Hey there CGN milsurp fans, I've decided to post my progress as I rebuild a Pattern 14 Enfield.
I do re-enactments of 1812, and have just started to get into WWI. In honour of the soon to be 100th anniversary, I decided to dress up the old girl so she can dance like she used to. Feel free to follow along.
First off let's discuss the ingredients:
I recieved the barrelled action from a fair condition P14 bought from our friends at Ellwood Epps. It came to me fitted in a sporter stock. The rifle was mismatched, with a Remington action and a Winchester bolt. Nothing fancy about it. Condition was listed as fair, as was the price asked. The front sight 'ears' had been cut and filed. Rear sight was still in tact. No hack job to the barrel, no D&T. Basically a great candidate for some restoring.
The metal bits came from various suppliers, principally Numrich. In the pictures you'll see the front barrel band which doubles as a platform for the bayonet lug, the upper band screw, rear barrel band with sling swivel, a stacking swivel, a front sight blade, front sight carrier, front sight spline, front sight pin, a handguard ring, butt plate, and various parts for a rear sight assembly (rear sight axis nut, axis screw, base screw, base spring, and of course the actual sight itself with elevator).
Now if you were paying attention, you may have noticed I already had a rear sight. The other is (hopefully) an M1917 Enfield sight from Winchester. As you can see the two have slightly different numbering, which may be a due to the different factories, but I'm hoping it's a 303 vs 30-06 thing. I'm sure if I took a tiny ruler I could see if the notches are different. I have a sporter 1917 Enfield which lacks the original military sights, hence the purchase. But that's for another time.
The replacement stock was in good condition. Covered in various scratches, the lettering is still readable next to the brass disc. The volley sight disc is still there, though the rare arm piece isn't. Looks like something that saw some use. There was a repair done at some point to the butt, that unfortunately is a fraction off of the original. It'll take some work to get the butt plate to fit that properly.
The hand guard portions look like they were never issued to the point that they're lacking finish. I'll have to grab some Linseed oil and make them better match.
Now to put it all together:
The rifle popped out of the old sporter stock...
...and into the replacement like a glove.
Then I realized I'd forgotten to put the handguard ring on, so off the stock came.
On went the ring, and on went the handguards, followed buy the bands.
Unfortunately due to nearly 100 years of storage and moisture, the handguard wood was a little bit fussy, so a little bit of sanding was required (very minimal) and the front band eventually tapped on very snug.
The old front sight had to be replaced, since the 'ears' were missing.
The butt sling swivel was cannibalized off the sporter stock and added to the new.
And so far here we are:
Pending the replacement of the buttplate and a refinishing of the handguards, I've got myself a nicely frankensteined Pattern 14 Enfield. Winchester, Remington, and Eddystone stamps can be found all over the various parts. I'm sure some parts were originally for an M1917, but they met up without too much fuss.
Next week I'll try to finish the final details, and maybe even take her out for a good shoot.
I'll edit this post as I go along.
Cheers, Al
I do re-enactments of 1812, and have just started to get into WWI. In honour of the soon to be 100th anniversary, I decided to dress up the old girl so she can dance like she used to. Feel free to follow along.
First off let's discuss the ingredients:
I recieved the barrelled action from a fair condition P14 bought from our friends at Ellwood Epps. It came to me fitted in a sporter stock. The rifle was mismatched, with a Remington action and a Winchester bolt. Nothing fancy about it. Condition was listed as fair, as was the price asked. The front sight 'ears' had been cut and filed. Rear sight was still in tact. No hack job to the barrel, no D&T. Basically a great candidate for some restoring.
The metal bits came from various suppliers, principally Numrich. In the pictures you'll see the front barrel band which doubles as a platform for the bayonet lug, the upper band screw, rear barrel band with sling swivel, a stacking swivel, a front sight blade, front sight carrier, front sight spline, front sight pin, a handguard ring, butt plate, and various parts for a rear sight assembly (rear sight axis nut, axis screw, base screw, base spring, and of course the actual sight itself with elevator).
Now if you were paying attention, you may have noticed I already had a rear sight. The other is (hopefully) an M1917 Enfield sight from Winchester. As you can see the two have slightly different numbering, which may be a due to the different factories, but I'm hoping it's a 303 vs 30-06 thing. I'm sure if I took a tiny ruler I could see if the notches are different. I have a sporter 1917 Enfield which lacks the original military sights, hence the purchase. But that's for another time.
The replacement stock was in good condition. Covered in various scratches, the lettering is still readable next to the brass disc. The volley sight disc is still there, though the rare arm piece isn't. Looks like something that saw some use. There was a repair done at some point to the butt, that unfortunately is a fraction off of the original. It'll take some work to get the butt plate to fit that properly.
The hand guard portions look like they were never issued to the point that they're lacking finish. I'll have to grab some Linseed oil and make them better match.
Now to put it all together:
The rifle popped out of the old sporter stock...
...and into the replacement like a glove.
Then I realized I'd forgotten to put the handguard ring on, so off the stock came.
On went the ring, and on went the handguards, followed buy the bands.
Unfortunately due to nearly 100 years of storage and moisture, the handguard wood was a little bit fussy, so a little bit of sanding was required (very minimal) and the front band eventually tapped on very snug.
The old front sight had to be replaced, since the 'ears' were missing.
The butt sling swivel was cannibalized off the sporter stock and added to the new.
And so far here we are:
Pending the replacement of the buttplate and a refinishing of the handguards, I've got myself a nicely frankensteined Pattern 14 Enfield. Winchester, Remington, and Eddystone stamps can be found all over the various parts. I'm sure some parts were originally for an M1917, but they met up without too much fuss.
Next week I'll try to finish the final details, and maybe even take her out for a good shoot.
I'll edit this post as I go along.
Cheers, Al
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I wouldn't trade mine (or her sister, a Model of 1917) for anything.
