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Did BSA build any P 14s. I bought one years ago along with an Eddystone thinking to use it for a custom build as it had been sporterized. As it had been drilled and tapped I decide to mount a scope and try it. Shot a 1" group with factory ammo. Had a long debate with myself and decided that spending a lot of money on a build might not get me anywhere. Shoots a 3/4" group with reloads now.
No BSA,as far as I know, did not build any American Enfields. Are you sure Its not a No.1 or No.4?. We need pictures!
It is definitely a P 14. Not going to dismount the scope so you can see the BSA. Serial # is 7856. Pictures should help.Attachment 69597Attachment 69598Attachment 69599Attachment 69600
Do you want me to take off the scope?
I believe BSA used P14's to convert to 'sporters'. They removed the rear sight, filled in the 'hole', ground the receiver to a round profile and drilled and tapped for scope blocks. I have one that seems the same as yours.
Can if it makes you happy but it's not likely you'll find BSA under the base. But, if by some chance, it is there you can rest assured it isn't a manufacturers mark. P14's were only made by Winchester, Remington and Eddystone. Sure you're not seeing part of the ERA that's not covered by the scope base and are somehow confusing it for BSA?Quote:
Originally Posted by mausernut
Too bad it got chopped, the 4 digit s/n probably puts it first or second week of production, I think.
A little research revealeed that this is a commercial sporter built by BSA from P14 actions. They were built from 1949 to 53. There is a small m in front of the serial #.
John Knibbs of BSA Airgun Spares | Buy Air Rifles | Discount Shotguns| Shooting Clothing| - John Knibbs International Ltd gives these being 'made' by BSA between 1949 and 1953 and having a prefix M to the serial number.
Definitely has BSA on it
Meaning BSA ''made'' them into sporters. IIRC, Century Arms used P-14's and M1917's to build up cheap sporters in standard and magnum caliber offerings in the late 80's and early 90's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clive
You can bolt a Ford emblem on a Chevy and call it a Ford all you want but in all reality it still is and always will be Chevy.:DQuote:
Originally Posted by mausernut
Like I said it was bought for a build but shoots too well to do anything with so I'll just use it for hunting,
Looking at the rifle, you seem to have a BSA Mod D. BSA bought pallet loads of P14 and M1917 at the post WW2 disposal sales at a knock down price.
They were then built into sporting rifles of various grades starting with the Mod A and going up to Mod E. The rifles were available chambered for 30-06, 303 and 270 Win.
My own example is a Mod E in .303 calibre, it has had the rearsight and housing removed and the receiver reprofiled, drilled and tapped. It has a new, sporting profile barrel, a new sporting stock and high quality blued finish.
It's filled my freezer a few times.
The two holes on the right side of the receiver, just in front of the bolt handle are for a Lyman aperture sight.
BSA also used Enfield P-14 actions for their .26 cal and 33 cal rimless belted nitro express cartridges starting in 1921.
the 26 BSA fired a 110 SP bullet at 3100 fps
the 33 BSA fired a 165 SP bullet at 3000 fps
these rifles were only made for a few years
Thanks for posting that MkVII. It looks like mine's a Mod D, and not an E.
Thanks for all the info
A great many of those early ERA rifles were condemned as EY only. Saw a video of one being lovingly refinished recently. Something to do with the heat treating of the actions perhaps? There was a story posted online years ago about how the piece-work paid workers found they could do the forging in two heats instead of three if they heated the forgings to a white heat. Supposedly when some pond was drained at the factory, hundreds of ruined receivers were found at the bottom. We know from IDS that the British Inspectorate wanted to reject a lot more than they did, but were told to accept it anyway for business and political reasons. Even the AEF said "send no more Winchesters" to France in 1918 due to non-interchangeable parts.