Super video! I'm 71, and bought my first Lithgow, a 1941, two years ago. It was worth the wait!

Picked up mine today. I feel proud to own it .

Mine was made in 1917 by Lithgow. It's in good shape. I bought it for $200 back in California around 1997. Shoots great. It came with three 10 round mags and 10 stripper clips. Not bad. Great video.

My grand father used to have a very nice Lithgow, post war, painted action that was an unused standard rifle according to him when he bought it. He then got it rebarreled to a 25 as he was using it interstate. He lost 4 of his 6 brothers. 2 in France during WW1 and 2 in WW2 1 in Singapore as a POW and 1 in New Britain. Lucky for me My grandfather was a fireman during WW2.

Aussie Othias!

I've got an all matching '45 Lithgow that looks like it came right off the factory line. That is a gun I'll never get rid of.

Yknow. This makes me feel a pride in Aussie rifles and im not even an Aussie.

Nice one mate. Something I thought worth mentioning was what good restoration projects these rifles make. They are very well made to start with. Lithgow actions & feed mech.s in particular have a very good reputation. Thanks to the Lithgow refurb programs, most available stock is in good order, and spare parts are not that hard to source. I got a Lithgow last year for $500 with a badly sanded stock with a big crack in it, dirty jigsaw busted draws, and the odd fixing missing. After a fair few hours filing, screwing, gluing & $40 in spares, I have 2.5-3inch MOA service comp shooter that works smoothy & faultlessly. Still looks bloody ugly though.

Great job mate! Love my 1916, but have a very interesting 1924 matching bolt, action and barrel. Barrel is dated 1938. Ex $50 1980's release. Look at the charger bridge on the 1920's production and note the unique shape (they omitted a milling step). Thank you very much for your videos, cheers.

Well presented sir! That revived many memories, both good and bad... I trained as a .303 marksman in the Australian Army, starting in the '60s. Awarded the "Skill at Arms, Rifle" decoration. I could hit a 20c piece at 600 yards, using iron sights on a Lithgow .303. But every time you called it a "gun", I winced! I heard my old Sergeant yelling at me: "It is a bloody RIFLE, lad!", and then putting me on a fizzer. Yes, I know. Technically it is also a "gun", but 5 years of conditioning have left their mark. The Lithgow .303 is, without doubt, the best rifle on which I have staked my life. Of course, I have used the Army-issue SLR, Bren machine-gun, various carbines, etc. None of those can touch a good Lithgow .303. (And I really want to know why most of your commenters are anonymous cowards. What is wrong with them?)

'41 Lithgow that was FTR'd in '47 and probably not shot much if at all after that. It has the windowed front sight protectors and the copper recoil pads fitted to the coachwood stock. The reciever, bolt and barrell are all matching. I have a matching '42 bayonet as well. It's my favorite SMLE. I have a second '45, but that's a John Jovino import and made of refinished random parts on a heavily sanded stock. Still fun to shoot though, and without any "real" historical value as a parts gun, I don't feel guilty doing it!

I'm here in the US I bought mines for $300 US Dollars. Mines is a 1942 manufacture but FTR 1956. The bore is good with hardly any pitting in the grooves but good on the rifling. The chamber is fine. I replaced the rear sight with a British made M1907 which has windage adjustable. It shoots just as good as my Rock Island Arsenal M1903 with a 1942 Springfield Armory barrel which is excellent. I can knock 30x30 inch steel targets at 400 yards and group 4 inches at 100 yards at a 10 inch bullseye with careful shooting. I always clean my bore using Sweet's 7.62 from Australia, fantastic bore cleaner for my other rifles except my chrome lined barrels like my ARs and AKs. Majority of people here in the US don't shoot old battle rifles or reload for them. It's a dying art of using old battle sight shooting. I have only one scoped rifle and that's my M4 Bushmaster which I built like my rifle I had in Iraq. I love my Lithgow SMLE Mk III, it's a deadly shooter.

I've just acquired a SMLE 3 1941 in very good condition, im looking forward to my first day on the range, our range was used by the military back in the day to train our troops so my 303 may be doing a full circle of its life.

My Lithgow's residing in USA: 1916 SHTLE No lll that was rebareled to a heavy in July 1945 and a 1944 SMLE. My favorite Lee Enfield's.

I grew up as a teen in the 198Os and bought a 303 no 1 mk 3 from Mick Smith's in Sydney. Back then you could buy ex military rounds dating from WW1. Click bang rounds some of them! I loved the brass cleaning kit in the stock. We used to shoot pigs and roos. A great memory.

I just picked up a 1941 Lithgow here in Melbourne FL. Thought you'd get a kick out of where it landed. Super informative and helpful, thanks for sharing this. Have a lot of love for you boys down there, a great nation that has done wonderful things.

Good one! Great talking points! I take great pride in having restored my (acquired in 2019) 1916 Enfield No1 III* to full working and firing order. I had to put a new old barrel in it, but it’s not particularly collectible, so it works for me! I mentally connect with my Great Grandfather of the 16th Division, 7th Royal Irish Fusiliers every time I pick it up. I’m always amazed at the engineering that designed and built these over 100 years ago. Now, if we could just get the Remington .303 British ammo to be back in plentiful supply here in the States....

just picked up 2 yes I said 2 smle's . ones a BSA 1912, the other lithgow 1942 at auction as a birthday present to myself . should be here as of monday . bid 800 a piece after buyers premium tax and shipping just over 1050 each . not cheap but I'm happy to have another 2 pieces of history in my collection for which I will rake great care of preserving for future generations to enjoy. cheers from canada mate .

A bayonet comment from St. Louis, MO... Joe Desloge, Jr. related to me his experiences of being a volunteer ambulance driver with the American Field Service in WWII. One included a tale of when the No. 4 rifle began to replace the No. 1 at the front lines. An old-timer of the British army disgusted with that pig-sticker of the No. 4, pulled out his Model 1907 bayonet for his No. 1 rifle, and made the following comment, "Now this is a proper bayonet befitting a soldier of the British Empire." (I saw that look in your eyes and just had to comment.) From the founder of the WWII Historical Re-enactment Society.

Brilliant video mate. That's the amazing thing about these rifles - they tell a seldom told story. I was recently fortunate enough to get my hands on a beautiful 1920 dated Lithgow No.1 Mk.III* for less than a grand. The wood is a bit beat up but the rifle itself was FTR'd in 1954 so it shoots like a laser. Just needs a bit of TLC. My biggest regret is not buying one fifteen years ago when they were dime a dozen.

We sure did a lot of fighting in in the South Pacific, my dad served there post Kokoda til the very end. He brought home a Lithgow '42 Mk.3* that was rebarreled at some stage to a Sportco barrel in a range configuration. After competing in Full Bore with the Buchan Rifle Range he eventually mounted a scope and it was basically the rifle I learnt to shoot with. These days it lives in Sweden with my brother and hopefully will be used to harvest game over there one day.

I have a 1925 Lithgow with a white or yellow 5cm+ paint band around the buttstock and the right rail (only) of the receiver. Rifle came to me full of sand. After a thorough cleaning and replacement of butt plate and screws, along with the top cover. The chamber was found to raised scaring, rounds will cycle, yet fireform into the raised scaring in the chamber. After extraction the case body has scaring but no blow by. Accuracy is acceptable at 100m. Using a rest with a lanyard during testing for safety. The weapon was cycled through 20 rds of Brass and Steel cased ammunition, for the first 5 rounds of each type of ammunition the magazine wasn't use. Each Round was inspected with jewelers loop and found to have 2.5cm scaring to the case wall. A cleaning rod was need to aid in extraction with all rounds. I have been told the paint was used on RNAF Cadets Rifles. Thank you.

I bought an Australian .303 16 year ago and I haven't shot the weapon but I just pulled it out to shoot it soon and I paid $120 at the time. My is 1942 and awesome video.

I worked at RSAF Enfield... interesting the No1 MK3* (1916) pattern Enfield...we encountered all had Slazenger stocks...If I recall the stocks were marked with the 'Slaz '....and serial numbers prefixed by a Letter 'e' ...from 1942/1944.... Rule .303....🇬🇧🇭🇲

Excellent video, thanks

Have a nice 43 myself all the way in the Canadian praries. Ftrd in 53 with a new barrel. Its an excellent shooter.

I've got 1941 Lithgow Mk3* here in the US. Saved it from a local shop. Was sporterized with a cut down forestock and was missing it's mag. Otherwise the butt, bolt and barrel match. It's a great shooter now that it's been restored to proper issued condition. I'll have to check mine for the broad arrows, I was unaware of that one.

This is why I love KZfaq. Bloody ripper of a channel, great video. Thank You. BTW And you just cost me 1200+ bucks, because I’m going to buy one, it’s a part of my DNA 😆

I purchased a 1917 Lithgow Mk 3 in the early 90's for $100 USD. The metal finish looked brand new, especially the barrel, with flawless crown, muzzle rifling and a pristine bore, the knoxform of the barrel has no markings other than what appears to be a poorly struck 'C'. The buttstock is marked '1942', 'MA LITHGOW SMLE', III*/HV, the number '4' above the numbers '26398'. The bolt does not match the original ser.#, which has been struck-out and another added, which is not a match, either. The receiver socket is marked as a Mk3 and the right side of receiver has been milled to accept the (omitted) magazine cut-off, the right side fore stock is also milled to accommodate the cut-off, as is your example. The rear sight protectors have milled recesses, the right is a round circle while the left side features an elongated, oblong shaped recess. The front of the bayonet boss has been ground to erase the serial number, then refinished. The front sight protectors are solid and, curiously, the front sight was dead-center (all my other SMLE's have the front sight resting far to the right side of the sight base). When I fired the rifle for the first time (at 50 yds.) it shot to the right and the sight needed to be drifted to the right side of the sight base (just as my other SMLE's), this led me to believe it was refurbished and stored without test-firing. I'm very fond of my SMLE.

When I was a kid you could buy a SMLE still in grease proof paper and covered in Cosmolite, for 4 pounds, which was then about a labourers wages for the week. You could buy 500 303 rounds for 1 pound.

I was very lucky to get an all matching 1941 patent Lithgow for $700 in amazing condition out here in rural Australia

Great video as always👍🇦🇺

That's not a Gun, it's a Rifle! 🤣 Great video mate. I purchased a genuine No1 Mk3* HT Sniper a few years ago as an investment and too shoot. Lithgow refurbed in 1946, includes a Pattern 1918 Scope on low mounts, the original DOM is 1908. Shoots very accurately indeed and is worth a lot more than I paid nowadays. It is just a joy to own and use. Subscription clicked to your excellent channel, cheers aussie mate 🇦🇺

Just picked one up 1942 sporter putting it back to military for target shooting barrel is about 80% has minimum headspace surprise?!! I am installing my homemade trigger over travel screw stocking up with a full military pattern American black walnut, Cheers 🍻 Mate

Great video digger 🇦🇺

Yes! Well, being an ex WO2..When i saw you 'march on' i almost bit the top off my cup!..Uniform?..I thought you'd just got back after a good night out on it!..And it's not 'a gun'!!..It's a rifle!..I'd have had you doubling 5 times around the parade ground, rifle above your head yelling "This is my rifle..This is my gun (Pointing to a certain part of your anatomy) This is for shooting, this is for fun!"..And if i saw you draw a bayonet like that in front of me..5 more times around the parade ground and 3 days peeling spuds!..Otherwise, you get the history of the good old SMLE .303 made at Lithgow small arms pretty spot on!..What a superb accurate rifle it was!..And doesnt kick anything like the SLR 7.62 which bruised shoulders too much!

I dont have one yet, bud yours is realy nice mate! SOund of the bolt , i listened to 6 times is just crisp! Realy realy nice sound a that! Thanks for the history story behind it! realy love it mate! Greatings from the Netherlands! cheers!

I have a 1953 manufactured Lithgow No.1 Mk 3. It is a nice shooter.

I need to go hug my 1916 Lithgow SMLE Mk.III now. (I used to be a part of a group that depicted 2/39th Battalion CMF, Kokoda, for historical displays in California. Good times. Never did get my colour patch quite right...nor my Khaki Drill uniform pieces.) Almost forgot! She has the early-style round cocking piece knob, magazine cut-off, and sling swivel screw holes in the forward trigger guard. Un-drilled front sight "ears", matching forestock, nose cap, bolt, receiver, rear sight, and magazine numbers. Can't tell about the butt, it has a bit too much "character" (read: "wear and dings") for me to discern markings. Which is a shame, really. Bought her off a friend-of-a-friend around 2012, I think, in combination with another WW1 rifle for the princely sum of US$750.

Great video mate. I really want to add a locally made Lithgow no.1 mk3 to the collection. That pride, quality and history is unmatched. Nothing else like it.

I just picked up a 1942/1943 Lithgow Mk3* today from a gun show. I've always wanted an SMLE and never saw one in person until I saw this one today. I've always loved picking up firearms from earlier times for the possible stories they hold behind them. This one seems to have been kept in really good condition and I plan on keeping that way. Everything looks great from the wood to the sling that's on it. I'm proud to own this little piece of history and plan on keeping it well kept and fed. Edit: Forgot to add the year on it.

Thank you for the videos. I’m a Yank who feel in love with this rifle at a young age, and since becoming an adult with “discretionary income” have acquired TWO Lithgow’s. Both are “FTRs” in excellent condition. One of these, in particular, being stocked up in Coachwood (from what I can tell), I’d be grateful to you for offering your opinion on.

I just found a Lithgow 1940 at my LGS, in beautiful condition. The gun shop thinks it was never issued just because of the condition it is in. I do love the LE rifles, especially the SMLEs and Canadian Long Branch No4 Mk1s

Great video, mate. I have a Lithgow No.2 MkIV* .22 trainer. It started life as a 1941 manufacture SMLE No.1 MkIII*, and was converted to .22 rimfire in 1947. My only other SMLE is a 1916 Enfield, which was FTR'd at Lithgow in 1944 and issued to cadets at some point, as it has the green band painted around the butt, just behind the wrist.

my rife is a 1923, FTR'd in the 50's. the magazine cut off was missing. i was able to get one and install it. bore is a bit dark but it shoots pretty well. My only Aussie. bought it at a flea market for 20 or so dollars 30 + years ago. my first milsurp.

I have one of these Lthgow SMLEs. It is marked Lithgow MK 1 SMLE lll* and the date under it is 19** worn down; might be 1914. The serial number on the right side of the breech is 44757. The broad arrows on the other side are not tip to tip, but one forward and one up. There are no marks on the top of the breech and no broad arrows. It has the D up arrow D and crossed flags L P over and under which are the Australian designated according to the book I have. There are three large letters to the right of the top on the breach F.T.R. There are other inspection marks on the rifle. The sight ladder inclinator wheel pushes in with good spring tension, but I cannot elevate the sight. Something seems stuck and I have not used any force to try harder as of yet. The action and barrel are very good. Same reddish stock but no date on it. Brass butt place and an S on the top of the stock just in front of the butt plate. This is one of the imports into the US and it has - IA CO SAC CA and - Austrailia 303 - mark on the rear of the bolt breach. I think this is the import mark and SAC CA is for Sacramento California, which is where I bought it at a gun show in 1999. As I understood it, these rifles were refurbished and inspected for sale in the US market back in the 1960s. The barrel seems very good although the grooves are very dirty as described. I have cleaned and cleaned and still get brown patches out of it. The lands shine but the grooves are dark (but very square). The crown looks brand new gunmetal factory "bluing," not any sign of wear or the slightest nick. I have not fired this rifle although I've owned it since 1999 and I am now wondering what the H I have. My guess is that it was refurbished with a new barrel in the 50s and sat around until I bought it. If anyone has any ideas about this rifle and how to safely loosen up the sight elevation adjuster, I'd appreciate suggestions. I also have a scoped, sporterized Ishapore SMLE and it is very accurate.

G'day. Great video mate. I've got a 1922 ("B" serialised) manufactured Lithgow No.1 Mk3*. Is a quite a rare year of manufacturer as dates 4 years after the end of WW1, when the factory was just making the bare number to keep things ticking over / open (no wartime pressure to pump out as many units as possible). Is an all numbers matching unit. Haven't had the timbers off it in a while, but the barrel is not the original one (not a surprise) & from memory is 48 dated, that was serialised to match when fitted. She's a family hand down. She shoots beautifully. Won her last outing at a Service Rifle shoot in December 20.

I have acquired some old guns from my father. I have a Lithgow that looks exactly the same as the one in your video, but is .22 calibre. 1916 stamp on the barrel

i may be 15, but gonna be hopefully buying one for myself soon

Gday mate I just watched your video great job two thumbs up. I have just acquired from a private collector an unissued 1941 Lithgow SMLE smothered in cas-mo I will let you know if you like how it is when my waiting period is up and I get her home Cheers

A sporterized 1916 was my first hunting rifle. Payed $ 10.00 in 1969.

You can't help yourself with that SLR bayo, can you?😀 Great content as always, keep it up. I have a no 1 Mk3* Lithgow and a no 4 Mk1 Maltby - both 1943 manufacture. Fun guns to shoot, you can learn a lot from them.

Great work and very informative. Did any of the Lithgow rifles come with ladder sites? (As in the Parker Hale style on some BSA guns)? I am looking for a shooter with target sights.

Excellent video, i have a 1941 Lithgow SMLE i am currently paying off at my LGS. I may have to pop in and ask to check the barrel and general condition was looking for a video that showed how to remove the bolt, and you just showed me. Will check for the other marks and crown condition too now that i know what to look for. I just couldnt let someone else buy it as i had always wanted one, now its leading me down a path of finding out my family history as my father told me his uncle fought at kokoda

Excellent. 1927 is mine.

I've got a 1914 No1 MKIII that has been around i think, Its got a military district marking (2nd MD) and the bolt matches. The mag cut off is long gone, the stock has a M.A.O 3/45 ( part of refurb?), and the sight protector has no serial number and is windowed. no clue if the barrel was matching because i had the old shot out barrel replaced with a new barrel.

It's funny that i went to an gunshop hear in the lower states fo Australia to look for an Lithgow but came home with an 1943 no1 mk3 bas which is odd as it is not too common to see them hear

RSM likely to use colorful language about the head flinches in bringing the rifle off the shoulder, too :-) (Hard not to flinch with that great scimitar of a bayonet out there).

I got a 1940 No1 MK III* which I've bought in the 1980s sporterized but has the slot for magazine cut off plate

The start made me think of a new name. Australian muzzle loaders haha. Nice vid. I have a bunch of military rifles one is a qld police marked no.1mk1 which is cool

These are the best made lee enfields. Hands down.

Also mine has a peep sight, don't mind It as it's something different

I see someone has taken some queues from British muzzleloaders

really nice video. Very informative. Can you please tell me where I can purchase a SMLE No.1 MKIII? much thanks

I have my 1911 Brit 303 smle 3 in my lap today February 24 2022 all the way in west north Carolina

Just got a great deal on a 1945 in wonderful condition ( including amazing cartouche marks) with near perfect rifleling and furniture. Was even able to pick up the Australian bayonet for a few bucks more. I'm new to all of this, so is the later year less desirable? Thank you kindly for all assistance.

God, I remember new Lithgows being sold in America back in the late 80's, early 90's for something around $400. I passed, opting for an FTR No. 4 Mk I for $200 but have always regretted not getting a Lithgow, the only No. 1 I would buy.

I have one unfired 1945 and no marking other than a 5 digit serial number starting with an F , i wonder what the story with it could be

Hey mate. I have a 1941 Lithgow all matching numbers. Had a buy a bayonet. When I post bayó is there supposed to be a slight rattle? There’s just a little play as we say in the states… is this normal? I have a lot of original 303 ammo and bandoliers it’s a beautiful rifle

Hey I'm Australian and I am a firearms enthusiast. What might I do to go about getting a chance at shooting a smle? I think they are beautiful rifles.

got a RIP need a few parts but stock and bolt

very cool hope it serves you aussies well during the global war on humanity gong on we all know is going on and not being talked about great gear and im glad you can have some fun even now got a hogue grip for my new taurus 856 in 38 special and it works so much better as a full sized grip i bought it for a backup gun for me or a gun for my mom or dad to use in an emergency the world isnt a nice or safe place anymore so we adapt

Two summer ‘41s one month apart 7/8 one green band.303 and one.22 converted in ‘52.

I have a 1945 Lithgow 151 from the end of WW2 production that's still in its original factory grease and never been issued. It was pieced together at Orange arsenal, everything is dated 1945, barrel is 6 45 but not serial numbered, rear sight is just dated 45 and not serial numbered. Ian Skennerton has looked at the rifle and deemed it to be as I've described, unissued and still in its original grease. It's maybe fired 10 shots for action and barrel proofing as well as sighting. I did a video on it, its on my channel. It's not very good but it'll give you a look

Will we see an L1A1 come out soon ?

Hello. I recently bought one and, if you’ve ever seen a lee enfield Jungle Carbine, mine is built like that. I don’t know what that means yet, and I can’t find the issue mark. It’s a 1942 production and is number matching. It shoots amazing and the bore looks great but it looks like it went through hell. And I want to know why, or when. Any ideas on what to do? I would love the help

Any idea where I can get a good example of one of these beautiful rifles? I want a real shooter. And how can I tell if it will shoot good if I see one in a pawn shop or store. Live in America.

Do you know when they would have updated the front sight hood to have the holes on the sides? Would they have been around in 1945?

Can anyone tell me what the GR stamp means please? And does it matter if the rifle was made in 1916 and has a bolt from 1943 in it...?

How rare is a 1907 bayonet stamped with "Australia" on the handle wood? My No1Mk3 and my 1907 are my pride and joys.

Wow, I had no Idea that Australia was still using manual bolt action rifles in Korea! Couldn't you have like gotten some M1 Garands from the US so you would at least have a repeater?

In the early 70s using a .303 in Australia Air Cadet then in the late 70s using a 7.62 SLR in the Army ,l would still love to shoot a .303 at a targets because it just feels better

The wings on my rear sight is flipped around on mine, is that normal?

wtf are you talking about adf mate? ADf never used Enfields, possibly not even L1A1. ADf is only new mercenary entity on the block. I have owned an old 303 enfield, trained on the Owen, Bren, & Enfield, to name a few older weapons.

Why didn't the Australians adopt the no 4 even though it was a better and more cost-effective version Lee Enfield?

I had a Lithgow that I got off Trade Me and the oddity about it was that it didn't extract. Someone also put a No1 Mk1 sight on it too. Still, I've had better luck with other Lithgows since and I absolutely loved the Lithgow L1A1 SLR I had the pleasure of shooting before NZ's Government decided that Parliamentary Sovereignty trumped inalienable property rights.

got mine about 30yrs ago I paid $67.00 U.S. dollars

have a Lithgow 1915 SMLE111 IN 303BRITISH the only thing I hate it is sportified handed down to me buy a family member

What women?

I’m so sorry they are taking your gun rights away….. I really am