Left handed .303 issue ???

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Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by Die Judicii » 16 Feb 2016, 6:59 pm

Come on you Militaria gun nuts,,
Was there left handed Lithgow / SMLE / .303s issued to our troops ?

I ask this because I found an old advert that shows a typical (of the era) B+W sketch type advert for .303s, and the sketch depicts a left handed rifle.

I always thought the rule of the day was "one size fits all"

Did they exist, or did the artist get it wrong. :unknown:
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by GLS_1956 » 16 Feb 2016, 8:11 pm

I'm sure the artist got it wrong. The SMLE, like our American 1903 series service rifles were designed for right hand operation. A very strong possibility is that when the sketch was transferred to the printing press it got reversed so that the print in the advertisement became a mirror image. I have notice this having occurred in many old photographs.
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by Die Judicii » 16 Feb 2016, 9:14 pm

I should have gone to the trouble of adding the pic at the same time as the posting,,
but here it is,
100_3914.JPG
100_3914.JPG (712.86 KiB) Viewed 2876 times
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by No1Mk3 » 17 Feb 2016, 1:41 am

Nice ad, but it's wrong. Cack Handers were catered for in the Army, nice Corporals, Sergeants and Sergeants-Major gently encouraged them to learn to shoot right handed. An interesting civi adaptation I have seen is the bolt handle cut off at the root and welded across the top. Bolt body still operated the same way, but it meant a much shorter reach to action when firing left handed. A Queenslander of course!
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 17 Feb 2016, 6:11 am

reversed artwork...... I'd love a lefty too!

I'll order some of the inlimited ammo though, reckon they've got some left?? I'll drop in at Ringwood and ask johnnie.....
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by FuzzyM » 17 Feb 2016, 12:00 pm

That's my LGS. Wish they saved me a few at that price....
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by Die Judicii » 17 Feb 2016, 1:19 pm

Thanks for the input fellas,,, I had a feeling the artist would end up with egg on his face.
:lol:
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by FuzzyM » 18 Feb 2016, 7:53 pm

They used to buy them for a couple of pounds from the military surplus market.
They were sorted into three piles:
Nicest rifle pile which were cut down and equipped with an aftermarket stock etc.
OK condition. Cut down military stock.
Poorest rifles. Flogged as full military spec.
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by RoginaJack » 18 Feb 2016, 9:27 pm

Nope, haven't come across a L.H. SMLE 303. I'd suggest that the printing block image was "reversed" to fit the advert. type layout.
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Re: Left handed .303 issue ???

Post by Gregg » 01 Mar 2016, 10:45 am

False advertising, demand they make you a lefty as pictured :lol:
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