Pattern 14 Oiler mystery?

[therno]

It is a M1917 oilier because it does have the 2 compartments w/ skinny pull thru. And it fits my M1917 Winchester. But why does it have British marks? Was it British made?

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[Patrick Chadwick]

But why does it have British marks? Was it British made?

The WD arrow identifies it as a piece of British military equipment. Many M1917s were used in the UK, where they were marked as being NOT .303 by a red band painted around the fore-end. So if you come across an M1917 with traces of red paint, it has probaby been "repatriated". I imagine that the numbers were sufficient for the War Office to have procured a quantity of oilers for them, as the M1917 does not have the double-compartment in the butt that is present on P14s (to hold the British pull-through).