Looking for information on this Enfield rifle

[segami2020@]

Hello everyone, I am new to the group here I have a friend that brought over an old enfield rifle marked Lithgow SHT.LE III 1915. I am new to the Enfield rifles. I am looking to gather as much information as possible on this rifle along with an approximate value today. I will be looking to research some on my end as well. But I am not seeing the markings that I am more familiar with indicating the model number. Perhaps it is also looking right at me and I am not seeing it.. I have several images to post here as well, that I took today. If there is a particular image needed I have several more. Thanks very much in advance.

 

[Slamfire]

Neat old rifle. I wonder if it was at Gallipoli. I have a 1916 Lithgow and it still has some blueing left on its metal. Your rifle is parkerized and the color is consistent with the WW2 Australian Lee Enfields I own. It is missing the magazine cutoff, so was mine, but I found one and installed it.

At the time it was called a SMLE MKIII then in the 1920's that model was re named rifle No 1 MkIII. There are an extensive number of subvariants. Yours is an early Australian and a WW1 Lithgow is rare. I saw lots of WW2 Austrailian SMLE but very few WW1.

It would be neat to know just where that rifle has been. Could have been in Egypt in WW!, then Turkey, then France. Might have been in Africa in WW2, or Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, New Guinea.

 

[Alte Schule]

Can't really help you but Gunny, one of the frequent posters here, gave me some useful information on my Enfield a couple years ago. I'm sure he'll be along in a little while.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Beautiful condition! The receiver is milled for the annoying magazine cut-off, which is missing. Lithgow evidently deleted the cut-off entirely with the Mk III* in 1916. Here's a SN table I found at : https://www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au/factsheets/fs001_smle_markings.pdf

 

[segami2020@]

Neat old rifle. I wonder if it was at Gallipoli. I have a 1916 Lithgow and it still has some blueing left on its metal. Your rifle is parkerized and the color is consistent with the WW2 Australian Lee Enfields I own. It is missing the magazine cutoff, so was mine, but I found one and installed it.

At the time it was called a SMLE MKIII then in the 1920's that model was re named rifle No 1 MkIII. There are an extensive number of subvariants. Yours is an early Australian and a WW1 Lithgow is rare. I saw lots of WW2 Austrailian SMLE but very few WW1.

It would be neat to know just where that rifle has been. Could have been in Egypt in WW!, then Turkey, then France. Might have been in Africa in WW2, or Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, New Guinea.

Neat old rifle. I wonder if it was at Gallipoli. I have a 1916 Lithgow and it still has some blueing left on its metal. Your rifle is parkerized and the color is consistent with the WW2 Australian Lee Enfields I own. It is missing the magazine cutoff, so was mine, but I found one and installed it.

At the time it was called a SMLE MKIII then in the 1920's that model was re named rifle No 1 MkIII. There are an extensive number of subvariants. Yours is an early Australian and a WW1 Lithgow is rare. I saw lots of WW2 Austrailian SMLE but very few WW1.

It would be neat to know just where that rifle has been. Could have been in Egypt in WW!, then Turkey, then France. Might have been in Africa in WW2, or Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, New Guinea.

Thanks for the input. That is very fascinating. Any ideas on what this would be worth if purchasing it.

 

[Slamfire]

Thanks for the input. That is very fascinating. Any ideas on what this would be worth if purchasing it.

Research Gunbroker and look at sold listings. I have a good idea what they were worth in the 1990's, but I have not kept up with them now. When ever I see what mil surplus rifles are going for now, I get sticker shock. I could not afford what I have.

P.S. It will happen to you!

 

[segami2020@]

Research Gunbroker and look at sold listings. I have a good idea what they were worth in the 1990's, but I have not kept up with them now. When ever I see what mil surplus rifles are going for now, I get sticker shock. I could not afford what I have.

P.S. It will happen to you!

View attachment 891509

Oh I know I work with firearms all day. It amazes me how prices will appreciate with garbage and depreciate sometimes with really nice historical pieces. It often times depends on what is going on in the world that people will all of a sudden start looking a certain rifles. The Mosin Negant is a prime example the prices have sky rocketed, but try to find a good specimen. most of them look like they have been thru the grinding mill but we get top dollar for them. Thanks for all of your thoughts.

 

[segami2020@]

Beautiful condition! The receiver is milled for the annoying magazine cut-off, which is missing. Lithgow evidently deleted the cut-off entirely with the Mk III* in 1916. Here's a SN table I found at : https://www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au/factsheets/fs001_smle_markings.pdf

View attachment 891360

Thanks Dave, this helped in my research. Much appreciated.