Dominion of Canada marked Remington 14-1/2

Killer Kanuck

Killer Kanuck

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I'm just wondering if anyone knows the story behind the Remington model 14-1/2's that have the Dominion of Canada proof mark on them. I've read that they were ordered by the Brits in 1914 for use by their Navy, but what I've read wasn't exactly written by experts (or even close to experts sometimes). Any truth to this?

Reason I ask is because I picked up one this morning. It's had the mag tube cut back and at some point someone had mounted a side scope mount on it (4 filler screws on it now), but the bore is excellent and the price was right :D
Should be a great little plinker at the very least.
 
Cool rifles :cool:
What calibre is yours - 44 REM I assume?
Below is some info on the DCP marked Remington 14 1/2s that I recieved from a prominent member of the RSA - Tom H. would love to hear from you about yours (link below) as he is compiling a database of these guns.
http://ww w.remingtonsociety.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2201&p=6536&hilit=dcp#p6536


I love to talk about these old Remingtons. In regard to the 14½, no one knows how many were made but I personally think the number is somewhere around 10,000. Part of this is based on the fact that 4000 were ordered for the British Navy for use in WWI. JP Morgan was the agent for the British government, and the order is dated October, 1915, I believe. I have it in my files but am too lazy to dig it out. Anyway, Britain contracted with the Canadian Proof House to send representatives to the factory to proof the rifles. They also purchased 20,000 44-40 rifles from Winchester, and these were also to be proofed by Canada. After the war, maybe as late as 1926, the rifles were sold as surplus, and they ended up in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and, of course, the United States.
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Here is one I own :D

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Your's is a beaut. Mine's 44Rem as well - or 44WCF, or 44-40 - whichever's you're preferred name. But sometime in the past 40 years Bubba got to mine, although a new mag tube, front hanger, and sights would put it back to damn near original. I bought it mainly as a shooter though. If I could come across the parts needed for a decent price though I'd probably restore it. But I guess I can't complain too much for a gun that came with some brass, bullets and loaded ammo for only $250. And it sat through the whole first day of the gunshow without a buyer - that surprised me.
I'll get some pics of mine later today.
 
From a Guns Magazine article (May, 2004 Charles E. Petty)
htt p://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_5_50/ai_114283922/?tag=content;col1


Another is the presence of what appears to be a brass cartridge case head on the left side of the receiver. It has the cartridge designation but is, in fact, a brass plug that is put there to cover a hole that is needed for a locating pin during manufacture. It is also said that the plug would blow out to open a vent in the event of a case rupture.
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Calum said:
Is that a cartridge base attached into the receiver?
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That's exactly what I thought first time I saw a model 14. If you think about it though, it's a pretty ingeneous way to mark the caliber at a time when a large portion of your market may not have been literate. All they have to do is put the base of the cartridge next to the receiver, and if they match, you're good to go. :D
 
RE cartridge head insert

In fact, the insert illustrated above maybe an actual cartridge case head replacing the original; notice its marked .44-40 Win. Both of my 14 1/2's are marked 44 REM and REM-UMC on the "cartridge" head and the "primer" is brass and flat, probably of the same brass that the plug is machined from.

Bob
 
Killer Kanuck said:
That's exactly what I thought first time I saw a model 14. If you think about it though, it's a pretty ingeneous way to mark the caliber at a time when a large portion of your market may not have been literate. All they have to do is put the base of the cartridge next to the receiver, and if they match, you're good to go. :D
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That would only work for a 35 rem in a 14.
25,30&32 use the same base.
14 1/2 s were in 38-40 as well
 
As Canuck mentioned Tom H would be most helpful for any background you would desire. He has a large database of all the 14, 14 1/2 and 25's. He started researching the DOM stamped 44's. When he started he thought they were quite rare but soon he found quite a few of them scattered all over.
Rumor has it my Great Grandad had one in 38-40 but I have yet to find out for certain. Would be nice to find it.
 
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