My first P14

[harlton]

Hi All,
Any information welcome, I owned a P17, as refurbished by the arsenal? originally a Remington P17 made in 1917, I did nothing but clean it, shoot it and sell it.
So today's story, I've been looking for a WW1 Winchester made P14, that I could afford and didn't have a burnt out or cut down barrel, you all know this story.
Well I finally found one, lot's of little bits missing, but mostly original. It appears to be a No1 1914 made into a No1 star in 1917 the date of refurb on the Barrel.
It came with what's left of the Fatso stock, which I love, but I know their almost impossible to find in Canada. I see the ones on Gun broker right now, but he won't even answer an email.
What was the reason for fitting a fatso to some, the rear sight is the only in-correct part, but still marked W but not matching the only part that doesn't, otherwise all numbers match.
I'm picking up a used regular stock tomorrow, non Winchester un-marked, but what the deal with the stock differences please, and when was the fine adjustment sights fitted, is this the reason mines swapped out. Thanks again for any help.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Pics would help here...and then the info will flow easier.

[oldfoneguy]

It sounds like some of your facts are a little confused. First off the fat boy stocks with no finger groove only came on early Eddystone made rifles. Secondly NO P14 rifles were made in 1914. Production didn't begin on any of them until late 1915 or early 1916 depending on maker. The date stamped into the chamber of your barrel ('17) is the manufacture date of the barrel and if it number matches the receiver then the whole rifle. The "star" marking you refer to could either be the double broad arrow indicating sold out of service or indicating a Weedon refurbish done in the early days of WWII which actually looks more like a daisy.

As BAR stated above pictures are key here and the more you can provide the better. Stocks were changed during a refurb if it was required and in the late '30s when these rifles were redone they were usually restocked with a M1917 style stock either made in England or sourced from the US without the volley sight and it's cut-in reliefs. - Bill

[oldfoneguy]

This is a picture of my 1916 P14 showing the double broad arrow (middle of receiver) and the Weedon Refurb stamp (at the bottom of the picture). - Bill

[harlton]

Hi Guy's,
Thanks for the replies, I think through lack of knowledge, that I have indeed purchased a Weedon refurb, which I was trying to avoid. There's no opposed arrows I'm use to those from my lee Enfields. It's marked 1*. I've found on the internet all kinds with Fatso stocks, but no explanations, I have a couple of books, but their more focused on the rifles rather than any spec's. So I kind of think you nailed it there. I'll take some pictures and up load them as soon as I can.
There's what looks to me to be a 14,on the receiver then the 17 on the barrel, so quick assumption on my part.
I just picked up a Winchester finger groove stock for it today. Mostly all is W marked, all matching numbers, but the volley sights are gone except for the disc, and the extra tab on the Winchester mag and follower has been ground off.
Anyway I'll take some pictures, but I'm pleased, it has an excellent Barrel at least 85% left, and not modified in any way, and the make I wanted, also matching and tight, and at $250 can, good I think?

[M94/14]

I have an early Remington P14 Mk 1 serial number 008XX. Easily within the first Month of production. This rifle is so early that the "RE" designation is just above the serial number, and NOT in an oval at the top of the receiver ring. It has been to India, and the Volley sights and stacking swivel have been removed, and it has the updated extractor. It wears what by all accounts appears to be it's original stock, which is the Fat boy variety.

Now, the following is my own personal observation, and my reasoning may not be correct, but I've seen a great deal of early Remington P14 Mk 1's, and every one I've seen so far wore a Fat Boy stock.
Now either Remington's own stocks were incredibly fragile and were mostly replaced, or the more likely scenario, is that when production started, it took awhile before Remington was able to manufacture its own stocks and simply used those that Eddystone (The Fatboy style) had produced.

I don't know why the Eddystone pattern stocks were thicker in the receiver area than those eventually produced by Remington and those by Winchester. However, they certainly are more rigid.

[oldfoneguy]

jakester if you've ever seen all the P14 stocks that crack in the receiver area then you'd know why they made them so thick. Yours is an incredibly early example, my Remington has a 90xxx serial number putting it somewhere around June 1916 production. Remington started production on March 24 1916 and had a production estimate of roughly 1000 rifles a day making it very possible yours was made on the very first day of production!!!

harlton where I live $250 is an incredible deal on any shootable P14, rough but shootable they will run $450 and up here. Drop the money grab it and run before they change their mind!
Incidentally trying to find an un-refurbed P14 is indeed the holy grail as they are very few and far between. I'm just happy I was able to find one in shootable condition to enhance my Enfield collection - Bill

[harlton]

Hi Guys,
My apologies for my tardiness, in getting back to you all, and thank you very much for your replies.
I will get some photo's up as soon as I can, but I've been bullied into windows 10, and all my stuff is for XP and 7. Anyhow I'm back up again, I've collected some parts for it from dealers that I find excellent to deal with :- Mark Wagstaff and another is Tracey Hawkins, who's currently opening her own Website, but I cannot recommended them enough, as I've never had a bad part from either of them, they are knowledgeable and very trust worthy.
I'm not being rewarded, or put up to this or anything. I just find them excellent ,to deal with and thought I should mention them, for those not already antiquated with them.
So with a bit of luck the rifle can be seen before and a little along the way, thanks to these guys.

Best regards Ian