Australian HT Sniper Rifle

[the pusser]

These are my two Lithgow HT low mount sniper rifles.

The top one was rebuilt and re-finished as it was an absolute mess when I got it. It had wrong parts and the scope was in poor shape. I was able to locate the required parts through some great friends on another forum.

The bottom one is completely as issued and has not been touched since it left the store after an FTR.

Both rifles are great shooters and they are used on a regular basis.

For those of you who aren't too familiar with these rifles, they entered service with Australian forces towards the end of the Second World War. They were used through Korea and remained in service with the Australian Army until the 1980's. These rifles are very rare in Australia, and I am lucky enough to have two.

The HT sniper rifle was mainly built on WW1 No1 MkIII SMLE actions as they had superior metalurgy. A Lithgow Small Arms factory Heavy Barrel was also used. I am by no means an expert on these rifles. These two pieces of history are the pride and joy of my collection. The only thing I wish I knew was where they went and what they did during their service.

Thanks for looking.

Pusser.

 

[BrianLara400]

Terrific rifles & thanks for sharing Pusser, it would be worth posting some of the build photo's aswell from the other forum.
Are you still contemplating building that Pattern 14 (No3) sniper?

 

[the pusser]

Still on the cards. I know I will never find a genuine one to purchase.

I will chase up the other pics.

 

[Former0302]

Very very nice

 

[MJ1]

Nice, I had a chance to shoot this 1916.

 

[saddler]

Nice, I had a chance to shoot this 1916.

...the chap you are standing next to is very much missed here in the UK

 

[BrianLara400]

MJ1, do you know any further details of that rifle? the sight looks like an offset aldis?

 

[MJ1]

I shot a few special rifles that day I couldn't say from memory what I was told. Everyone was very generous and I was enjoying the course and taking it all in. Bisley is an amazing venue.

Like this locally famous 7.62X51. I put two rounds at 200 yards in a penny and the third round I pulled a 1/2" left with it first try. My jaw was just hanging open.

 

[BasraBoy]

MJ1, do you know any further details of that rifle? the sight looks like an offset aldis?

BL400 - I'm going to stick my neck out and say that that is a PPC (Periscopic Prism Co.) scope based on the mount. It is not disimilar to the Aldis but is a tad longer (note that it extends to just in front of the rear sight protector (whereas the Aldis stopped at the rear of the sight protector) and the mount is different.

I'm also pretty sure the rifle MJ1 is holding in the pic is an original and extremely rare WW1 British SMLE Sniper Rifle - note the round cocking piece on the bolt (which I believe were changed some time mid- to late WW1) not the later spec ridged oblong version as seen on the Aussie HT's

 

[BrianLara400]

Thanks for the great info Basra re: the PPC,
I find that "No5 looking 762" particularly interesting - do you know much about these, what would something like that be designated?
I believe you british played around with conversions of your No4's, calling them L8's but I had thought they were fullstocked & not built on No5 actions?
Our conversions to 7.62x51 for trial & evaluations @ SAF Lithgow, were done on the No1 actions with SLR/L1a1 mags amongst other things (designated No6, various Mk's)

 

[BasraBoy]

No worries...

Must say I'm also intrigued by MJ1's 7.62 No.5 lookalike....nearest thing in 7.62 I've ever seen would be L39,L42 or the Envoy/Enforcers...but never anything with the No.5 type stock.

You are right that the L8 series rifles (A1,A2,A3,A4 and A5 spec) were all full stocked as far as I have ever read).

Can't even find any mention of 7.62 chambered No.5's in Skennerton.....

 

[McCrazy]

Very nice rifles. I have always had a soft spot for the Enfields and still have a couple No.4s.

 

[MJ1]

The rifle in question is a custom but well known rifle in the UK shooting family. Nothing impossible a #4T receiver with sterling magazine and 7.62 barrel with #32 MkIII scope. If you have a spare #4T with original pads and a #5 to scrap out or all the parts from it's very doable and I know of one more and I was in the proses of doing the same not long ago. Then I came to my senses and sold all the #5 stuff and plan to replace the barrel with a new unissued #4 .303 I have restoring the T with an extra #32 scope and bracket and save the 7.62 for another project on a like new #4 MkII receiver.