P14 and weedon subcontractors

[Olddust]

Attachment 121786Attachment 121787Good morning, I am planning on putting together a p14 which has been sporterized. I have a good fat boy stock, and have been shopping around for a ERA rifle to put in it. One I am considering is appears a mk1 rifle,56xxx serial, it has matching bolt and action, volley Sights gone, but front and real complete otherwise. I am weak in p14 finer details , but my stock shows evidence weedon work. My question surrounds the stamp. “m2052”it appears after the serial on bolt, and under the wood on the barrel. Does anyone have input on what this signifies? I guessed perhaps a subcontractor code?

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[charlieboy]

One thing is, if its been through a weddon repair they most likely have altered it to be a * I would check that out.

Do you know how to tell a MK1 from a * ( not being clever or rude )

I have a 4 digit ERA MK1 that needs a fat boy stock.

[harry mac]

One thing is, if its been through a weddon repair they most likely have altered it to be a * I would check that out.

Do you know how to tell a MK1 from a * ( not being clever or rude )

I have a 4 digit ERA MK1 that needs a fat boy stock.

The * modification was incorporated at the manufacturing stage, not during Weedon overhaul.

[charlieboy]

The * modification was incorporated at the manufacturing stage, not during Weedon overhaul.

Thats interesting @harry mac... makes sense I suppose. So all the Weddon repair P14's would have been relegated to Home Gaurd and E and DP use then? (If they were the older MK1)
As they would be unfit? for front line use.

[harry mac]

Bear in mind that, other than seeing some use for sniping, the P14 was never front line issue anyway. I'm fairly sure that by the time they got issued to the Home Guard, no one was too bothered whether it was a Mk1 or a Mk1*, the need for rifles of any type was just too pressing.

[Olddust]

I did not purchase the ERA rifle in question. I went rogue and snatched up a RE mid production rifle, as I also had a stock for it. I do know the how to tell the difference from the mk1 and the mk1* my original question surrounding subcontractors has only deepened from the purchase of an early Winchester with a different number stamped in the same locations on the rifle.

[fjruple]

Olddust-- It quite possible that the M2502 marking of an Ordnance unit somewhere. After WWI and WWII these rifles were used through the Empire and foreign countries as military aid. While not front line rifles in the Empire they could be easily used in any number of countries who needed arms. Let's face it it's better than a BFR (Big *ucking Rock). The Pattern 1914 is a great rifle but the lack of compatibility of parts between manufacturers and even within a specific manufacturer is its great downfall.

[Olddust]

Interesting, I love the worm holes so to speak, here is the Winchester pics,
P4049 is the unknown series, you can see the matching original serial on the other side of the bolt and on the receiver/barrel, where expected. With the group under the woodline.