1928 Lithgow Enfield
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:27 am
I have been collecting Enfields for over 10 years since I bought my first one online from Pat Burns. I currently have 14 different models from different arsenals or countries. I had a model from the Lithgow arsenal but recently came upon a nicer model to upgrade the collection.
Shown here is a 1928 Australian Enfield made at their Lithgow arsenal that I recently bought for $225.00. This rifle has not only been there, done that, got two t-shirts and a team jacket. Enfield is known for their prolific use of inspector's stamps and they did a fine job of using them on this rifle. It looks like the first FTR,(Factory Through Repair), visit back to the arsenal is evidenced by the 1942 branding stamp on the buttstock. Other stamps on the Knox form and receiver show revisits in 1952 and 1953. Another stamp on the Knox form shows the bore got a polish job done on one of the visits at some point. The capital “D^D stamp shows this rifle has been downgraded to a second class firearm, not to be used by front line soldiers. The bore is dark but has strong rifling and a headspace check just barely passes a field gage check. By reading all the stamps it is very possible this rifle got heavy use during WWII and up until the Korean War. I can't think of another countries rifle other than the Enfield that its history and use can be traced by its inspection stamps. Enjoy.
Shown here is a 1928 Australian Enfield made at their Lithgow arsenal that I recently bought for $225.00. This rifle has not only been there, done that, got two t-shirts and a team jacket. Enfield is known for their prolific use of inspector's stamps and they did a fine job of using them on this rifle. It looks like the first FTR,(Factory Through Repair), visit back to the arsenal is evidenced by the 1942 branding stamp on the buttstock. Other stamps on the Knox form and receiver show revisits in 1952 and 1953. Another stamp on the Knox form shows the bore got a polish job done on one of the visits at some point. The capital “D^D stamp shows this rifle has been downgraded to a second class firearm, not to be used by front line soldiers. The bore is dark but has strong rifling and a headspace check just barely passes a field gage check. By reading all the stamps it is very possible this rifle got heavy use during WWII and up until the Korean War. I can't think of another countries rifle other than the Enfield that its history and use can be traced by its inspection stamps. Enjoy.