LITHGOW S.M.L.E No1 Mk3* 303 British

LITHGOW S.M.L.E No1 Mk3* 303 British Serial D24218. Includes Lithgow Bayonet plus full collectors set of accessories (many of which are brand new that was collected while living in Australia) as will be shown in the photos - $5,000. Condition is excellent and only had a few hundred round put through it since new.

The Lithgow S.M.L.E. No.1 Mk.3* is an Australian-produced bolt-action service rifle chambered in .0.303 British, manufactured by the Lithgow Small Arms Factory starting during World War I and continuing through World War II. 

Key Overview

• Designation: Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No.1 Mark III* (simplified during WWI by removing the magazine cutoff and windage-adjustable rear sight).

• Caliber: .303 British.

• Feed System: 10-round detachable box magazine, loadable via 5-round charger clips or individual rounds.

• Action: Bolt-action with a rear-locking lug design known for a fast, smooth bolt throw. 

Historical Context & Production

• Manufacturing: Built at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory in New South Wales, Australia, which produced hundreds of thousands of these rifles for Australian and Commonwealth forces. 

• Service Use: Served as the primary infantry rifle for the Australian military through both World Wars and into the post-war era, alongside specialized variants like the No.1 Mk.3* H.T. (Heavy Telescopic) sniper rifle.