P14 Restoration Candidate (under barrel/receiver pics now)

AdrianM

AdrianM

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This rifle was recently posted on here requesting a value. I did a little reading and then it was sold to me. It's in really nice shape and the bore looks very good. I'll shoot it and if it's a shooter I'll start looking for a full stock set for it. :eek:

I like these rifles. This one probably hasn't got much historical significance and it's mismatched but I think it'll look nice restored and it's just neat.

Any one with knowledge or advice on using and restoring these rifles, please feel free to chime in. I just got it and would love to learn from some guys who know. Research isn't the easiest at the moment with 2 toddlers at my ankles as we speak.

I have one specific question; since it's a mismatched bolt, can I get a go/no-go gauge that will work on this as well as my No.5?

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I just got done giving it a quick cleaning/oiling and looking over. It had some grime on it and it cleaned up nice!

I figure it's a Winchester by the W's stamped all over it. The bolt has two sets of numbers on it, none of which match the serial. :( Oh well. The bolt face is clean and smooth and the bore is shiny with nice looking rifling.
 
Thanks nabs. I'm surpirsed there isn't more chatter about this rifle. Are they not so popular here? Or is it me? V:I: haha

I'm not going to rush into restoring it, but I am going to start looking for a wood set soon. I can't wait to shoot it!

Adrian
 
I have one that was sported by BSA after 1950. It works like a charm and shoots pretty well. Nice trigger on that gun. You will have fun shooting it.
Denis
 
Do you shoot yours a lot, Hibou?

The only weakness I have heard about is that the spring for the ejector can fail. I don't shoot a ton and mine seems to be in good shape so I'm not worried about it.

What I really need are some contacts to find part to restore it. I've made a couple already so I'm hoping to start gathering some goodies.

Adrian
 
Honestly I just got it a few months ago and was only able to go shoot it once with my 17 year old son. We got about 80 rounds through it before our shoulders called it a day. Mine is set up with a peep sight had I have limited practice with that type of system. We had no problems with it feeding or ejecting at all. As you may have found out, the action on these things are very rugged. You may have more luck finding parts on the milsurplus forum. I don't know if the stock (and the parts) for the m-17 (the 30-06 US version) fits the Pattern 14 but the experts here and on Milsurplus should be able to provide the information.

Hope to take mine out shooting again this weekend. Good luck with your build and keep us informed.

Denis
 
The US M-1917 (P-'17 in Canadian Service in War 2) was a development FROM the P-'14.

The P-'17 boltface was opened up for a wider firing-pin and the pin changed. Extractors were changed, too, as were Barrels. The P-'17 also had a stock with finger grooves, unlike the grooveless stock of the '14..... but a P-'17 stock can be made to work with very little effort. And the internal Magazine Boxes were different, as was the machining of the Feed-lips in the receiver. But everything else works just fine, apart from markings: extractor collar, bolt plug, cocking-piece, firing spring, complete trigger mech, complete safety mech, bolt-stop/ejector assembly, barrel-bands, swivels, buttplate and screws, small parts for rear sight, although the leaf is different to accommodate the different rounds, front sight assemblies, handguards, anything else.

Trade-Ex (banner advertiser, 10 o'clock from the famous CGN Beaver at the top of this page) has some P-'14 parts, Marstar has others; parts are around. Numrich has new P-'17 wood, factory leftovers, but they have got real expensive recently.

As a RIFLE it is pure Mauser except for the fact that the action is MUCH heavier than even the heaviest Magnum Mauser action. Roy Weatherby used to use P-'14s for his conversions to Magnum calibres, back before he developed his own action. The action has been used for rounds as big as the .505, which would make it legally a cannon under American law.

The Americans don't like that ####-on-closing action... even if it IS faster than ####-on-open. And they REALLY dislike that crooked bolt-handle ("dog-leg" they call it).... even though, if you cycle it by the book, it puts your finger back onto the trigger: FAST.

And you can reload it fast, too, just using standard .303" chargers.

Damfine rifles, one of the Very Best.

What's not to like?
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Thanks guys.

The more I learn about this rifle, the more I like it.

Interesting about the stock Smellie; mine has finger grooves. May have been done when it was sportered? Maybe it's a P17 replacement already?
 
My first Milsurp Rilfe was a P-14, still have it! I also built a M1917 from a stripper receiver. I totally lucked into a WWII replacement barrel in the factory wrap and unissued WWII replacement wood (On Christmas Eve No Less). As everyone said the M1917stock is different but can be made to work. This company will make a correct P-14 stock and they are reasonable if you want plain wood. You will have to search their site but they do provide info on replacement military stocks.
http://www.gunstocks.com/

Here is a link to a parts source in Texas their inventory often changes but I have been amazed at what they sometimes have. They only take calls on Tues, Wed and Thur, but if all else fails give them call.
http://www.leesgunparts.com/
 
Just got off the phone with Tradex...no parts anymore.

Marstar has stocks for $165 shipping-in plus tax. They aren't able to send pics though. What does everyone think? They are used and dirty...also a little beat up he said. I wish they could send a pic or two. I was told they have a good return policy though.

I also checked the leesgunparts.com site and it says they don't export. : (
 
Yah, my P14 has grooves in the fore end too.
It's been bobbed but I have no reason to believe the stock has been swapped.
But I suppose the groove could have been added by whoever did the stock.
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There were three different makers for the P-14, and there is some stock variations, Mine is a early Remington (Feb 1916) and does not have them. The was a number of P-14s that got new stocks in 1939 during the Weadon refurb on the UK's stock of P-14s.
 
SW28fan said:
There were three different makers for the P-14, and there is some stock variations, Mine is a early Remington (Feb 1916) and does not have them. The was a number of P-14s that got new stocks in 1939 during the Weadon refurb on the UK's stock of P-14s.
Click to expand...

I wonder if that's why the finish is so nice on mine. It's got british proof marks all over it and it's in really nice shape. Would a rifle be marked to show that it was fixed up during that Weadon refurb?
 
Does the stock have a wooden plug where a brass unit marking disc would normaly be? If so that is a Weedon upgrade also a stock without the cut at all could be a Weedon replacement, but there also would be no provision for volley sights on the new stocks. That would make it technicallly a Mark II rifle. On some (actually most) rifles there was a minor modification to the bolt during the upgrade; the receiver should have a " * " on it and the bolt should have all or part of the serial number electro penciled on it. The Weedon upgrade was not totally uniform as the goal was to produce as many servicable rifles as possible as soon as possible. One neat thing about the Weedon Rifles Members of the British Home Guard had been issued them when Churchill made his "We will fight them on the Beaches" speech.
 
Cool! Mine has the wooden plug in-fill like you say and also no provision for the volley sights.

When I get home tonight I'll check to see if I can find a "*" on the receiver.

I did some reading on the Weedon Repair standard. Good stuff. The more I read, the more I fall in love with this rifle.
 
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