Bayonet for Australian No. 1 SMLE Mark III
Same as the English Pattern 1907 bayonet. Wood grips. 15" single edge blade. Marked “M.A.” or “MA Lithgow.” Scabbards sometimes marked “Mangrove.” Price range 125 – 50.
Bolo Bayonet for No. 1 SMLE Mark III
Wood grip. 11.5" single edge bolo shaped blade. Made in limited quantities during WW2. Price range 700 – 450.
No. 1 Mark III* H.T. (Australian) Sniper
Introduced toward the end of World War II, this rifle used mostly rebuilt Mark III actions dating to between 1915 and 1918. Fitted with both high and low mounts. The standard bracket telescope tube is marked, “SIGHT TELESCOPE PATT 1918 (AUS).” These rifles are fitted with a heavy barrel. Only about 1,500 of these rifles were converted.
SCOPE NOTE: The No. 32 (Marks 1-3) scope was the most commonly used on British-made guns. The No. 32 and the Alaskan are not the same scope. About 100 Lyman Alaskan scopes were fitted to Longbranch No. 4 Mark 1*(T) rifles in 1944-1945. In addition to the British-made scopes, R.E.I. Ltd. in Canada made its own version of the No. 32 and these are usually found on Longbranch guns. The No. 67 scope, used on about 100 Longbranch (T)s was made by R.E.I. and differs from the design of the No. 32.
Rifle No. 6 Mark I & Mark I/I (AUST)
This model was essentially a trials rifle built in Australia at Lithgow. Similar to the No. 5 but with a No. 1 receiver. Metal components have been milled for lightening. Barrel length is 20.5" with flash hider. The Mark I differs from the Mark I/I in rear sight. Rear sight is open and graduated to 2,000 yards on the Mark I and the Mark I/I uses an aperture sight graduated from 200 to 800 yards. Both models have serial numbers with an “XP” prefix. Each model has two variations of buttplates: one standard brass and the other composition padded with hinges at bottom for trap access.
NOTE: Beware of fakes. Seek expert advice prior to a sale.
L1A1 Rifle
This is the British version of the FN-FAL in the “inch” or Imperial pattern. Most of these rifles were semi-automatic only. This rifle was the standard service rifle for the British Army from about 1954 to 1988. The rifle was made in Lithgow, Australia, under license from FN. The configurations for the L1A1 rifle are the same as the standard FN-FAL Belgium rifle. Only a few of these rifles were imported into the U.S. They are very rare. This “inch” pattern British gun will also be found in other Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and India.
NOTE: Only about 180 Australian L1A1s were imported into the U.S. prior to 1989. These are rare and in great demand.
Bayonet for Australian No. 1 SMLE Mark III
Australian L1A1 Rifle • Courtesy Blake Stevens, The FAL Rifle
MACHINE GUNS
Between 1925 and 1930 the Australian firm of Lithgow built the Vickers machine gun. Later, between 1938 and 1940, the same company built the Bren gun in .303 caliber. Approximately 12,000 Vickers and 17,000 Bren guns were built in Australia during this period. After World War II the Australian military adopted the U.S. M60 machine gun, the Browning 1919A4, and the .50 caliber Browning M2HB. More recently, that country’s military uses the Belgian FN MAG, and the German MG3.
Australian Bren
This is a slightly modified version of the MK I built by the Small Arms Factory, Lithgow, beginning in 1940. Marked “MA” and “LITHGOW” on the right side of the receiver. A total of 17,429 guns were produced when production stopped August 13, 1945.
Pre-1968 (Extremely Rare)
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 40000 | 37500 | 30000 |
Australian Vickers
Manufactured by the Small Arms Factory in Lithgow beginning in 1929. The gun was last built in 1945. Serial numbers began with the number 1 and went to 9,999. From then on the prefix “B” was added. Highest serial number recorded is B2344.
Pre-1968
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| N/A | — | — |
Pre-1986 conversions (side-plate using Colt 1915 or 1918 plates)
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 17500 | 15000 | 12500 |
AUSTRIA/HUNGARY & AUSTRIA
Austrian/Hungarian Military Conflicts, 1870-Present
In 1867 the Austro-Hungarian monarchy ruled this important and critical part of Europe. Germany and Austria-Hungary entered into an alliance called the Dual Alliance and later, in 1882 when Italy joined, the Triple Alliance. In the same year Serbia and Romania joined this group as well. Eventually this partnership between Germany and Austria-Hungary pitted them against England and France for control of Europe. With the advent of World War I and the defeat of the Dual Alliance, the Austrian-Hungarian rule came to an end. Between 1914 and 1918 Austria-Hungary had a total of 7,800,000 serving in its armed forces. By the end of the war 2,482,870 had been killed or wounded, about 1/3 of total military personnel. In 1918 German Austria became a republic. The small nation was beset by social, economic, and political unrest throughout the 1920s and in 1934 a totalitarian regime was established. Austria became part of the German Third Reich in 1938. After the end of World War II, Austria was restored to a republic and occupied by the allies until 1955 when it became a sovereign nation. Austria joined the European Union in 1995.
HANDGUNS
Model 1870
This revolver is built on a Lefaucheux-Francotte
