Green-painted P14?

[TheIndifferent1]

I just took out my P14 to order some parts from Numrich and took it out of the stock. The barrel forward of the chamber and the bottom of the receiver are painted olive drab. The paint is rough to the touch, and ends where the stock does. Any ideas? The rifle doesn't seem to be bubba'd in any way. The stock has several arsenal-looking repairs, and has no provision for a volley sight that I can see. I was surprised to find this green paint over the blueing

It's a Remington 1917 made, has British inspection marks but no nitro proof stamp. Barrel and receiver are matching 6 digit serials, rear sight is restamped to match and the bolt is electro-penciled to match. All the parts are Remington. There is a large marking on the left side of the barrel above the inspection and date marks that reads "A 38". Could that be for 1938?

Also, the gouge on the barrel has been painted over - anyone think it's deep enough to be concerned?

 

[skirsons]

Odd. I know the British painted the stocks of P14s because they used 30-06 instead of .303 but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

 

[Cam_S]

Hello,

That looks like it could be dried on Grease. After a long time, grease sometimes takes on this appearance. Also the fact that it is only below the stock line and that there appears to be high point wear to the green stuff makes me think it is just old dried grease. Try using a degreaser on it or some boiling hot water.

Cam

 

[green]

The paint was ordnance applied to prevent rusting under the wood.

 

[tiriaq]

If the mark on the barrel is the one in the photo, I wouldn't worry about it. I've seen SMLEs with the green paint. Is there a plugged hole where the front long range sight was? Many P-14s were ungraded, the long range sights removed and the stocks reshaped on the left side of the forend.

 

[Lee Enfield]

The paint was ordnance applied to prevent rusting under the wood.

Especially common on Australian owned & far east theater service rifles.

 

[Claven2]

Agreed. Rifle was painted below the woodline to facilitate tropical service at some point.

 

[TheIndifferent1]

Interesting. Were there any events where P14s were headed somewhere tropical? Did Aussies use these rifles?

 

[Lee Enfield]

Interesting. Were there any events where P14s were headed somewhere tropical? Did Aussies use these rifles?

Everyone used those rifles.

The Brits used them as "military assistance" to supply arms to friendly nations during the inter war period.

There are pics of (newly liberated from Imperial Russia) Baltic republic troops armed with P-14s during the interwar period.

Pictures of Australian & Canadian snipers armed with P-14s in Canada, Europe & the Far East....

 

[JP]

Green paint normal for tropical service, many P-14's ended up in India and a few in Indonesia as Post-WWII aid to the Dutch.

 

[green]

Saw an Austrian M1888 with the metal under the stock painted green. Wonder now if it was one of the rifles captured from the Italians in 1940 and refurbed for use in India.

 

[longbranch*]

Green paint

My MKV SMLE Trials rifle is paint same. Have seen others also
Geoff