Lativan Soldiers with P14 rifles ?

[Bolo Badge]

For those P14 fans among us interested in the combat use of these rifles I recommend punching up e-bay item 310 142 061 309 for at look at what is labled Lativan soldiers, 1925. They appear to be armed with P14s and a Lewis Gun. From what I can learn it appears that the British gave more of the P14s away than they used. After WWI Lativa was able to break away from Russia and establish their independence. They were able to maintain some form of independence until 1940 when they were absorbed into the Soviet Union. Restored to independence in 1990 they once again imported foreign arms, namely our "surplus" M14 rifles. In each case I think they ended up with a great combat rifle.

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[Calif-Steve]

I understand all of the Balkan States now have M14's. Also understand they have no parts float at all. Not ideal at all.

[S-A-M3]

If the P14 was such a great rifle the British would have replaced the SMLE,
the fact that they gave some away say`s alot about what they thought of them as a battle rifle. As good as they are on the range, they are unbalanced
and ponderous to shoot in rapid snapshooting!ie in battle.[I have 9]
Stuart.

[oney]

I recall seeing a B&W film on the History Channel a few years back that had a segment on Russian Partisans... and it showed them being issued what looked like either Pattern 1914 or M1917 rifles. It would really be amazing what the Russki's have stored in all of those old mines and missle silo's...

[Calif-Steve]

I know the Russians shipped piles of Winchester Model 95 (7.62x54R) rifles to Cuba circa 1966. They would infrequently show up on American television. Wonder how many of those are still in Cuba.

[mack]

I wandered by here today thinking there might be some interesting things and, sure enough, there was.

I want to know what the Russians did with all those Springfields we shipped out as Lend-Lease weapons in WWII? That ought to create some stir when they release those from some forgotten warehouse beyond the Urals. Could you imagine that they would have used them in a foreign caliber when they were overrun with small arms of their own. They claimed they needed everything, but I suspect old Joe was just milking the US for everything he could get. Or, maybe I am wrong and we didn't ship those to him and his comrades. Interesting speculation however, if I read the history right and we did ship small arms there as well as trucks and bigger hardware.

[Calif-Steve]

Not aware of any '03's shipped to Russia. I know the Brits shipped Thompsons to Russia. They are the cut-up guns you see around today. The Russians made several million rifles and subguns in WWII and were not short small arms by any means. Something like 20 million Moisin-Nagants produced!

[old-smithy]

I have a p[icture of Latvians with German 1916 pattern helmets and P13/17 bayonets so now i know thye were for P14 rifles, thanks