Make: Sportco (later called Omark) Model: 44 Serial Number: DA 632 Year of Manufacture: Late 1960s to Early 1970s Caliber: 7.62 NATO Action Type: Bolt Action, Single Shot Markings: The import mark under the barrel is reads “MTG SANTA BARB, CA”. The left side of the receiver is marked with the serial number, “SPORTCO MODEL 44 / MADE IN AUSTRAILIA / 7.62mm. I am in the process of compiling a register of Whitaker Specials and would like the assistance of members on this forum to help if they know of the existance of an example?

Hi all..
Quick intro - my name's Ben, 33, from Australia and I am a collector of Lithgow-made Slazenger rifles. I have the full collection sans a Model 1A (just tracking down one now) as well as two Model 24 .22 Hornets.
The full production list was:
Model 1 .22LR single shot
Model 1A .22LR single shot
Model 1B .22LR single shot
Model 12 .22LR bolt action repeater
Model 55 .22LR bolt action repeater
Model 24 .22 Hornet bolt action repeater
Single Barrel Shotgun .410 single shot bolt action
'Slazenger' and 'Lithgow' are used interchangeably to describe their manufacture, both officially and in common use today. Technically, they were made by the then-government owned Lithgow Small Arms Factory in Lithgow, NSW, using wood furniture produced by Slazenger, and sold under the Slazenger sporting goods brand.
Both Model 1 and 12/55 rifles share a fair bit of DNA from Winchester rifles of the 30s and 40s - I believe the Model 67 and 69 rifles respectively. Famed Australian demonstration shooter Lionel Bibby, Slazenger's main designer, had previously worked with Winchester.
Differences between the Model 1, 1A and 1B are minor. The Model 1 used a trigger design held within the stock, whereas the 1A/B used a trigger design fixed to the action as per contemporary rifles. Early Model 1s used a screw-in rear sight, latter going to a dovetailed design which was carried over onto the 1A and 1B. Early Model 1s supposedly used a one-piece coachwood stock however every Model 1 I've seen has used a multi-piece stock. Other differences are purely cosmetic.. the Model 1 used a white-on-black 'kangaroo' emblem on the right hand side of the stock.. latter versions had a smaller, embossed black logo. The typeface on the LHS barrel markings changes across models too. Early Model 1s don't mention Slazenger, just Lithgow Small Arms Factory.
The Model 1s were the basic, affordable rifles of the era - light and easy to handle - and often the first rifle a young boy (or girl) would be given. Standard sights are very basic but they are very accurate and more than capable of taking down rabbits, birds, rodents and wallaby. With over 220,000 produced they are very common today and most gun stores will have several available for less than AU$50. Unfortunately due to our convoluted permit-to-acquire process and limits on junior shooters, they tend not to be big sellers and many have been handed into police for destruction, which is sad. People are slowly catching onto them as something worthy of collecting, though.
The Model 12 had a 24' barrel, the Model 55 had a 19' barrel - both quite heavy and would be considered 'varmint' by today's standard. The 55 also had a slightly restyled stock making it a bit lighter and very 'pointable' - my '55 is my favourite .22LR hunting rifle. Model 12s are still common today and range from under AU$100 to around AU$250 depending on condition. Model 55s are a bit harder to find but go for roughly the same sort of coin. In my opinion both are a better alternative to new Chinese rifles for new shooters on a budget.
Neither the 12 or 55 are particularly sophisticated in design, however both enjoy a reputation for excellent build quality, reliability and being extremely accurate, even though they're now over 60 years old and most have had a far from cossetted life. Both the Model 1s and 12/55s were made from leftover barrel steel and stock wood intended for SMLE .303 production during WWII. As such, few .22LRs have ever been so well made from such high quality materials. It is generally considered almost impossible to 'shoot out' a Slazenger barrel, given the 50t-proved steel used.
The Model 24 and .410 shotguns were factory conversions of existing SMLE No.1 MK 3 service rifles, presumably ones with shot-out barrels or other issues that saw them withdrawn from Army armouries. Both got different barrels (I believe the .410s were simply bored out) and their charger bridges cut off. The 22 Hornet uses a modified bolt head and a suitable magazine mounted in a modified magazine well.. the .410 simply had its magazine blanked off. The Model 24 retains its SMLE iron sights though many have been fitted with scopes, either a suitable Field side mount or drilled and tapped for ringmounts. Both retained the original manufacturer markings, save for a calibre marking the top of the LHS of the receiver. Neither are branded as Slazenger. Most conversion were on Lithgow-manufactured SMLEs however one of my Model 24s is of Enfield England manufacture.
Both the Model 24 and .410 saw more limited production (around 7,000-8,000 each) and are generally a bit harder to find on the market today. The Model 24 sells for between AU$200 and AU$600 depending condition, the .410 shotgun between AU$150 and AU$400.
These sorts of SMLE .303 conversions were very common in Australia during and after both wars. Imported rifles were very hard to get hold of and so expensive as to be beyond the means of most farmers and hunters. Surplus service rifles were however very plentiful and cheap enough. The .303B round is however overkill for most target species, so gunsmiths rebarreled them to a smaller calibre projectile and the .303/22, .303/25, .303/243 and .303/270 were born. This also conveniently got around a law in the state of New South Wales prohibiting civilians from owning military calibre rifles (ostensibly more about preventing theft from local armouries than public safety). Such rifles would then be sporterised with lighter wood furniture to reduce weight. The other major Australian firearms manufacturer, Sportco, got its start producing sporterised SMLEs.
As DarkStar's post states, the rifles were produced from 1946 to 1961, by which stage surplus wartime materials had presumably been exhausted, and private sector manufacturers - namely Sportco and Fieldman - were suitably capable of meeting local market demand for firearms.
The Lithgow Small Arms Factory would produce one more civilian rifle; a single shot 7.62mm Target rifle based on the L1A1 self-loading service rifle designed for competition use. The rifle proved to be a poor competitor to the established Sportco/Omark Model 44 .308W single shot, and was discontinued after 132 examples were produced. Needless to say their rarity today makes them highly desirable and quite expensive to acquire, with examples selling between AU$4000 and AU$6000 lately.
Here are some scanned pages of a Slazenger 1953 catalogue which covers most of the models mentioned. I have the full copy as a PDF - PM me if you'd like a copy.
1.jpg4.jpg7.jpg11.jpg16.jpg
Hope this has been of interest to you all!
Cheers, Ben.

RIFLES
If you don't see what you want I can get it in.

TAKE NOTE
I Never Have Stock On Hand!
'NEW'Firearms are never kept in
stock but are easily ordered on request.
All second hand guns are stored
with another dealer under secure
24/7 guard at another location.

All comings and goings of people and vehicles
are remote monitored and recorded 24/7

WARNING!
If you're stupid enough to contact me trying to obtain firearms, parts or accessories
illegally be warned, I log those calls and e-mails and pass them on to the Police!
I've invested to much into this business to risk it all for a few crooked bucks!

My Sales Policy.
If you purchase any item from RPG you are in full agreement with
all my sales policies. Please remember, my shop, my rules..
Link

MyNEW gun prices are fairly accurate but because of the fluctuating
dollar and sometimes my clumsiness, it's always
a good idea to get an updated quote.

Pictures of 'NEW' guns are examples only and there may be variations
in finish, sights, grips, serial numbers and accessories etc.

PRICE INCLUDES POST TO ANY WHERE IN AUSTRALIA.

.22 & .17 RIMFIRE.
BAIKAL 'Toz 16/01' .22 Single Shot ALMOST MINT A great little example of no nonsense 1970s 'Superior Soviet Technology!'
The gun seems to have been little used if at all and comes toped with a nice Tasco 4x32 scope. 'Is strong like Ox, smart like tractor!'--$395