Standard Catalog of Military Firearms. Phillip Peterson
Fair
Pre-1986 manufacture with new receiver or re-weld
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 12000 | 9000 | N/A |
Austen Mark I
Introduced in 1943 this gun is a take-off on the British Sten with a folding butt similar to the MP40. Chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge and fitted with an 8" barrel with forward grip. Uses a 28-round box magazine. Rate of fire is approximately 500 rounds per minute. Weight is about 9 lbs. About 20,000 were produced between 1943 and 1945 by Diecasters and Carmichael in Australia.
Austen Submachine Gun • Courtesy Thomas Nelson, from The World’s Submachine Guns, Vol. 1
Pre-1968
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 17500 | 15000 | 12000 |
Pre-1986 manufacture with new receiver or re-weld
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
F-1
First introduced in 1962, this submachine gun was built by the Australian arsenal at Lithgow. Chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge and fitted with an 8" barrel, this gun has a round receiver with a wooden buttstock with pistol grip and perforated barrel jacket. The 34-round magazine is top mounted. Weight is about 7 lbs. Rate of fire is approximately 600 rounds per minute.
NOTE: It is not known how many, if any, of these guns are in the U.S. and are transferable. Prices listed below are estimates only.
Pre-1968
| Pre-1968 | ||
| Exc. | V.G. | Fair |
| 18000 | 15000 | 12000 |
Owen • Paul Goodwin photo
RIFLES
In 1985 the Australian Defense Ministry adopted the Steyr AUG 5.56mm F8 rifle as its service rifle. Australia also uses the British Parker Hale M82 Sniper Rifle, as well as the U.S. M16A1 rifle.
No. 1 SMLE Mark III
Made in Australia by M.A. Lithgow 1914-1945. This is the same as the English made SMLE #1 Mk III and is chambered in .303 British. It has a 10-round detachable magazine. Many were imported to the U.S. in the 1990’s. Serial number is usually found on the receiver, bolt, nose cap and fore stock. Deduct 20 percent for MM parts.
No. 1 SMLE Mark III* H
Built only at Lithgow arsenal in Australia and features a heavier barrel marked with an “H” near the receiver.
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.