A LOVELY WINCHESTER P 14 MK1*........with pictures!!!!!!!

[oldfoneguy]

The upgrade to pre 12/16 rifles was done primarily between 1938 and 1939 at small shops throughout the Kingdom. This was done in an expedient manner in order to pump up if you will the available store of weapons needed for the now swelling ranks of the military due to the impending/existing war. If a particular rifle was in stores at that time and was considered worthy of the upgrade as opposed to being broken up for parts then the work was done to it. Even if the stock is original to the rifle there is no true way to verify unless the receiver number made its way into the barrel channel ect. It was condemned from front line service by an armorer for whatever reason, to determine that would require an in depth inspection with caliper and micrometer of every working part.
It would make no sense for a relieved barrel to be used with a short lug bolt if it was in service. The entire point of the lug change was to increase the bearing surface that the case rim came in contact with in order to prevent the round from slipping off the bolt face during fast bolt manipulation (rapid fire). Without the increased bearing surface and adding the relief to the chamber face gives even more of a gap for the round to work loose. If that is indeed the situation with your rifle then for sure the barrel wasn't replaced by an arsenal or contracted shop.
Incidentally upgrade is my own term and not a regurgitation from anyone's book. Apologies if it offends any here.

The bolt lugs size itself wasn't increased which is impossible but rather a used or new production bolt was put in it's place. If used the numbers were scrubbed and restamped as a forced match. Check the underside or the rear of your bolt handle for any evidence of grinding away an original number. Its also possible that it was a new production replacement bolt. Check for both a W and NS stampings somewhere on the bolt handle. If none it's most likely a newer manufacture bolt body and not original to the rifle.

The condemned rifles I believe didn't extend to the 20,000 serial range for Winchesters therefore your particular rifle was not part of that batch.

I agree with harry mac in that the * upgrade was a manufacturing change. The retro fit came later for the early rifles.

Information

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[Promo]

Facts on this rifle:
1. The bolt in his rifle is without any doubt the original Winchester factory font and therefore the original factory matching bolt.
2. The bolt in his rifle does NOT have the * mark on it, therefore is a non-* bolt.
3. The stock on this rifle does NOT have the * mark added, so the stock originates from a non-* rifle.

oldfoneguy, if I understood you correctly that based on the serial of this rifle and the fact that the barrel in this rifle dates to 1917 and does not have a rifle serial on it you would assume this barrel was replaced and the whole rifle is in * configuration. As a result to this you also assume the stock is not the original stock to it since it doesn't have a * mark on the butt. Did I understand this correctly?

In my opinion, based on the fact that this rifle carries the original matching numbers bolt, has no * on the receiver nor on the bolt it would had left factory as non-* rifle. Therefore the stock is correct to this rifle. Since the order was given on 21st December 1916 it surely could had been the case that this rifle for example was made on 1st January 1917 and still be a non-* rifle and correct as pictured.

It would make no sense for a relieved barrel to be used with a short lug bolt if it was in service.

Exactly this is what Skennerton mentions had been the case with the transitional rifles. Read it yourself.