show & tell (WW1 303)
Submitted by tailor marc on Sat, 2009-03-07 08:03
I have been collecting Australian war relics for a while now and thought i would share my latest peice.
Its a World war 1, 303 rifle made in Lithgow, Australia 1918.
It have been de-activated so it cant fire and will be a wall mount.
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tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
(No subject)
My photography pictures... http://westernhorizonsmedia.wordpress.com/
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
(No subject)
My photography pictures... http://westernhorizonsmedia.wordpress.com/
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Things i found out about
Things i found out about this gun from austhunting forum.......
"Wow nice rifle, Bloody shame about it being deactivated...
But such is life. Yep you're right about the H.V. Stamp. This basicially means that she had been sighted for the MK VII ammunition the pointed nose stuff. The MK VI ammo are the rounds with the long rounded projectiles. The rear sight was fitted with a lower ramp as the MK VIIs had a flatter trajectory and longer range.
Nice lithgow coat of arms on the wrist along with the 1918 date and Mk III* stamp. This was replaced in about 1926 with just a very plain M.A. stamp. The MK IIIs were the ones with the mag cut off and long range volley sights. Though interestingly your action appears to have the slot for the mag cut off??
5/55 could well be the date it was sold out of service...ie surplus.
G 910 I suspect is a rack number, cause if it had beed the orginal serial number it would have been crossed out when the A 4212 serial number was stamped on. The 12 1B on the brass disc could mean it was the 12th rifle issued to the 1st Battalion, which would mean it would have to have been a replacement rifle given the year of manufacture.... "
and by another member.....
"G'day Mate.
One thing I can tell you is that it was once on issue to an Australian Cadet Corps Unit as evidenced by the green band/stripe painted around the butt. This means that it was approved for firing live ammunition.
Stock to me looks like QLD Maple, all original to the rifle. Apart from the fact it's a Deact', it's a very honest original rifle. I like the fact that it will be looked after in it's forced retirement.
Cheers."
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bod
Posts: 2321
Date Joined: 03/05/06
show and tell
Interesting pick up. Where and how did you come across it Marc?
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
A Gem of a Piece
magic memorabilia. Well worth keeping.
Cheers, Vince
http://vinceholt.spaces.live.com/
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Work Smart - Fish Often
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
fishcrazy
Posts: 1235
Date Joined: 27/01/07
butt
does it have the cleaning gear up the little flap on the shoulder plate used to have quite a few 303s fully wooded and sporterized u can buy a new barrel still in grease for that for 100 dollars in new zealand and original ammo . nice peice mate
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Cheers guys, Barrys firearms
Cheers guys, Barrys firearms sell them $500 no licence required Lots of ww2 but not many ww1 left
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Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Nice will look great on the
Nice will look great on the wall . plenty of colours in the wood still very nice..
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Nice piece of Australian
Nice piece of Australian history there. When i was up in Darwin i managed to score one of these beauties myself.
But mine is a Birmingham Small Arms(made in england) dated 1912. The amazing thing is it still functions and i use it quiet regualary as my pig hunting rifle as i like the fact it has a 10 shot mag. Still acurate too even with open sights. Got it for $110 and had just come out of a box full of packing grease. Took quiet a while to clean it up entirely. Eventually had to complete the setup so got an original bayonnet for it.
Cool to think that in 3 years it wll be 100 years old!