete around the body inletting.

Seems to have been sold off to India sometime after 1954, where it saw little use. All in all an very nice aquisition.

MM

[Rowdy]

The E number is a batching number used during manufacture - the B number is the original serial number and is about correct for your rifle.

[Niner]

You made more of the information on yours than I did on mine that I also got from AIM recently. The metal sure looks a lot cleaner too.... of course you must have put in a little elbow grease to get it that way.

Rowdy, welcome to the forum. Thanks for the information. I'll have to go take a look at mine again for the B's and E's.

[mozark]

takes your chance, with these Ishapore rifles. In general I'm well pleased. The first No.4 I got really had no flaws, aside from some scratch marks where the Suncorite was worked at. The second and third, which were "gunsmith specials," were fine values. The second was a real basket case, but is coming around, but the third was exceptional aside from the fore-wood needing proper fitting and a cracked rear handguard. This Lithgow has exceptional metal, which is what really matters, I suppose, but the fore-wood will need a lot of work, and the screws show a marked disdain for the correct screwdriver, and will mostly need to be replaced.

Rowdy, thanks for the correction on the serial number.

MM

[bradtx]

Mozark, Yes, it certainly is different from a No.4, primarily in 'feel' to me. You should find a matching number under the bolt handle to the 'E' prefixed number in the boltway.

Niner, I think of the number under the bolt handle and in the boltway as assembly numbers, rather than batch numbering. It seems that the bolt and action-body was prefitted and placed in storage to await assemby into a rifle. I don't know if this step is unique to Lithgow, but they seem to be the only factory to stamp these two pieces.

Regards, Brad

[warner520]

MA=small arms factory lithgow, New South Wales. until 1926. rifle &bayonets.

BA=small arms factory No2 Bathurst N.S.W

OA=small arms factory No3 orange N.S.W also for bayonets.

[mozark]

warner520. I love how much there is to learn about these rifles. So my 1926 Lithgow is a the end of the MA designation and the beginning of the Buttsocket marking without the shield.

MM

[warner520]

yes the way it reads is the A inside the star lithgow marking ,last appeared in 1926 and then in 1927 MA , became the lithgow marking.my wifes uncles lithgow has the A inside the star, was made in 1920.

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[sunray]

Always, always, always check the head space on ANY Lee-Enfield from anywhere or anybody, before you shoot it.

[Aughnanure]

I never bother to check headspace on Lee-Enfields or on anything else for that matter.

Eoin.