Finally got her back

[AradoAR234]

After nearly 30 years, I have got back my P14 I was an avid collector of lee-enfield, ad other military rifles, but life and circumstances saw me drop out of the whole gun scene for decades. With the ridiculous amount of restrictions on gun ownership in Australia, it has taken me 8 months to get my license sorted and organised to once again start collecting.

I actually used my P14 to shoot Water Buffalo, wild boar, goats, deer etc, but now it will be a range rifle and investment for the future. It is totally stock, all matching numbers, very good barrel and only minimal surface abrasions. The blueing is very faded, and the timber retains all the original finish and markings from when it left the Remington factory 100 years ago.

There is no intention to do anything to it except pick up a sling for it and keep it totally original and not refinish it in any way. Sorry no pics, but I can't do the digital camera thing as yet, but will try sometime down the track. I'll only use my handloads through it, and see how it fares at the 5-600 metre rifle range near where I live.

It took some tracking down, but at least it is back in my hands again.

Information

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[fboyj]

Congratulations. Just recently bought the M1917 version from eddystone with a 2/18 barrel and I love it. These rifles should get more respect

[lawrence_n]

Good on you! I've had sellers remorse over a few things I've let go over the years, but needs must.

[harry mac]

How many had owned it between you letting it go, and getting it back?
How did you manage to track it?

[AradoAR234]

How many had owned it between you letting it go, and getting it back?
How did you manage to track it?

Sorry about the delay in replying; I rarely get the chance to sit down and do stuff like this.....to cut down a very long winded story, I shot a crocodile, which was a serious offence back then, and had to surrender all my rifles to gain some leniency from the judge. The rifle went to a collector, then got passed onto someone else, who consequently died and became part of a deceased estate. I had a copy of Skennertons "Australian service long arms", in which I had written down 3 separate serial numbers, from my favourite 303 rifles, and only got this book back when my father died last year. Pure coincidence, but I was looking up P14 rifles for sale on the internet, totally stunned by the price they fetch ($7,500.00 AUD for a Winchester sniper with scope!!!!!), and saw this one at a rural gunshop. It looked VERY familiar, and I checked the serial number on the photo's. I could not afford it at the time, so gave it up as a lost cause.

About 4 months later, I looked it up again, and it was still for sale; no-one had snapped it up, so I went into debt ( with my wife's approval!) and grabbed it. I don't want to go into too much personal history here, but I 'm trying to re-capture something of my hey-day, when I had over 30 Enfield Rifles in my collection, and had unlimited access to my fathers gun shop. He got screwed over really badly by crooked accountants and the miserable bastard whom he bought the business off, ending up losing every thing and going bankrupt. You can always get good from bad if you set your mind to it, so I'll build up the collection again, even if it is one rifle a year. The P14 was a pretty good start...cheers.

[Calif-Steve]

Need to tell your wife a very big Thank You!

[CINDERS]

I had a Beretta 56E Skeet gun I brought brand new way back when I was shooting trap and skeet I sold it to by a scramble bike and have regretted it ever since......

[DocAV]

It is hard to believe that P14 Production rifles are Now 100 years old ( 1916-17) and our stupid govts won't consider them antiques ( anything else over 100 years old is considered an Antique (Cars, Furniture, People, etc.).

Long live the P14...I have a WRA one, with fine rear sight, and D&T for original Telescopic sights (WW II)...I also have original bases, but getting an original scope (Aldis Patt.18) may be a bit difficult (I can Pinch the AOC one off my SMLE Mark III*HT Lithgow); With iron sights, it shoots a 3 inch string at 100 Metres ( wood bedding problem?) and the ammo is FN40 (just before the German Invasion.). When my supply of FN40 runs out, It will be back to PPYU 1980s Cases, etc. The FN cases can also be reloaded (.217" Berdan Primers.).

Doc AV