British Pattern 1914 rifle altered to 7.92mm Mauser caliber

[breakeyp]

After WWI, BSA Co. was contracted by the British Government to dispose of various war surplus items who formed Soley Armements Co. to sell small arms. Soley partnered with a Belgian gunsmithing firm to convert Pattern 1914's to 8mm Mauser for hoped sales in China. This is about all anyone knows about Soley. The Pattern Room has a number of modified rifles by Soley trying to get Government orders. This is a wide open area for research. Hint, Hint. Note proofs just at edge of handguard.

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Information

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[browningautorifle]

So we have to find out...different barrel and bolt face altered...?

[Melanie_Daniels]

The barrels were rebored to Mauser dimensions. Photos of the altering of the bolt face and the modified charger guide would be interesting.

[tiriaq]

It would be a lot easier to convert a M1917 to 7.92 than a P'14.

[fjruple]

breakeyp-- Thanks again for sharing. Just a few observations on my part. The receiver (action body) is definitely a P14 due to the ejector slot on the side of the receiver. On the M1917 this slot is not exposed. Additionally it looks like the front on the rear sight bridge? has been flatten to a vertical line. On all of the P14s that I observed these areas are curved to various degrees depending on the manufacturer. Also the stock is not cut for the volley sights which means that it was replaced by a new stock at some point.

It would interesting to see how they did the bolt face and cartridge charging slot for the clip chargers and the rear sight used.
Is it possible to post some more pics of your rifle? Thansk again for sharing.

[browningautorifle]

easier to convert a M1917

At least you have an action that's mostly correct. That was the whole idea though, make these into something someone else wanted.

[Promo]

I recently purchased this rifle, but don't have it in my hands yet - also a P.14 in M1917 stock in 8x57IS caliber.

Can you post a better closeup of the small marking on your receiver? Is it a serifed L in a circle (for Liege in Belgium)?

Edit: just an idea ... Soley sold 8x57IS converted P.14 also to Spain. And it was said that some Mosin Nagant converted to 8x57IS caliber also ended up in Spain and were later imported to the US. Plus the "CAL. 7.92 MAUSER" is something I would connect with Spain since you can also find the "cal. 7.92" on the La Coruna Mauser rifles. You can also find information on the rifles here: Click me, I am a link

[browningautorifle]

So, for sure rebored, new longer extractor and same bolt face...

[Patrick Chadwick]

The barrel is clearly proof-marked:
8x57 M(ause)R,
proofed for jacketed bullet, (balle blindee)
Crown over R (inspection mark for rifled barrels),
asterisk over O (inspector's mark),
flame over L in circle (Liege proof mark for guns of foreign origin)

See Wirnsberger P.128

[breakeyp]

L in circle is present.

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Picture of bolt face may not happen as dept of field issues result in a blurred picture.