Enfield p14 stock variation

[bros]

Looking at acquiring a P14. Forestock has no finger grooves which is fairly common for a Eddystone.........what threw me off though was just forward of receiver ring there is a semi-circular cutout.... out of the top of the forestock (so bottom half of circle forms the cut-out)! Any ideas....never seen that before.
Sorry have yet to figure out how to attach pictures to a thread.

 

[Blastattack]

DP wood. A Drill Purpose rifle sometimes has a hole drilled through the chamber/barrel, visible through that semi-circular cutout. Also found on the other Enfields as well.

Like this?

 

[bros]

DP wood. A Drill Purpose rifle sometimes has a hole drilled through the chamber/barrel, visible through that semi-circular cutout. Also found on the other Enfields as well.

Like this?

View attachment 270043

Exactly.......that is what the rifle in question has, the same cut out...same location. Thanks very much!!!!!

 

[Potashminer]

I have read on Internet forums that good woodworkers can install patches into those circular cutouts to repair those stocks and hand guards, for use on a project. No coming back from that hole into the chamber, though.

 

[tiriaq]

Do an armourer's style patch.
These drilled P-14 and Ross rifles were from India.
If the barrel is good, in all likelihood, the DP stock was used to restore a sported rifle.

 

[woodchopper]

Do an armourer's style patch.
These drilled P-14 and Ross rifles were from India.
If the barrel is good, in all likelihood, the DP stock was used to restore a sported rifle.

I've used a DP stock to restock a sporterized P14. Not uncommon.

 

[tiriaq]

So have I.

 

[Pblatzz]

I did the same on a MKIII Ross. Works very well. Need wood? Find a fellow with a sporter stock that they want to part with, the wood is approx the same era and if you're lucky close to the same colour.

 

[B_noser]

Sported or damaged Lee Enfield butts are another good source. I never discard small scraps of walnut. They all go into a dedicated scrap box. An effective restoration method is to cut the round hole into a dovetail shape, fit and insert the repair wood and glue and peg. With careful grain selection, the repair should not be particularly noticeable.

 

[bros]

Do an armourer's style patch.
These drilled P-14 and Ross rifles were from India.
If the barrel is good, in all likelihood, the DP stock was used to restore a sported rifle.

I'm sure that was the case regarding the rifle in question....although the rear hand guard was replaced so that's why only the bottom half of the cut out remained in the fore stock. Wheaty was first to respond with the answer to my question through a email but never the less thanks all for your input.....something new learned every day!!!