Lets see those .303's - Page 2 - The Firearms Forum

jack404 · 07-15-2012, 07:56 PM

there where 17 variants of these over the period , i have a 1945 variant based called the howell , sadly lithgow did not approve it but the UK home guard said they'd have some but that died too ..

this one was fitted for the bren mag

jack404 · 07-15-2012, 07:58 PM

and another variant that the south africans liked

this one is called the reider

JLA · 07-15-2012, 07:58 PM

sigh.. I miss my no. 4

jack404 · 07-15-2012, 08:00 PM

and there where some 20+ magazine designs , i have 3 here that match nothing , they where hand made by the artificer ( metal smith in army speak ) to test but never went beyond that

jack404 · 07-15-2012, 08:01 PM

got another batch heading to marstar JLA i've two never seen the light of day outside there paper and cosmoline world ( 1949 make)

JLA · 07-15-2012, 08:03 PM

nice. whats a guy gotta do to wrestle one away?

I had a Fazakerly no.4, clean, and accurate shooter she was too.

jack404 · 07-15-2012, 08:09 PM

these will all go to marstar in canada then they'll have a sale with the last lot i know buds bought some as did the mil rifle place in AZ

45Auto · 07-15-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack404

thats the semi auto ( thought you where on the one above it )

we designed a semi auto based on the LE i'll get mine outta the safe and show you some pics

( PS its NOT a charlton its a Lithgow )

I only know about the NZ conversion. They are extremely interesting. How many did Australia make? How reliable were they?

jack404 · 07-15-2012, 08:31 PM

i think we had about 15 iterations , some worked well , some complete disasters with noel farthington losing a eye on a demonstration ( he was the chief designer there in the 50's )

technology changed the ammo changed and folks started going the path of the FN or AK so they never went anywhere really

a design path that became a dead end ..

i have 3 of them but would not ever try to fire them , one already shows stress fractures in the chamber ( that is a doland a early convertion that failed)

.303 was not a good designed round for a semi or auto rifle , the .308 rimless was a much better fit

45Auto · 07-15-2012, 09:39 PM

Good to know, Jack, (not that I'm planning to make one any time soon.) The conversions sparked my interest many long years ago with a picture of one made in NZ in Small Arms of the World, by Smith & Smith. Seemed like a briliant and highly creative idea. Sad that it cost someone an eye, though.

jack404 · 07-15-2012, 09:46 PM

the kiwi one was a good one , it was a chitty brit rework of a aussie design that blew

but Noels still kicking he's in the retirement home with his new bride ( he was 81 she 79 at the wedding )

he'd be 92 this year and still visits the museum regularly

demo · 07-21-2012, 06:54 PM

Hello gents, my first post here. Here's a few more three o's for the thread.

demo · 07-21-2012, 06:59 PM

Jack it's good to see the museum got their 37 lithgow.

Here's mine.

jack404 · 07-22-2012, 01:47 AM

heck nice rifles there Demo

i've a collector in the US who offered $2500 for one .. and i think the gents legit ...

he bought my maxim ...

demo · 07-22-2012, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack404

heck nice rifles there Demo

i've a collector in the US who offered $2500 for one .. and i think the gents legit ...

he bought my maxim ...

Are we talking about the 1937 lithgow?

Did you have one to sell him?

jack404 · 07-22-2012, 07:31 AM

yes the 37

no! i used what parts i had here to restore the one for the museum ( i fix stuff for them )

the one i had here had no bolt and the sights where removed but the wood was intact and the one we did get had been sporterised but had sights , a bit of swapping and Viola!! ,

i've not seen another since

they are rather collectible to say the least

demo · 07-22-2012, 08:12 AM

They are but I suppose to most they're just another SMLE.

jack404 · 07-22-2012, 08:13 AM

and there is the hassle, they are out there, folks just dont realise eh ..

demo · 07-22-2012, 08:19 AM

Yes I wonder how many. I've come across quite a few 35 and 36 dated rifles that have been DP'd. Any explanations?

jack404 · 07-22-2012, 08:31 AM

35's and 6's are common enough but remember the pacifist movement that came back to london from germany crying PEACE IN OUR TIME .. the brits got us to stop production of LE's as it may upset the AXIS powers ( appeasement and we know how that goes)

by 38' the japanese spread was fast and scary and so lithgow went full bore again despite what the brits wanted .. a lot of old rifles where sold off in that period

others dismantled for spares , sad eh .. oh we'll live and learn ( appeasement dont work )

Redhand · 10-17-2012, 11:10 AM

Jack, Can you still find stocks for a Mk V SMLE around your neighborhood? I've got a MK V that has been put in a sporter stock but retains all orginality except the stock. It is a double stamped 1922 model. I've also got an all orginal 1922 model.

Redhand · 10-29-2012, 06:34 PM

I guess no MK V's in downunder.

B27 · 10-30-2012, 01:15 AM

Savage "U.S. PROPERTY" No4

oldobie · 02-26-2013, 09:43 AM

These are buried somewhere in the back of the safe!

Sundial · 03-03-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack404

only if it was a lithgow conversion , no ishapores here ( there are some lithgow convertions to 7.62 but not many and are collectors within themselves )

I have a fully timbered 303 and A Jack Pollard conversion to sporting.

Back in the early days, it was illegal to have a firearm that fired military ammo.

Jack Pollard re-chambered them to 7.7 X 54 and the cops went over to his shop regularly to try and chamber a .303 round.

Must get some pics out.

I am new here and just finding my way around

07-15-2012, 07:56 PM	#26
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's there where 17 variants of these over the period , i have a 1945 variant based called the howell , sadly lithgow did not approve it but the UK home guard said they'd have some but that died too .. this one was fitted for the bren mag

07-15-2012, 07:58 PM	#27
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's and another variant that the south africans liked this one is called the reider

07-15-2012, 07:58 PM	#28
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Lets see those .303's sigh.. I miss my no. 4 __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

07-15-2012, 08:00 PM	#29
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's and there where some 20+ magazine designs , i have 3 here that match nothing , they where hand made by the artificer ( metal smith in army speak ) to test but never went beyond that

07-15-2012, 08:01 PM	#30
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's got another batch heading to marstar JLA i've two never seen the light of day outside there paper and cosmoline world ( 1949 make)

07-15-2012, 08:03 PM	#31
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Lets see those .303's nice. whats a guy gotta do to wrestle one away? I had a Fazakerly no.4, clean, and accurate shooter she was too. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

07-15-2012, 08:09 PM	#32
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's these will all go to marstar in canada then they'll have a sale with the last lot i know buds bought some as did the mil rifle place in AZ

07-15-2012, 08:31 PM	#34
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's i think we had about 15 iterations , some worked well , some complete disasters with noel farthington losing a eye on a demonstration ( he was the chief designer there in the 50's ) technology changed the ammo changed and folks started going the path of the FN or AK so they never went anywhere really a design path that became a dead end .. i have 3 of them but would not ever try to fire them , one already shows stress fractures in the chamber ( that is a doland a early convertion that failed) .303 was not a good designed round for a semi or auto rifle , the .308 rimless was a much better fit Last edited by jack404; 07-15-2012 at 08:34 PM..

07-15-2012, 09:39 PM	#35
45Auto Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,121	Re: Lets see those .303's Good to know, Jack, (not that I'm planning to make one any time soon.) The conversions sparked my interest many long years ago with a picture of one made in NZ in Small Arms of the World, by Smith & Smith. Seemed like a briliant and highly creative idea. Sad that it cost someone an eye, though.

07-15-2012, 09:46 PM	#36
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's the kiwi one was a good one , it was a chitty brit rework of a aussie design that blew but Noels still kicking he's in the retirement home with his new bride ( he was 81 she 79 at the wedding ) he'd be 92 this year and still visits the museum regularly

07-21-2012, 06:54 PM	#37
demo Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 5	Re: Lets see those .303's Hello gents, my first post here. Here's a few more three o's for the thread. Attached Images

07-21-2012, 06:59 PM	#38
demo Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 5	Re: Lets see those .303's Jack it's good to see the museum got their 37 lithgow. Here's mine. Attached Images

07-22-2012, 01:47 AM	#39
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's heck nice rifles there Demo i've a collector in the US who offered $2500 for one .. and i think the gents legit ... he bought my maxim ...

07-22-2012, 07:31 AM	#41
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's yes the 37 no! i used what parts i had here to restore the one for the museum ( i fix stuff for them ) the one i had here had no bolt and the sights where removed but the wood was intact and the one we did get had been sporterised but had sights , a bit of swapping and Viola!! , i've not seen another since they are rather collectible to say the least Last edited by jack404; 07-22-2012 at 07:32 AM..

07-22-2012, 08:12 AM	#42
demo Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 5	Re: Lets see those .303's They are but I suppose to most they're just another SMLE.

07-22-2012, 08:13 AM	#43
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's and there is the hassle, they are out there, folks just dont realise eh ..

07-22-2012, 08:19 AM	#44
demo Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 5	Re: Lets see those .303's Yes I wonder how many. I've come across quite a few 35 and 36 dated rifles that have been DP'd. Any explanations?

07-22-2012, 08:31 AM	#45
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Lets see those .303's 35's and 6's are common enough but remember the pacifist movement that came back to london from germany crying PEACE IN OUR TIME .. the brits got us to stop production of LE's as it may upset the AXIS powers ( appeasement and we know how that goes) by 38' the japanese spread was fast and scary and so lithgow went full bore again despite what the brits wanted .. a lot of old rifles where sold off in that period others dismantled for spares , sad eh .. oh we'll live and learn ( appeasement dont work )

10-17-2012, 11:10 AM	#46
Redhand Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 610	Re: Lets see those .303's Jack, Can you still find stocks for a Mk V SMLE around your neighborhood? I've got a MK V that has been put in a sporter stock but retains all orginality except the stock. It is a double stamped 1922 model. I've also got an all orginal 1922 model. __________________ LAMH DERG EIRIN ABU

10-29-2012, 06:34 PM	#47
Redhand Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 610	Re: Lets see those .303's I guess no MK V's in downunder. __________________ LAMH DERG EIRIN ABU

10-30-2012, 01:15 AM	#48
B27 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 415	Re: Lets see those .303's Savage "U.S. PROPERTY" No4 __________________ "Do not stand beside the road and argue with a fool...lest others in passing take you also for a fool." Last edited by B27; 10-30-2012 at 01:18 AM..

02-26-2013, 09:43 AM	#49
oldobie Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 25	Re: Lets see those .303's These are buried somewhere in the back of the safe! __________________ Old Obie Last edited by oldobie; 02-26-2013 at 09:45 AM.. Reason: added 2nd phote