My dad is getting on in years and health and a day before he went into the hospital he gave me some guns I gave him as gifts over the years.

I bought him this 1918 Lithgow Enfield from Navy Arms in like 1993-94?  for an amazing sum of like $39 before shipping and ordered a box of ammo at the same time from Navy Arms.   Both the gun and the ammo (Pakistani I think) Essentially untouched in the safe for like 30 years.

I bought it for him one fathers day as a gift as he told me he liked to hunt with his mail order .303 he bought war surplus in the 1950s and didn't keep, so when I saw these cheap I got him one.  He liked it and shot it a few times with some soft point commercial ammo - (like probably 20 rds in 30 years LOL).

Are these WW1 guns coach wood or walnut or??  If Coachwood, I figure its just oil soaked and stained dark and might try to bring back the lighter color of the wood

I would give my left nut to have that rifle. Does it have the volley sight?

Nice rifle, but don't mess with the wood if that's the way it left Australia. I have two Lithgow's, both Navy Arms Imports and they both have darker wood.

The light colored rifles I see are all John Jovino (JJCO) imported guns and I believe a lot of those were put together from spare parts.

Many times with a older gun it is difficult to balance out possible value of a historical piece and "cleaning it up"

I can see how cleaning up what is likely a oil soaked stock set would likely help it look sharp as all get out but that choice of action is going to trash historical value.

Being as how the gun was a gift to the OPs dad the waters are also muddied by sentimental value also.

Not sure what I would do in a similar situation.


Truth is the gun is always going to be worth way more than original purchase price so there is no "wrong" way going forward.

I believe if asked I would  advise the OP to consider what his dads feelings would be if he could be asked.  Leave the old war horse in its current shape and condition or to take the time to clean up the old grungy wood.


Not like the OP is going to chrome plate it and camo the stock

Thanks for the input guys.  It's probably going to be kept as is.

I had bought a bit in the late 80s and early 90s when I had my C&R FFL - It was great back then.

Like many things should have gotten a dozen of them or more.

It was funny finding this and mostly the unused box of Paki .303 as it came from Navy Arms back in the day.

I wonder where I might find an authentic Aussie sling though.

I Remember an Aussie film (Anzacs) where I saw several in rather blonde stocks and similar on late US imported coachwood L1A1 stocks
I sort of liked the look - but years of linseed, storage oils - add to its history.

Nice I had a Indian No1 years ago from Aim that was a Navy Arms when they were sold off. Wish I kept it. I just got a Lithgow I posted in this CR forum.

Its only original once. Repro slings are at Sarco around $7.
You probably can shop around and find an original for $25

My Lithgow came with a sling that appears to be an original, and I had a Aussie bayonet from 25 plus years ago in the safe.

In spite of the "improvements" on the Mk. IV, I really think the Mk. III is peak Enfield.