Paint Markings

[Stan]

Hi all,

Does anyone know what these markings mean please?
Is is only for P-14,British home guard p-17,or something else????

I have a big "F" painted on the stock as well....
Thanks for your help,St.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I think that's the mark for a drill purpose only rifle. The red was used to denote non standard ammunition.

[Stan]

Thanks for the infos but was it used only on P14?Or P17 as well?

[browningautorifle]

The red marking was widely used but the white is something I'm not used to. Peter Laidler would know because he had to prepare them. PM him and see??

[mdoerner]

Weren't British tanks painted like that on the nose?

Mike D

[browningautorifle]

Are you suggesting it's a property thing Mike?

[TRICKSTER]

It's to mark it as a Drill Purpose, non firing rifle. The barrel and stock/hand guard have a hole drilled in it in front of the receiver. Parts of the rifle should also have "DP" stamped on them. I believe both the British and Indians use this marking.

[browningautorifle]

That's what I originally said....

[bearhunter]

Trickster, the hole was drilled through the chamber, just ahead of the receiver. Take a look at the pics. They also drilled through the stock and upper hand guard, before drilling through the chamber. Then, they welded in a piece of rod, without taking off the wood.
Many of these rifles were all matching and in excellent condition when the work was done. I used to buy them from International, in Montreal for $20, just for the actions. It was a shame to take them apart but they were virtually worthless. The bolts were usually untouched and ready for use as well. The odd one would have the firing pin ground off and the hole in the bolt face welded shut but it was odd and new bolts were available from Sherwood for $4, shipped to Canada.

[Patrick Chadwick]

There are plenty of those poor things in Mauserland, usually P14. The difficulty is to find a P14 that has not been maltreated in this way.

And the perversity of the market is such that, since new regulations make de-activating a rifle so expensive, these wrecks are auctioned for around 150 euros each - which makes it uninteresting to buy them for spares, as the wood is also FUBAR!

Patrick