MY LATEST INTERESTING WINCHESTER P14

[bros]

Just acquired a very nice interesting matching Winchester P14. The rifle came from a fellow who's father was in the Canadian Navy during WW2 and stationed in Bermuda, they were hunting German U boats. He told me it was his fathers rifle in the war....I'm not sure if that adds up as this rifle bears no C broad arrow marks, anyhow it doesn't really matter.
Rifle has a rear sight made by Parker Hale I believe it is the 5B. On the elevation scale it is marked "MARK VII" obviously calibrated for the Service mark VII ball ammunition and also marked "PATT 14". The rifle has a very nice relatively rare replacement stock made by H.Morris Co. of Glasglow. It is stamped on the right side of the butt "No3 MKII" the only other stamp is underneath very near the front of the fore-end and it is stamped "N49". These replacement stocks made by H. Morris had no provision for the front volley sight so non-existent.
Upon examining the rifle after it was shipped to me I noticed that the crown of the muzzle is stamped "AGP BALL-BURNISHED"......interesting that the barrel went thru that process as well. I checked the barrel date under the rear hand guard and it is dated '17.
My question is would this ball burnishing process have been completed while this rifle was in service, did other rifles get ball burnished while in service? If so what's the story behind that? Was AGP primarily a contractor for the government or would it do work for the private individual as well?
I can't wait to range test this rifle.....the bore looks minty after a good scrub!!
Thanks for your input.
Regards.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

what's the story behind that?

I was under the impression that ball burnishing was strictly for target use...

[harry mac]

"His father's rifle during the war".
I usually take that to mean that when the person selling the rifle was a kid, and his dad showed him the rifle, the father said something like "I used one of these in the war" or "this is what we were issued". The kid thinks his father means that the rifle being shown is the ACTUAL rifle his dad used, and that idea gets cemented in there.
How easy was it for a US serviceman to retain an issued weapon? I know it was virtually impossible for British soldiers to bring any kind of firearm back. Notice I said "soldiers" and not "officers".

[Eaglelord17]

Canada didn't allow soldiers to retain their individual firearms (some exemptions such as some Boer War rifles, and if the officer had a private purchased handgun, both things long done by WWII).

That being said captured handguns were pretty popular amongst Canadian troops and is part of the reason why all matching P38s, Lugers etc., are so common in Canada. It wasn't legal, but it sure was done.

[RC20]

Canada did not directly get P14s. Those went to GB.

You would have to guess that it was a UK rifle that got sent to Bermuda, maybe as a civilian sell off if they did that. Maybe sent there, they were not used in mainline service, the SMLE were sufficient production for that (though it did not look like they would be initially)

Then WWII hit and maybe donated to the cause.

Clearly it got shifted to a target variant at some point.

[bros]

Pictures coming up soon regarding this rifle.......a special thanks to browningautorifle for posting them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---------- Post added at 10:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 AM ----------

Pictures coming up soon....a special thanks to browningautorifle "again" for helping me out........cheers

[browningautorifle]

So, after ages...here's the OP's pics...

I'll bet this one shoots like a bast*rd...

[bros]

I'm itching to shoot it Jim but I've been busy with the newly acquired Canadian Ranger rifle and working 12hrs/day.....doesn't leave a guy much time for fun and games!!!
Another reason why I have not shot it is because there is a bracket loose on the Parker Hale sight!! Refer too picture # 2 .......next too the adjustment windage wheel is the top end of the main bracket that holds the adjustment screw in place. If I grab that sight I can move it back and forth horizontally......that little bracket that attaches to the main body is loose.....I believe it is held together by 2 screws that are not accessible cause the adjustment windage wheel is covering them......if I put a snap ring pliers into the 2 small holes on the windage adjustment wheel....will it screw off to expose the screws that need too be tightened? Sorry I know my parts terminology leaves a bit to be desired!!!!
Anyhow I'm very happy with this acquisition......one of the few P14's I have that the stock has not been messed with in some way. It is a replacement stock but a WW2 "in service" retrofit.

[browningautorifle]

These sights can be disassembled carefully but look for the little ball bearings and springs inside. I wish I could focus on what's wrong with yous, I don't know if you're on the right track for repair though. There's guys here that know lots about these though and will be here before long...Peter Laidler for one I think.

Do you mean this adjusting knob is loose and moves out from the beam?

[browningautorifle]

Here's some reference to a past thread and perhaps you'll find some info on your sight disassembly... https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=25738