P14 .303. Need some info.

D

D3vin

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Hi.

Just recently bought an umolested p14 rifle (still in transit) and judging from pics the bolt appears to be unnumbered. Though it does have the 'upgrade star'. Fairly common with these rifles? And whats there general value for a specimen thats in good shape with a good bore? Arsenal had removed the volleys and there is a stock repair. Thanks.

Edit: this is an ERA eddystone
 
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It's been my understanding that the bolts on rifles manufactured in the US didn't get serialized to the rifle until they went through channels in the UK. Maybe Canada as well. I have a similar rifle as well as a P17 with no serial numbers on the bolts.
 
The service lives of that design meant short periods of active use, followed by long stretches in crates. Any modifications were done in the quiet of peacetime. Armies like to make everything alike, hence the word uniform. To expect to find a premium condition WW1 example is asking a whole lot. Either it fell off a truck, was somehow sold out of service while the rest of its equals were still in the service, or it has been rebuilt to an older configuration.

What's it worth? These rifles have taken on a new life lately, so the prices are rising. Buy what hurts, knowing it will feel nicer later on. And, don't hold off hoping for some magical crate to emerge from military stores after a century of loving neglect. That is how gun prices fluctuate.
 
Roughly 20 years ago, there was a batch of imports that came into Canada. They were in pretty rough shape, ie below "average" for the existing population. So condition plays a large part in the valuation. As far as the bolt was concerned, I've seen several examples that were un-numbered.
 
bearhunter said:
It's been my understanding that the bolts on rifles manufactured in the US didn't get serialized to the rifle until they went through channels in the UK. Maybe Canada as well. I have a similar rifle as well as a P17 with no serial numbers on the bolts.
Click to expand...

I WW2 Canadian armourer told me about this. The rifles were shipped separately from the bolts to three different depots.

It would have been a slow tedious exercise to try to match up bolts with rifles, so they built jigs and just re-fit bolts to rifles and marked the bolts with the new serial number.
 
Rear sight, receiver, bolts and barrels were serial numbered on P14's. I brought an early ERA 53xx from a fellow back in the Gunrunner classified days. Unfortunately was done up as a target rifle, bedded in a new M1917 stock, PH5B rear and PH front globe. Shoots really well which is probably why he went those extra steps.
era3.jpg

era5.jpg

era4.jpg
 
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I have a Remington example with an excellent bore that still has the volley sights.I paid around $160.00 for it around 25 years ago.I believe it came out of India with the DP P14's that came in around that time.I bought a number of the DP's for the actions.The barrels on the DP's were in like new condition when the holes were drilled thru the chambers.
 
Ganderite said:
I WW2 Canadian armourer told me about this. The rifles were shipped separately from the bolts to three different depots.

It would have been a slow tedious exercise to try to match up bolts with rifles, so they built jigs and just re-fit bolts to rifles and marked the bolts with the new serial number.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. That might explain why my Winchester (no '*') has two serials on the bolt handle. Nice and tight head space though.
 
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