1944 Lithgow

[GunnyUSMC]

I stopped off at the gun shop on my way home from work the other day and found this one sitting on the rack.






















I did a little haggling and got a pretty good deal on it.
The bolt does not match, but the rest does.

 

[frankenstein406]

how much did you get it for? hopefully its a good shooter nice find

 

[jobu07]

Rifle looks to have some great character. I bet it will be a fine shooter and it would be a welcome addition to any collection.

Is the front barrel band brass?

 

[Robert]

The bolt, or at least the cocking piece, the round bit at the back, is typical of early bolts. Neat find, I am rather fond of my 1941 Lithgow.

 

[Tinpig]

Nice rifle!
Have you had a chance to check the headspace with that bolt?

Tinpig

 

[303tom]

Looks like it has been around the block, got pieces of several different rifles on it, good looking rifle though !............Let us know how she checks out.

 

[Cosmoline]

It looks like that fore-stock is walnut, but it's a good idea to check it for fitting and nascent cracking as I discovered when mine crumbled apart at the range. Remove the nose-cap and hand guard, grab the stock near the crown and pull up and down. If it wiggles it needs some shimming in the receiver.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The bolt and mag don't match, but the rest does. I still need to take it apart and check it out and get some pics of the other markings.
The butt, fore stock and hand guards are all Coachwood and are in need of a light cleaning and a little oil. I plan on doing an Oil Cleaning on the stocks.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=77501
I know about the troubles you can have with Enfield stocks and have covered the repairs with this sticky to help others.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=60410

I'm not sure when I will get around to shooting this rifle, I have 13 other Enfields in my collection.

 

[Cosmoline]

Say can you see if your barrel has a wee bit of "wiggle room" inside the nose cap? I've got one now that is tight with no room to move, which doesn't seem right to me.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The nose cap fits very snug.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Well I was able to take it apart when I got home from work today and get some pics.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

 

[Cosmoline]

Looks like you've got a nascent crack there. What do you usually do with those if anything?

The nose cap fits very snug.

Hmm So the barrel is tight in the cap? So is mine, but it confuses me. Why spend all that effort pushing and pulling on the barrel only to lock it hard in place with the nose cap. I thought it was supposed to have an ever-so-slight springing movement within the nosecap.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

This sticky I made over at SRF covers the repairs on Enfield fore stocks.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=60410

 

[MJ]

Nice find.

Well marked historic piece. My '44 has no history at all. Stock is so dry I'm afraid to shoot it.



Enjoy your new toy.

...MJ...