P14 Advice

[Potashminer]

I have been working on a number of them here in Manitoba. I found it difficult to find authorative references, compared to stuff that was written about M1917's, but have been going mostly from Charles Stratton's book. Regarding "matching" - the barrel, the receiver, the bolt and the rear sight have identical serial numbers originally, when they left the factory. I have an "E" (Eddystone) cut down stock that also has the last digits of the receiver stamped in the barrel channel. Not seeing those numbers in 5 other cut down stocks here - those 5 all have finger grooves, so are likely "W" or "R" stocks - not enough left for me to know for sure. Then have the Mk.1 and Mk.1* versions made when new. Then have the Wheedon overhaul. Then have the WWII rebuild program in U.K. Much is written and documented about how many parts from one maker and another were not interchangeable - to the extent that Britain adopted them as three different rifles. It makes for an interesting hobby to read and understand how each was different - as posted above, though, very, very difficult to find any complete P14 stock set here in Canada, and then to go with the appropriate metal parts - they were not all the same!!!!

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[fjruple]

I have been working on a number of them here in Manitoba. I found it difficult to find authorative references, compared to stuff that was written about M1917's, but have been going mostly from Charles Stratton's book. Regarding "matching" - the barrel, the receiver, the bolt and the rear sight have identical serial numbers originally, when they left the factory. I have an "E" (Eddystone) cut down stock that also has the last digits of the receiver stamped in the barrel channel. Not seeing those numbers in 5 other cut down stocks here - those 5 all have finger grooves, so are likely "W" or "R" stocks - not enough left for me to know for sure. Then have the Mk.1 and Mk.1* versions made when new. Then have the Wheedon overhaul. Then have the WWII rebuild program in U.K. Much is written and documented about how many parts from one maker and another were not interchangeable - to the extent that Britain adopted them as three different rifles. It makes for an interesting hobby to read and understand how each was different - as posted above, though, very, very difficult to find any complete P14 stock set here in Canada, and then to go with the appropriate metal parts - they were not all the same!!!!

Potashminer-- That's the one thing I like about the Pattern 14. First you have six major types to deal with. (Each manufacturer E, R and W, plus the MkI and MkI*) then there are changes with each manufacturer. It is amazing that the British Armourers could keep them all straight and working. Fast forward to today when you are trying to figure out what parts you need and then try and find a parts seller who knows what you are talking about. It's almost half the fun of doing the restoration of a bubba P-14. The stocks are becoming a difficult problem here in the US as well. There is an Italian company that is making the walnut M1917 stock, I believe the old Numrich gun parts is selling. I have not tried fitting a P-14 to a M1917 stock. I have better luck having a new front end grafted to the old bubba stock especially if a Eddystock "fat" boy stock. Good luck on your projects.