"X" marked P-14 receiver

[Doug Rammel]

Calfed

I have 3 P-14's and they all have that mark. If the bore looks as good as the metal in the pics you should snap it up.

[Calfed]

I was never able to resolve what the "X" signified and let it go.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Isn't an X on British arms the "sold out of service" marking?

Regards,
Doug

Doug, the British "sold out of service" mark is two arrows, head-to-head, making it look like a skinny asterisk. A fine example can be seen in the 5th photo of the first post in this thread:

"British Proofed Triple Lock" in the "other pistols" forum.
(sorry, I don't know how to make a link within the forums!)

Patrick

[A square 10]

i believe "Amatikulu is probably correct-" i think you passed on a good one , but i dont know the particulars so it may well have been a good choice

[S-A-M3]

There are 2 models of P14 made, No3 Mk1 and No3 Mk1*. The Mk1*`s have a * on the top of the barrel ring and on the top of the bolt handle. The difference between the 2 models is that the Mk1* has a slightly longer[few thou] left hand bolt lug,this can be seem by comparing the bolt faces [front of the lug]. Can`t remember why this was done,but i think this is explained better in one of Skennertons books.The upshot of this is a Mk1 bolt will fit a Mk1* action,but a Mk1* bolt will not close in a Mk1 action. Stuart.

[Patrick Chadwick]

The difference between the 2 models is that the Mk1* has a slightly longer[few thou] left hand bolt lug,

Actually, according to Stratton, it's a full 0.10". See British Enfield Rifles vol. 4, P. 58. Fig. 3.3. Done to strengthen the lug, so definitely not a few thou!

Patrick

[old crow]

Incomplete strike of penants or sold-out-of-service but SOoS stamp is typically two opposing arrows, one type of which looks like an "X" with a horizontal line through its center-point, actually representing two arrows, point to point.