Australian Lithgow SMLE No. 1 Mk. III* .303 British Bolt Action Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $750
WOA#: WY240117CB024
Make: Lithgow Arms, Australia
Model: SMLE No.1 MK. III*
Serial Number: A71045
Year of Manufacture: 1920 (Arsenal refurbished in 1956)
Caliber: .303 British
Action Type: Bolt action, detachable 10 round magazine
Markings: The left rear side of the receiver is marked with an import mark. The top left side of the receiver is marked with an Australian Defense Department mark. The right side of the receiver is marked “F.T.R.” and “A71045”. The rear of the bolt handle is marked “A71045”. The left side of the stock collar is marked “MA 56”. The right side of the stock collar is marked with a star “A” and “Lithgow SHT.LE III* 1920”. The top right side is marked “A 2645”. The front of the nose cap is marked “A71045”. The underside of the rear sight is marked “71045A” and “B 67478’. The underside of the forend is marked “71045”. There are various small acceptance and proof marks scattered throughout. The left ricasso of the bayonet is marked with a very faint crown stamp over “1907” over “4 18” over “Sanderson”. The right side is marked with various acceptance and proof marks.
Barrel Length: 25”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a bladed post set on a ramped base and between two protective wings. The rear sight is a u-notch set between two protective wings, with a sliding adjustable escalator.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood stock has a straight grip with finger groove, barrel band, nose cap assembly with sight wings & bayonet lug, reinforcement pin, two sling loops, and a brass buttplate with hinged door for storage. The buttplate has pitting and heavy scuffs near the center. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. The stock has been sanded, which may have been done when the rifle was refurbished by the arsenal. There is a repair to the underside of the stock. There are large cracks at the front of the trigger guard assembly, on the left rear side of the stock coming off the front of the collar, and the right rear side of the upper handguard. The LOP measures 13.3” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good overall condition as arsenal refinished.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 10 round detachable magazine in Good Condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original to arsenal refurbishment
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion in the bore.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. There are scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There is wear to the finish on the receiver, trigger guard assembly, and stock collar. The finish on the edges of the rear sight wings is worn and there are scratches on the top of the rear sight. The bolt and action show usage wear. The finish on the magazine is very thin. The screw heads show moderate to heavy use. The markings on the metal are sharp but those on the wood are worn. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition as arsenal refurbished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a 10 round detachable magazine, a canvas sling, and a Pattern 1907 bayonet made by Sanderson.
Our Assessment: The SMLE was the primary service rifle of the British Empire and commonwealth nations from its introduction in 1902 until it was replaced by the FAL in the early 1950s. The No.1 Mk III was introduced in 1907 and served was the main variant of the SMLE until it was replaced by the No.1 Mk III* in 1916. The Mk III* differed from the MK III in that the volley sights were removed, as was the magazine cut-off. The No.1 Mk III* would eventually be replaced in British and Canadian service by the No.4 Mk I in 1942. As for Australia, it would continue to use the No.1 Mk III* for the entirety of the Second World War.
This is an example of an Australian SMLE No.1 Mk III* made by Lithgow Arms originally in 1920, which was then refurbished in 1956. The serialized parts are all matching, including the magazine. The wood appears to have been lightly sanded. There is a large repair on the underside of the stock and there are a few cracks present. Most of the metal finish is retained, with wear and thinning throughout. The markings are very sharp on the metal, with a really nice Lithgow shield present on the stock collar. The bore is bright with sharp rifling, which should make for a nice shooter. The rifle comes with a canvas sling and a Pattern 1907 bayonet made by Sanderson. This would fit into any Australian or Enfield collection. Please see our photos.
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