P14...what to do, what to do...

p.Rundle

p.Rundle

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Hey folks! So via the awesome EE I have a sporterized P14 Enfield coming in, and I don't really know what to do with it! The stock does not look...great to say the least. I'm thinking of upgrading to a Boyd's stock in either their standard or Prairie Hunter varieties. Do you guys recommend that I scope the rifle, don't scope it, what stock to get, etc, etc. I never really figured I'd be getting a milsurp at this stage in my shooting life, but you never know! I'm a little scared of taking it to a gunsmith to get a scope mount emplaced because typically that results in the loss of the rear irons and one day maybe I'll stumble across an original stock and be able to restore the gun to original condition. Maybe I'll use it as a hunting rifle when I FINALLY get my WIN this fall and tag up for deer, or keep it original.

Pics when it arrives, just let hit me up with ideas, suggestions and tips. I don't want to accidentally commit a milsurp sin or do something dumb (a previous owner, not the guy I'm buying from, removed all the bluing to "look cool" like stainless steel :confused:) which the gun has already endured.

Thanks!
 
If the metal is intact (Barrel not cut, receiver not drilled, sight ears intact, ect) I would leave the metal alone and just clean up the sporter stock however you want to. P14 stocks are not common but they are out their. Marstar had a batch of rough but serviceable stocks in a while ago (sold out now) and I can guarantee that some people bought several to stockpile. So, They are out their you just have to put the word out your looking.

For the rest of the bits, Numerich has almost everything you need, just not the forestock and a few bits like screws.
 
p.Rundle: I've fitted one in a Model 1917 stock with no difficulty so that could be another option as you search. Is your bolt matching? If not you might want to check the headspace. Will watch for photos.

milsurpo
 
I believe it is 100% matching from whatever factory "ERA" means. Thought it meant Eddystone but I've seen 1917's and P14's with "Eddystone" on them, so it'd be odd if an ERA stamping meant the same thing.

I'm also thinking about duracoating it black or some imitation bluing for better rust resistance. I know it's obviously not traditional but I see so many old guns just pitted to hell and back I figure I may as well do everything I can to prevent that.
 
p.Rundle said:
"ERA" means. Thought it meant Eddystone but I've seen 1917's and P14's with "Eddystone" on them, so it'd be odd if an ERA stamping meant the same thing.
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Eddystone Arsenal bought by Remington to become Eddystone Remington Arsenal – to become ERA - a subsidiary of Remington
 
Photos would be good, so we can see if the barrel has been cut and if not does the front sight still have its side protectors?

Have the rear "ears" been cut off?

What is the bore like? Is it worth restoring or using as a shooter or hunter?


https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=831&q=P14+rifle&oq=P14+rifle&gs_l=img.12..0l2j0i30j0i8i30l4j0i24l3.2426.4995.0.7574.9.9.0.0.0.0.100.603.7j1.8.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..1.8.600.54eBJHD2kg8#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=P14++sporter+rifle
 
Related, are you able to order the Boyd's Prairie stock directly from them in the US? Is it one of those export controlled items?
 
Here be some pics of the gun. I've also ordered some Matte Black Duracoat from IRG so pretty soon I'll probably have the only gun made for WWI that has experienced a 21st Century coating. I know it's sort of like...treason or heresy but probably anything is better for the gun than being in the white like this. On the plus side, it does look pretty cool.

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Below is a picture of the god awful volley fire sight apparatus that really makes all P14's look...gross compared to the M1917. I hate this plug that's left in the side of the gun and I'd probably hate it more if the entire apparatus was present. Yuck. I don't really like reminders of obsolete garbage on my guns. Museum pieces, sure. This? F-to-the-no.
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So yeah, it's getting coated boys. Maybe a new stock too, if this volley sight thing really grinds my gears. Also, for those who feared pitting, there seems to be none.
 
p.Rundle said:
I think the rear magazine screw is missing though. Can someone let me know if it is or isn't?

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Nope. nothing missing there. The spot is actually a small push button to remove the magazine plate. Take a small pointy item like (Like a bullet tip or a pen) to push the button and slide the plate to the rear to remove the plate.

The whole rifle is complete, all you would need is a stock set to restore it, like I mentioned, not common but not impossible to find.
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
Nope. nothing missing there. The spot is actually a small push button to remove the magazine plate. Take a small pointy item like (Like a bullet tip or a pen) to push the button and slide the plate to the rear to remove the plate.

The whole rifle is complete, all you would need is a stock set to restore it, like I mentioned, not common but not impossible to find.
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Oh okay, thanks! Glad nothing is missing. Do you think this warrants the duracoat or should I pay to get it blued by a gunsmith? I don't have a trough long enough to boil a solution in myself, although if it came to baking a coating (like cerakote or DC) my oven is really, really powerful and could do that.
 
p.Rundle said:
Oh okay, thanks! Glad nothing is missing. Do you think this warrants the duracoat or should I pay to get it blued by a gunsmith? I don't have a trough long enough to boil a solution in myself, although if it came to baking a coating (like cerakote or DC) my oven is really, really powerful and could do that.
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Blueing would be..."right", in my opinion atleast.

And look at Marstar, they get P14/P17 stocks and parts every now and then.
 
p.Rundle said:
Oh okay, thanks! Glad nothing is missing. Do you think this warrants the duracoat or should I pay to get it blued by a gunsmith? I don't have a trough long enough to boil a solution in myself, although if it came to baking a coating (like cerakote or DC) my oven is really, really powerful and could do that.
Click to expand...

Bluing would be proper like mentioned.

You have a very good candidate for a restoration. Restoring would take time to source all the parts and a bit of money to pay for it all, and while you will never have a very collectible rifle you will have one you put together yourself, and will make a very interesting shooter rifle.
 
Do you folks have any rough estimates on how much bluing would cost? I don't want a cold blue, obviously, because that does nothing. I'm one of those function over form guys, but in a milsurp I give a little to the value of history and respect (which the bubba who did this did not) the rifle as a warriors tool. I'll look for parts, but it's still kinda up in the air what I do with this platform. There's a lot more interesting options than I had anticipated when I was trading for this.
 
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