New 1941 Lithgow! Did I get Fleeced?

The fact that the right hand side of the butt is devoid of markings tells me it's definitely been fitted with a new butt since it first left the factory. This isn't a real good photo but it will give you the idea. The butt of your rifle when new would have be marked like this.

That doesn't mean your rifle isn't any good. Just take it for what it is, a good rifle that's been reworked since it left the factory. Aussie shooters and collectors pay big money for new SLAZ stock sets and yours appears brand new.

Just make sure the recoil plates were fitted to the stock and your good to go. You can normally just see them looking down into the action with the bolt removed. Here's a picture of what they look like with the forend removed from the rifle. Your looking for the two little brass plates. These were actually omitted from production for a short time but reinstated shortly thereafter. Your forend will definitely last longer with then fitted.

If you decide to pull your rifle apart, make sure you remove the forend first. If your try and remove the butt first, you'll damage the forend, most likely splitting it and stuffing up an otherwise very good rifle.

I didn't create either of these photo's. I googled them, so credit to whoever took the images.

Replacing bits during use was perfectly normal, if your butt is a '44 & the action a '41 thats probably what happened.

That's a far cry from a JJ&Co Bitster though. I don't think you got "done" depending on price.

correct sling installation:

Thanks so much for this incredibly detailed response. Very grateful. I took another snap of the magazine for you. Seems to be a star on the inside. Also any idea what the stamp in the 2nd photo indicates? I think it says "I/A VII" 

Also, dont think there's any brass recoil plates in there. Given that its coachwood do you think its safe to shoot? 

thrawnformbi wrote: I took another snap of the magazine for you. Seems to be a star on the inside. Also any idea what the stamp in the 2nd photo indicates? I think it says "I/A VII" Also, dont think there's any brass recoil plates in there. Given that its coachwood do you think its safe to shoot?

Your magazine follower has the Lithgow star with A inside it. I was referring to the magazine box itself. It would normally be marked somewhere on the back. A MA stamp would be correct for a 41 rifle. Here's a picture of a later magazine marked OA to show it was made at Orange.

I think you'll find that "I/A VII" stamp you refer to on the receiver is actually a poorly struck MA above VII. To the best of my knowledge it's a Lithgow acceptance mark which would have been applied when the action body passed final inspection. Remember MA is the code for Lithgow production. You'll find a similar mark on your barrel, normally MA VI. The crossed flags with L over P beside it is the Lithgow proof mark. When production of the rifles moved to Orange later in the war, that MA VII acceptance mark changed to OA VII. Likewise, very late production rifles have crossed flags with O over P for the proof mark.

As for the recoil plates, I'd definitely get some fitted. They were fitted to help prevent the action from pounding back into the timber under recoil. Coachwood is not as dense at Walnut and is prone to splitting. The plates were omitted from production during the war as an emergency measure for a very short period. The fact they went back to fitting them tells me they are needed. From memory, I think they were only omitted from production for something like 2 - 3 months. The rifle won't blow up in your face without them, but you risk damage to your stock. Once that metal to wood fit in the draws becomes loose, accuracy will drop off. Your stock could also split under recoil. As previously stated, unless you really know what your doing, I'd get a good Gun Smith to fit them. They are fitted on an angle to match the receiver and both plates need to bear evenly and snugly allowing the barrel to lay centered along the forend channel.

The fact your stock doesn't have the plates fitted is another very good indication it was restocked by JJ CO. Their parts rifles and refurbished rifles are well known for not having the plates fitted. Rifles in Australian service wouldn't have been restocked in Coachwood and sent back out without the plates. We haven't seen the date, or other marks on your barrel yet but I definitely wouldn't refer to your rifle as a parts gun. From what we've seen so far the major components are original matching pieces. I'd refer to your rifle as refurbished, most likely by JJ CO.

Don't let any of this JJ CO stuff put you off. You still purchased a very good rifle. Take the time to get the plates fitted, give that stock a good drink of Linseed oil and that rifle will most likely outlast all of us. I'm sure it will outlast me anyway