New 1941 Lithgow! Did I get Fleeced?

Not difficult to make them if someone can supply the recommended thickness.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

hi rogers book is one of the best to have if you want accurize a smle

another good book is the lee enfield performance tuning manual by david watson

UPDATE I Finally found this:

Installing Lithgow recoil plates

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2BZ02FcI7g2Nm85eHROV0RfbVk/view

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

I looked at a 1942 JJ CO , it had the correct range serial number but probably a new added stock like yours. Guy wanted $850.00..to Rich for my blood.

8thmarines

Thanks Marco, that's useful info.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

I joined to discuss this post and this rifle. I'm no expert but I have all the books. And my ladies. That's right--- my ladies and that's what I'm here to talk about... them and their kin. There's Matilda {Queensland Maple} [Mk. III (WW1)] and Adelaide {Red Gum} (Mk. III* WW2)], SMLEs from Lithgow. Custom Parker-Hale peep sights, oil-blackened finish. Minty.
Now a for your piece, at this stage of theme who cares if it is a "parts gun".. But to be a parts gun it would have different serial numbers and it doesn't. But who cares if it assembled in Lithgow? Who even cares if it is Parkerized? The manufacturing tolerances at the British arsenals that made these rifles in England, Canada, Australia, and India were so exacting that you could assemble a working rifle out of parts made all over the world. These rifles were made at the peak of the industrial revolution under conditions that people today would consider appalling--- like what it really takes to create an oil-blackened finish on gun parts at an industrial scale. They lived with a little pollution to create the most durable protective finish every applied to gun metal.
OK--- you missed out on that. But the hardware you have is absolutely impeccable and you should see to it that it is brought up to spec including installation of the buffers and a full inspection. I believe there is a gunsmith and vendor in Maryland or Virginia that specializes in Lee-Enfield if you are any where near that part of the country.
One day, I might wax poetic on this forum about how an SMLE feels when she comes into the rifleman's arms life a willing woman, elegant, poised with perfect balance. You take a deep breath, close your eyes, raise her to your cheek, and sighing, open your eyes.
You're already right on target.

Cheers!

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Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 02 2019 at 11:47am
	Not difficult to make them if someone can supply the recommended thickness.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

thrawnformbi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: November 29 2019 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote thrawnformbi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 02 2019 at 1:46pm
	This is taken from page 87 of The 2012 Complete Book on Lee Enfield Accurizing B&W By Roger Wadham. I just purchased a copy but portions of it are available on google. It seems like a remarkable book with all sorts of information. "These plates were made of brass or copper, and were 17/32 inch by 7/16th inch in size, (.428 by .528 inch on calipers) and .125 inch thick. They are held in place with everyday 1/2 brass countersunk wood screws, and the holes are located dead center of the plate." See link here. https://books.google.com/books?id=f0ycAwAAQBAJ&ppis=_e&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_vpt_buy#v=onepage&q=recoil%20plate&f=false

pisco Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: November 21 2018 Location: australia Status: Offline Points: 206	Post Options Post Reply Quote pisco Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 02 2019 at 10:04pm
	hi rogers book is one of the best to have if you want accurize a smle another good book is the lee enfield performance tuning manual by david watson

MJ11 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: September 18 2008 Location: Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1903	Post Options Post Reply Quote MJ11 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 03 2019 at 9:05am
	I am surprised not a single soul had made up a batch of them. If I ever start shooting my '44 I will keep an eye on the draws. I the present I have a totally capable '43 BSA to use. I was just wondering what the OP's draws look like at this point ?
	The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 24 2019 at 10:51am
	UPDATE I Finally found this: Installing Lithgow recoil plates https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2BZ02FcI7g2Nm85eHROV0RfbVk/view
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

pisco Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: November 21 2018 Location: australia Status: Offline Points: 206	Post Options Post Reply Quote pisco Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: December 24 2019 at 7:18pm
	hi you haven’t sent me me your address so i can send you the copper plates

melrod@knology.net Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: February 26 2020 Location: Huntsville, Ala Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote melrod@knology.net Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 26 2020 at 5:05pm
	I looked at a 1942 JJ CO , it had the correct range serial number but probably a new added stock like yours. Guy wanted $850.00..to Rich for my blood.
	8thmarines

Marco1010 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 04 2020 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 406	Post Options Post Reply Quote Marco1010 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 26 2020 at 8:11pm
	Re the brass recoil pads , down here they use the small brass squares that are used to hold down electrical wires, seems that old British made electrical fittings used exactly the same size as the factory made pads.

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 27 2020 at 4:27am
	Thanks Marco, that's useful info.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

pisco Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: November 21 2018 Location: australia Status: Offline Points: 206	Post Options Post Reply Quote pisco Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 09 2020 at 9:47pm
	now you have the plates we need a range update

My Ladies Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: November 03 2022 Location: Etna, CA Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote My Ladies Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 03 2022 at 6:27pm
	I joined to discuss this post and this rifle. I'm no expert but I have all the books. And my ladies. That's right--- my ladies and that's what I'm here to talk about... them and their kin. There's Matilda {Queensland Maple} [Mk. III (WW1)] and Adelaide {Red Gum} (Mk. III* WW2)], SMLEs from Lithgow. Custom Parker-Hale peep sights, oil-blackened finish. Minty. Now a for your piece, at this stage of theme who cares if it is a "parts gun".. But to be a parts gun it would have different serial numbers and it doesn't. But who cares if it assembled in Lithgow? Who even cares if it is Parkerized? The manufacturing tolerances at the British arsenals that made these rifles in England, Canada, Australia, and India were so exacting that you could assemble a working rifle out of parts made all over the world. These rifles were made at the peak of the industrial revolution under conditions that people today would consider appalling--- like what it really takes to create an oil-blackened finish on gun parts at an industrial scale. They lived with a little pollution to create the most durable protective finish every applied to gun metal. OK--- you missed out on that. But the hardware you have is absolutely impeccable and you should see to it that it is brought up to spec including installation of the buffers and a full inspection. I believe there is a gunsmith and vendor in Maryland or Virginia that specializes in Lee-Enfield if you are any where near that part of the country. One day, I might wax poetic on this forum about how an SMLE feels when she comes into the rifleman's arms life a willing woman, elegant, poised with perfect balance. You take a deep breath, close your eyes, raise her to your cheek, and sighing, open your eyes. You're already right on target.
	Cheers!