MA LITHGOW S.M.L.E III 1940. 303 Rifle

[Danger]

Checked the serials on my 303.
B26731 and A3945.
Looks like I do have a rifle from the early batch!
So glad I never put a scope on it.
She will be used at the range from now on.

[CBH]

If I were you I'd look for a replacement stock , bring her back to her Wartime condition .

It's sad how many of these old service rifles were cutdown , just an opinion .

[Danger]

Hi Chris.
You read my mind.
It's very common for these rifles to be cut down for hunting here in nz.
Hard to find a complete rifle these days.
I remember seeing long toms for sale about 20 years ago for under $100.
Now if i see one, they are around $700.
Guess im going to be looking for stock parts this weekend.

[CBH]

Yes if only we knew then what we know now , a story I often tell is spike bayonets a dollar each sold as tent pegs .

There are a ton of them in Canada cutdown too , probably more of these then any other rifle except .22's .

I'm sure a stock will turn up if you look . Best of luck

[Danger]

Yeah, if only I had had the money back then.
They had racks and racks of them.
I had a quick look online for one the other day and they had a Lee Enfield for $1200NZ.
It spins my head!
I just had a look now and there's one in an auction now for $650, I will have to keep an eye on it.

[CBH]

Live and learn , I guess . As a kid when my friends were spending their money on cigarettes , I was buying old military crap . I bet they still don't have their cigs . Best of Luck in all your endeavorers .

[Danger]

I did the same mate. It's all I ever wanted.
Speaking of cigs, I have a packet of Woodbines from the 50's-60's.
Woodbines

[CBH]

They would be a great addition to a soldiers kit display , I had a wartime tobacco bag and traded it off to someone putting together a soldier gear display .