P.14 Alexander Martin Sniper Rifle: Transit Chest

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I bought this transit chest from another forum member some time ago, but finally got ahold of it. For having a huge passion for the P.13/P.14/M1917 rifle family I had to have it - the only bad on this chest is the fact that it came "empty", and I'm still missing an Alexander Martin P.14 sniper rifle in my collection (in case someone has one for sale or knows of one, please send me a PM) - but at least then I already have a transit chest waiting for it!

This chest is specifically made for the P.14 rifle. In lack of a No. 4 T transit chest I can only tell that according to the previous owner this chest is longer than the one for the No. 4 T, but I can agree to that in that a No. 4 is too short to fit to this chest. It is also not this deep, just deep enough to despite the side mounted scope leave enough space for the P.14 rifle with scope in place to be stored on the inside. The bolt has a separate compartment in the chest where it fits very tight.

Very cool with this chest is also the fact that it still carries a lot of US papers on it. It seems to once have been sold by the US dealer Klein's Sporting Goods, Inc. of 227 W. Washington St. of Chicago 6, ILL to a "Ronald. L. Bollangero" of Santa Cruz, California. Somehow it however must had been shipped back, or at least made the opposite way again, judging from the sticker atop the chest. Note the value at $ 50 . Too bad the date for the shipment cannot be read any more.

The chest is marked "CHEST S.A., No. 14 Mk.I." on both sides, the front side originally was painted "SERIAL No." over "34???" for the original serial of the rifle, which was overpainted with something from Chicago. Maybe someone else can make this out better. Inside of the chest is marked with "Alex Martin Rifle Maker Glasgow" - I wonder if the rifles when originally made were sent out with these transit chests by Alexander Martin himself?

In the last few pictures I had placed a normal P.14 service rifle on thie inside, to show that the rifle is sitting off center and has enough clearance for the offset scope.

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