Australian P14 Snipers, or Rifle No 3 Mk I* (T)

[Seaforth72]

My Patt’14 Mk.I* W (T) 248.191781 is sequential in its New South Wales, Australia “rack number” to Terry’s 247. Mine, original Winchester serial number W191781, is now complete except for fitting the mounts I have and obtaining a Model 1918 scope and the rings to mount it

In 1918, the British added sniper scopes to 2,000 or 2,001 Patt’14 MkI* W rifles, almost certainly to (F) Fine sight sniper rifles. The scopes were usually the Periscopic Prism Co.’s Model 1918. The original Winchester factory serial number (e.g. W191781) was covered by the front mount for the sniper scope. As a result the British marked the serial number on the right side of the rear sight housing, but omitted the “W” prefix. Reportedly 688 of these rifles went to Australia during and just after World War I according their inventories, with this one going to the 2nd Military District. The highest prefix 2MD serial number noted so far is 260.198841 owed by my friend “Sqwan”, also in Canada. Both of ours have the early single D with /|\ inside (pre-circa 1926 Australian ownership mark) as well as the 2 over the D/|\D (post 1926 approximately Australian ownership mark).

The markings as shown below where the Australian 2 Military District number 248 has been added in front of the relocated British serial number 191781, separated by a period.

2
D /|\ D
248.141781

Confusion arises as some No.3 Mk.I* rifles converted to sniper equipment included the “W” prefix on the relocated s/n position on the rear sight housing. My study of the serial numbers shows that these all appear to be part of the Irish contract for 79 rifles in the 1930s for what by then was by then known as the No.3 Mk. I* (T). These Irish sniper rifles were never Patt’14 Mk.I* W (T).

The 421 rifles converted to sniping equipment in 1940-1941 by Alex. Martin in Glasgow, were the model No.3 Mk.I* (T) A. The original serial number on these was not repositioned as it was not covered by a scope mount. The rear sight and its housing were removed and replaced by a simple peep sight. On my matching example, the serial number is repeated on the left side of the scope mount. An Aldis scope is permanently attached to the mount and the mount with the scope was supposed to remain on the rifle. These too were never known as Patt’14 Mk. I* W(T) A as the conversions were done about 14-15 years after the model names had changed for the rifles.

A special thank you to those who have helped me to understand the story of these snipers - Ian Skennerton, Milsurps.com hosts and participants, Roger Payne, John Taylor, Brad Hedges, Warren Wheatfield, Terry Hawker etc.