Lithgow SMLE No.1 Mk III* .303 British Bolt-Action Rifle, 1942 Australian WWII Production
This 1942 Lithgow Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk III* is a WWII-era Australian-made rifle with clear factory and military markings and the classic SMLE configuration. It features the rear-locking, cock-on-closing Lee-Enfield action, a 25.2-inch barrel, and iron sights with a protected blade front and ladder rear. Its Australian proofs and unit stamps remain very visible, adding strong collector interest.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The hardwood stock shows widespread scratches and blemishes, but the original markings remain very visible. There is finish loss with patina and areas of pitting present. The action cycles smoothly, and the firing pin strikes with strong force. The bore presents a shine with clearly visible rifling.
What’s Included
- 1x SMLE-pattern steel detachable 10-round magazine (installed)
Built at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory and roll-stamped on the butt-socket with "M.A LITHGOW S.M.L.E III* 1942," this rifle represents Australian wartime production of the No.1 Mk III*. The receiver is steel, and the rifle retains the SMLE charger bridge, bayonet boss on the nose-cap, and the standard 10-round detachable box magazine system with a stated 10+1 capacity.
It wears a full-length hardwood stock with two upper handguards, sling swivels, and a brass buttplate with trapdoor. Sighting equipment includes a blade front with protective wings and a ladder/leaf rear sight without a windage knob, matching the Mk III* pattern.
Notable markings include the AUSTRALIA export stamp, P proof, Australian broad-arrow mark, MA VII barrel stamp, BA inspector stamps, the MA/Lithgow buttstock cartouche, and an HV 1943 buttstock stamp. The nose-cap bayonet boss is serialized to the rifle. The receiver and nose-cap share a "D" serial prefix, while the bolt shows an "R" prefix.
The action is the classic rear-locking, cock-on-closing Lee-Enfield system known for fast operation, paired here with a 25.2-inch barrel. Length of pull measures 13.0 inches, offering a traditional SMLE handling profile.