Members of the SU NSW committee had the pleasure of visiting the modern Lithgow Arms factory recently, being treated to a guided tour of the facilities and getting some insights into the company’s internationally successful products.
Originally best known for being a military arsenal manufacturing SMLE Mk III rifles during WWI and WWII, the factory (located in Lithgow, NSW) is now privately owned and has been producing some hugely popular bolt-action rifles for the civilian market in recent years, particularly the Lithgow LA101 Crossover rimfire rifle, the LA102 Hunter rifle, and the LA105 Woomera rifle.
NSW State president Tony Gavan said he was a huge supporter of Lithgow Firearms and wanted to find out more about their manufacturing process as well as ways to support them, hence the visit.
The tour lasted more than two and a half hours and offered some fascinating insights into what goes into making some of the company’s popular rifles – and the passion behind the people making them.
Everyone I spoke to was so incredibly enthusiastic about their job. They loved what they do and it’s an incredibly happy working environment,” Tony said. Tony said the entire SU NSW committee were impressed by how thorough, passionate and meticulous the Lithgow Arms staff were – and that despite being flat out assembling sporting rifles, the staff still made time to explain every step of the process to the visitors.
The factory is made up of several multi-floor buildings, each with a particular process – the manufacture and assembly of military firearms such as the Australian Combat Assault Rifle (ACAR) and F90 Austeyr family is carried out in a separate building to the manufacture and assembly of hunting rifles.
There is also a long distance outdoor range where the Lithgow team test the firearms, allowing adjustments to be quickly identified and implemented. Tony said the highlight of the tour was definitely seeing the manufacturing processes behind the rifles, including how other Australian firearms manufacturers and Lithgow Arms are now working together in building civilian and military rifles.
We greatly appreciate Lithgow Arms taking the time to show our NSW team around, and look forward to a return visit soon!
get ready to tour the Lithgow Arms factory
manufactured in their factory in Lithgow, NSW
of their sporting rifles.
NSW factory
