P14 .303 Enfield and eddystone 1917 Enfields

[dmboct19]

Does anyone know if the cracked receiver issue applies to P14 Enfields made by Eddystone as well as model 1917 Enfields? I would like to pick up a P14 but was curious about the Eddystone receiver issue, thank you.

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[Patrick Chadwick]

If you read up on the topic in this forum, you will see that there is no "issue". It seems to be a case of modern mythology, arising from misguided people using brutal methods to remove old barrels. And, of course, the bodgers then blamed the guns rather than themselves. Fairy tales were created that the barrels had been overtightened in the factory by the use of hydraulic wrenches. Our resident expert on such matters, ChuckInDenver, recently pointed out that there is no evidence of the use of hydraulic equipment, but there is instead photographic documentation that the barrels were tightened by hand, and he knows of no problems with receivers where barrels have been removed with due care.

However, early Springfield 1903-03s really did have a metallurgical problem with the heat treatment of nickel-steel receivers, and they were withdrawn from service. Take a look in the 1903 forum and you should find plenty of references and advice that '03 receivers below about No. 800,000 should not be fired at all, or only with great caution. Improved methods of heat treatment and control eliminated this weakness, and by the time the P14s were produced, it quite simply did not exist any more.

So the answer to your question is: there is no such problem. Unless, of course, you are a bodger looking for an excuse for having wrecked a good gun ...

[A square 10]

there is another aspect to this that has been overlooked here IMHO , the issues with the early springfields was an armory product , the pattern 14 and model 17 rifles were contract rifles to three independent mfgrs not in any way affiliated with springfield armory , then theres the fact that by this time , WWI , springfield had 'fixed' their receiver heat treat issues ,

if on the other hand you refer to the eddystone rebarrel issues of cracked receivers , that has been covered in depth from every angle and i do not believe its an issue with the rifle/receiver as much as the process used to replace the barrel in those cases , just my 2 bits

[RC20]

To add to Patrick, using the right tools for the job is the key.

Chuck has the right tools and no problems (ever as I recall)

right tools and technique and not an issue

[JGaynor]