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

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  1. #11
    Legacy Member 22SqnRAE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bigduke6 View Post
    A very wise choice 22Sqn........... at least you asked the questions first and covered all bases and by doing so have saved yourself a lot of hard earned cash. There is nothing worse than seeing folk convincing themselves they have a rare example when everyone else is trying to be as diplomatic as possible and tell them what they do have is not what they think they have......... these are the kind of items that do a few laps of the fairs etc, then are sold in the auction.
    Thanks BD6, you're right about the need to ask, test, query. I did some more detailed research, and found the story behind the rifle was probably valid. But as there was no proof offered, the asking price was unsupportable. I'm learning that as a collector, patience and perserverence is equal to detailed knowledge!
    Trying to save Service history, one rifle at a time...

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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member harry mac's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Surpmil View Post
    The original selection of Winchesters for conversion is a bit of a mystery to me, since AFAWK there was no inherent superiority in their product over Remington Illion and as is pointed out in "The U.S. Enfield" by I.D.S., the American Expeditionary Force actually requested that no further Winchester rifles be sent to Franceicon in 1918,
    :
    The only reason I can see for their insistence on Winchesters for conversion to snipers (and it's only a theory), is that, if I remember correctly, the first shipments of rifles apparently came from Winchester, so the sniper rifles were probably initially selected from those. Thereafter, once the interchangeability issues became apparent, they insisted on Winchesters so that at least all the sniper rifles could share common components.

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    Legacy Member lmg15's Avatar
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    Some clarity on the Australian No.3(T)s

    Found this thread while looking for something else, but maybe worth providing some clarity on some of the theories presented so far. Reading between the lines in a recent Gunboards post, this post may have been the basis for some of the comments therein.

    The gist is that Remington No,3 rifles appear to have had some work done on them at Lithgow to convert them to No.3(T). The jury is still out on that, but only one plausible example has been found purportedly at the Lithgow SAF collection back room.

    What can be said with certainty is that Australia received one third of the total P14(T) production (668 of 2001) in the early 1920s. These appear in the official Small Arms Returns between the wars. That may be surprising to many that such a large number and proportion of total production ended up in Australia. But alas, this is in black and white. Such rifles were marked with the small /I\ inside a D mark on the left side of the receiver ring, and on the right side of the butt.

    It would appear that at least 247 of the Australianicon issued No.3(T)s were issued to the 2nd Military District, and were marked D/I\D over 2 over the rack number. The rack number was positioned such that it formed a prefix to the existing serial number on the RH sight protector. Rack number and serial number are separated by a "."

    eg,

    D/I\D
    2
    247.191511

    It is likely that the bulk of the rifles were issued to NSW (2nd MD) and Victoria (3rd MD) which were the most populous states.

    The theory that the D/I\D over 2 marks were put on Lithgow converted No.3(T)s is not borne out by any evidence. In fact, it is clear that the serial number font is identical to the standard PPC set up rifles, and the rack number is in a different font applied later by the 2nd MD.

    The only evidence I have seen to link Australian production to No.3(T)s is a spare Pattern 1918 scope made by AOC in 1944. Identical to the scopes fitted to the No.1Mk.3H(T), the only difference is that the rear mount is set further back against the ocular cone to fit the No.3 rifle. It appeared that the rear mount was placed there in the first instance rather than being moved aft at a later stage that would leave traces of solder and disrupted blueing. On the face of it, it would appear that defective or lost PPC scopes may have been replaced by AOC scopes, but fitted to original PPC set up No.3(T) rifles.

    I have also seen an original No.3(T) rifle fitted with a US M84 scope in original Patt 1918 scope mounts. While one could theorise that it was a field replacement of a broken 1918 scope, I think it was done well post WW2.

    Without some additional info, the best light I can put on Australian converted Remington No.3 snipers is some experimental tinkering at the SAF.

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    Contributing Member Promo's Avatar
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    I knew you'd search the thread over here too, that is why I mentioned it on GB . Thanks again for your opinion and the summary.


    Just to make sure I understood correctly: the 668 that went to Australia were ALL marked with the D and broad arrow in it on the right side of the receiver. Exclusively those which were issued to the 2nd Military District received the additional inventory number on the right side of the receiver too. Would you mind telling me based upon what you can do the attribution to the 2nd Military District?


    The M84 scopes were standardized in April 1945. I therefore highly doubt there is any chance at all that it could had been an official issue, other than maybe a prototype.


    PS: How comes that you btw specifically mention REMINGTON in context with "Australianicon converted No. 3 Snipers", and leave out Eddystone as well as Winchester?

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    Advisory Panel Terry Hawker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lmg15 View Post
    D/I\D
    2
    247.191511
    A bit of a correction is in order, at least as far as the example cited is concerned. It is not marked, "D /l\ D over 2" as mentioned, but the reverse - " 2 over D /l\ D".

    Also, lest there be any confusion, No. 247 is a Winchester product.

    The only reason I am certain these points are facts, rather than speculation, is because this rifle has been sitting in my safe for the last 19 years.

    Cheers,

    Terry

  10. #16
    Contributing Member Seaforth72's Avatar
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    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 Britishicon 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 Canadaicon. Both of ours have the early single D with /|\ inside (pre-circa 1926 Australianicon 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 Skennertonicon, Milsurps.com hosts and participants, Roger Payneicon, John Taylor, Brad Hedges, Warren Wheatfield, Terry Hawker etc.
    Last edited by Seaforth72; 03-08-2024 at 12:38 PM.

  11. #17
    Contributing Member Promo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seaforth72 View Post
    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.
    Just as a small addendum/correction: while the Aldis scope seems to be the most common scope to be found on these Alexander Martin of Glasgow No. 3 Mk.I* (T) A sniper rifles, there are plenty other scope variants to be found on this mount too. It seems that it was used whatever was at hand from WWI stock. The Knowledge Libraryicon entry for example also shows a Watts scope -> https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...A-Sniper-Rifle)

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