Stray DP band?

Am new to the site. Like to collect milsurp rifles and bayonets. Just picked up a very nice P14. Try as might not to miss anything, I did. The upper band is marked "DP" I have not found any "DP" markings on the stock or receiver. Have I added a non-shooter to my collection or is it a stray band that at some point was put on my rifle?

Appreciate the help

Drill Purpose?

I guess that is the question. Only the upper band is marked DP. Nothing else. So does that indicate the whole rifle was DP'd or was that a stray band that found its way on to the rifle at some point? Would like to fire a few rounds through it in the future.

I've seen a few of these drill purpose rifles up for sale. Kind neat with the red and white band they should have painted on them.
Anyway, on the examples I've seen, "DP" was stamped EVERYWHERE and heavily.
Have you removed the wood and inspected the barrel and receiver carefully? If so and you haven't seen any errant DPs or unexplained grind marks, I'd say you're probably good to go.
That said, never hurts to strap the rifle to an old tire and pull the trigger with a string for the first few rounds :madsmile:

I own only one DP rifle and it is a MKI* LE. Its stamped "DP" square on the reciever. Being an LE in Australia I get the feeling they demoted it to DP when the SMLE came into use to try and get some more work out of it. I haven't fired it yet, but I'll be careful if I do. I reckon your rifle should be fine, and its not like they would stamp the "DP" under the stock and make it harder to ID.

Thank you all for the input. No I haven't removed the wood and looked under the barrel - I am a collector, I leave the smithing to someone who knows what they are doing. If I tried I might end up with splintered wood - or worse. I will take them apart for a shooting cleaning of the receiver but that is my limit. I took an Arisaka apart to clean it and made two mistakes. I found a lot of black sand under the barrel and like an idiot threw it out. Most likely it was volcanic ash. The previous was dead and had been in the South Pacific in WWII. Hmmmm? Second mistake was not taking pictures because it seemed so easy. Still in pieces two years later.

It sounds like I may have a stray upper band but will find someone who knows more than me to take it apart!

Have a great day!

OP

Here's a link to dropbox files on how to disassemble then reassemble your Ariska.

Japanese Arisaka

For various Enfield configurations

Enfield-Enfield Savage Rifles