I was fortunate to obtain an original Winchester Pattern 14 Type F.
The fine vernier sight modification was developed for Designated Marksmen (Snipers).
The rifle is within the serial number range of the conversion, and the stock set and other components are original to the rifle. The sling is also an original 1916 web sling which was really nice to get with the rifle. It is in really nice shape and has a very nice bore.
The nice thing about this rifle is that it has resided for some time with a collector and has been looked at by several people more recently who have verified the designation.
One of the intersesting things about the Winchester conversions to Snipers is that they apprently also shot the rifles to determine a candidate rifle, rather than just grabbing the next one out of the crate. They had to demonstrate superior accuracy as a standard rifle.
I will be shooting the rifle at some ORA shoots this summer.
General notes
Snipers, WW1 and WW2
Marksman were employed by armies as far back as there has been armies, only the tools they used changed. The Germans were the first to equip their marksmen/snipers with a telescopic sight. The British followed suit with scopes made by several different companies were mounted either offset or directly above the rifles bore. Some of these were mounted on MkIII and MkIII* rifles but it was found that the tighter tolerances of the Ross and P14 rifles made for better sniper weapons.
Winchester P14's were modified for sniping with the addition of vernier fine adjustable rear site, P14MkI*W(F). Or in 1918 with P14’s and 1918 telescopic sight combination P14MkI*(T) and P14MkI*(T)A using the Aldis telescopic scope.
It should also be noted that the Winchester P14 was used for these conversions as they demonstrated and inherent accuracy over the Remmington RE and ERA production rifles.
The fine vernier sight modification was developed for Designated Marksmen (Snipers).
The rifle is within the serial number range of the conversion, and the stock set and other components are original to the rifle. The sling is also an original 1916 web sling which was really nice to get with the rifle. It is in really nice shape and has a very nice bore.
The nice thing about this rifle is that it has resided for some time with a collector and has been looked at by several people more recently who have verified the designation.
One of the intersesting things about the Winchester conversions to Snipers is that they apprently also shot the rifles to determine a candidate rifle, rather than just grabbing the next one out of the crate. They had to demonstrate superior accuracy as a standard rifle.
I will be shooting the rifle at some ORA shoots this summer.
General notes
Snipers, WW1 and WW2
Marksman were employed by armies as far back as there has been armies, only the tools they used changed. The Germans were the first to equip their marksmen/snipers with a telescopic sight. The British followed suit with scopes made by several different companies were mounted either offset or directly above the rifles bore. Some of these were mounted on MkIII and MkIII* rifles but it was found that the tighter tolerances of the Ross and P14 rifles made for better sniper weapons.
Winchester P14's were modified for sniping with the addition of vernier fine adjustable rear site, P14MkI*W(F). Or in 1918 with P14’s and 1918 telescopic sight combination P14MkI*(T) and P14MkI*(T)A using the Aldis telescopic scope.
It should also be noted that the Winchester P14 was used for these conversions as they demonstrated and inherent accuracy over the Remmington RE and ERA production rifles.
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