Combining a DP Enfield, a Shooter and a Gunsmith ended up with catastrophic failure!

**Old Joe** · 10-09-2010 08:49 PM

Hello all...

Bought a mint Enfield the other day..Had some white bands across it and DP stenciled on some locations..Want to say it was stamped on the receiver...Cleaned it (Beautifull bore) and fired it with a friend..First round fired caused reciever to explode tearing off half my left thumb...Hmmm...

I sit here typing with hand in cast...

Anyone familiar with the stamp DP...

Old Joe..

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**Highly Recommended** · 10-09-2010 08:49 PM

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**Amatikulu** · 10-09-2010 08:52 PM

DP = Drill Purpose i.e. not for shooting

Those officially condemned were made incapable of firing by different methods

**Claven2** · 10-09-2010 10:39 PM

Yikes... most Enfield guys know DP = DO NOT FIRE. (condemned rifle - usually due to a safety problem)

**Edward Horton** · 10-09-2010 10:58 PM

Old Joe

Did you have anyone take any photos of the rifle after the accident? What severed your left thumb and how were you holding the rifle meaning are you left or right handed and did the barrel let go also.

Were you shooting new factory ammunition, reloads or surplus ammunition. Under normal conditions the Enfield action is very rugged and as far as myself as an Enfield collector and shooter I would like to know more about what happened and what the Enfield looks like now.

**chevy1981enfield1943** · 10-09-2010 10:59 PM

find the guy who sold it to you and make him shoot a DP rifle or put the buttstock to his face and get some teeth marks on your butt plate. cause that is totally @#*#ed up. go to his place and grab the gun you like most and tell him "either you give me this gun or i'll call my lawyer and you'll have to give up everything you got plus more? well, which one?" If it says DP on it he should have known it was a DRILL PURPOSE only model.

**Badger** · 10-09-2010 11:00 PM

Old Joe, I'd like to see some pics of the rifle before we get too much further....

Here's a few links to other threads where Peter Laidler icon

has discussed DP and ZF marked rifles ...

DP Stock Marks Query

DP Rifles

'ZF' marking on Enfields?

Regards,
Badger

**chevy1981enfield1943** · 10-09-2010 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Amatikulu

DP = Drill Purpose i.e. not for shooting

Those officially condemned were made incapable of firing by different methods

sounds like the DP 1903 turn-over guys moved on to the enfields. nobodys happy to until a guy loses part of his body or his or his sons life.

**Old Joe** · 10-09-2010 11:25 PM

I am getting all four rifles I left at the range back tommorow...I will post a picture...

Thanks guys..I know nothing about Enfields but lets just ay I learned one little tidbit I will not forget...

**Son** · 10-10-2010 12:25 AM

Welcome to milsurps, Old Joe. You've landed in the best place on the web to get the right answers about what has happened to you. Everyone here is here to help any and all to learn and enjoy swapping information about these great old rifles.

If you've checked out a few sites, you'll see that turning DP rifles into shooters is something that is done quite often. If you read Peter's posts from Badger's links above about DP and ZF marked rifles you'll understand why that practice is generally frowned upon here... I'm afraid your accident is the sort of thing we have been dreading, but half expecting to happen.

Anyway, welcome- I hope your recovery is fast and complete.
Regards,
Brad.

**Surpmil** · 10-10-2010 01:18 AM

Photos of the action would be very helpful in understanding what happened and why.

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