This rifle is listed by serial number in the list of Australian HT sniper rifles on page 323 of "The Lee-Enfield Story" by Ian Skennerton. Dated 1917 Lithgow No. 1 Mk III* SMLE rifle was converted to sniper configuration c. 1945. The Australian Lithgow factory manufactured 1,612 sniper rifles (481 low mount and 1131 high mount) using World War I dated No. 1 Mk III* receivers in late 1945 and early 1946. These rifles had a Lithgow heavy target barrel and were fitted with Australian Pattern 1918 telescopic sights on either a medium or short (high or low), quick detachable claw-foot mount. The 3X telescopic sight was based on the British World War I Periscopic Prism Company Pattern 1918 telescopic sight and had a post and cross-wire reticle. The rifles had the Australian coachwood stock, handguards and forearm. The handguards on low mount rifles were milled to provide clearance for the scope tube. Hardwood cheek pieces were fitted to most of the high mount rifles but were not required on low mount rifles. The Australian No. 1 Mk III* (H.T.) snipers saw action in Borneo in the last months of World War II and were used by Australian snipers in the Korean War. The rifles remained in the Australian Army inventory until the late 1960s. The rifle has a phosphate finish with bright bolt, blued telescopic sight and mounts and oil-finished coachwood stock. The right side of the butt-socket has the Lithgow shield and is dated "1917". The serial number, "78630", is located on the right side of the receiver at the breech and on the back of the bolt handle. The right side of the buttstock is stamped with the date the completed sniper rifle was accepted in to stores "R/MA/8-45". The telescopic sight tube is roll-stamped: "SIGHT TELESCOPIC/PATT. 1918 (AUST)/1/BAA 3650 G.A./AOC/V" in five lines above the property mark "D^D 1945". The scope tube lacks the rifle serial number engraved on all scopes originally fitted to rifles. The face of the front scope mount is stamped with the assembly number "1809". The front of both scope blocks are stamped with the assembly number "1442". The scope block and front mounts were originally stamped with matching assembly numbers. The upper stock wrist is stamped with a large "H" which indicates the rifle is fitted with a heavy target barrel. The rifle is complete with russet leather scope caps and a U.S. M1907 leather sling. The Australian No.1 Mk III* (H.T.) low mount sniper rifles were made in limited numbers, and very few HT rifles were imported to the United States.

Exceptionally fine. The rifle retains 95% of the arsenal phosphate finish, and the telescopic sight and mount have 90% plus of the commercial blue finish. The stock, forearm and handguards match and are in very fine condition with sharp markings. The telescopic sight optics are excellent. Although the scope and mounts are not original to this rifle, they are correct for a No. 1 Mk III* (H.T.) short mount sniper rifle. These rifles are extremely rare in the United States in any condition. This is an exceptional example of one of the most difficult to obtain of all World War II sniper rifles.