Lined Through/Defaced Broad Arrow on P-14 MkI E ?

Greetings:

I have a nice Eddystone Pattern 14 Mk.I E rifle with a marking that I have a question about. The customary Broad Arrow marking on the left side of the receiver appears to be defaced by lining through it. See the image below.

I am familiar with the opposing Broad Arrow marking tip-to-tip which, I understand, means "sold out of stores". Is the marking on my rifle the equivalent, does it mean something else, or are the lines through the Broad Arrow I am seeing just some random surface marks of no consequence? Thanks in advance for an input.

Regards,
Charlie

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...arkinged-1.jpg

Looks like the arrow is on top of the other marks to me...

According to Skennerton's Books I & II "The Broad Arrow" the armourers marking of EY denotes - Only to fire ball ammunition in case of emergency.

Yep - the reason for that "EY" should be causing you a lot more concern than what might have been done to the Broad Arrow. Needs an opposite arrow to denote "sold out of service" - so could be a cobbled together junker??? There might be the two opposing arrows on the chamber, though??

Thanks for your input, guys.

Actually, this gun is not cobbled together. I did not post any pics of the entire gun as the aspect I was inquiring about only needed the Broad Arrow marking. Thus, one would not be able to know if the rifle is a junker or a museum piece. I can say that it is all matching including the bolt, retains the volley sights, has an excellent bore, the fat stock, cleaning kit, a 1916 dated sling and no import markings. The serial number is in the 16XXX range. I have not detected any modifications from the Mk.I E standard. It evidently never saw the inside of Weedon.

I understand that the EY receiver marking (also found on the stock) means Emergency Use only. (If that is true why isn't the marking EU rather than EY?) The Stratton P-14 book I have makes no mention of the EY marking. I have 3 Skennerton books but not his tome on the P-14.

From earlier posts here on the Forum I have observed some variability in just what the EY marking is said to mean and why it was applied. Some explain that it simply is a reflection that the Mk. I guns had some feeding problems which, of course, in a combat scenario would be problematic. Since I have no plans to engage in any trench warfare I don't think the EY markings are of much significance to me.

Regards,
Charlie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ordnanceguy

If that is true why isn't the marking EU rather than EY

---

It's for the EmergencY, not use. First and last letters, the USE part is conjecture.

From my observations of the Pattern 14 rifles. The EY only appears on early Eddystone built rifles with the early magazine follower and magazine box (unmarked). Later built Eddystones with an upgraded follower and magazine box are marked "2" do not have the EY markings. Again these are just my observations and subject to conjecture. I could not find no definitive documentation about the change and reason for the EY markings.

The “EY” mark means that the rifle can only be used in case of emergency.

It is found on the P-14 Mark I (without the asterisk) due to the non-interchangeability of the parts with the Mark I * modified rifles or with those produced after the 21 of December 1916.

In general: "EY" rifles are reserved for the use of grenades. The stress they caused on the action of the rifle made it undesirable to shoot.

Sometimes “worn rifles” were used for this purpose. If these “worn rifles” were not available, they chose from the unworn ones.

Gentlemen:

Thank you all for the additional commentary.

Regards,
Charlie

Funny thing about armourers they are not subject to just putting spurious markings on a rifle for no good reason willy nilly there was a set procedure to follow and it had to be done no questions no wiggle room.
Skennerton is recognised as the authority on the Lee Enfield and its markings whether or not your familiar with the E Y marking is irrelevant it was put there for a reason by a trained and authorised person what the issue is may not be obvious without further investigation pristine museum piece or not.

All the good folk here just want every body to be safe and if I had a rifle that was E Y marked then there is no way known pristine all matching good as new weapon would I anyway entertain putting it near my face and body then letting the bl**dy thing off.
Just thinking of you Charlie I think the Sebu episode shooting the SLAP 50 cal rounds brings it home just what can go wrong with weapons and the operator, Oldtanker from here was onto it explaining quite well why it went south due the ammunition and petal type flash hider that caused the blow up.