P14 markings

[Thumbcocker]

Can anyone decipher these? It is also marked DP on the extractor which I know means drill purposes.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Der Gebirgsjager]

First photo--there is a mark called the "broad arrow" marking which indicates British military ownership. Second photo-- the RE in an oval may indicate manufacture by Remington Eddystone Arms. The other markings in both photos are not distinct enough for me to decipher. I suspect that the asterisk stamps go hand-in-hand with the rifle having been designated for drill purposes, as I don't find them in my references. When the British designated a rifle for that use they often utilized substandard, worn, or damaged parts and stamped them so that they wouldn't re-enter the first line rifles.

DG

[Thumbcocker]

I have read that many new P14's were DP because the British didn't want to deal with the logistics of 2 service rifles. The bore on this one is very good to excellent and it shoots boolits very well.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Der Gebirgsjager]

That is quite interesting. I have not read that, but my long journey in collector/military firearms has held many surprises. The P-14 rifle was a very good one, and I have 3 of them, one Win. and two Eddystones. They started off intended to be a replacement for the No.1 Mk. III Lee Enfield, but when L.E. production caught up with requirements they were relegated to secondary roles. It seems that wherever in the Empire more rifles were needed P-14s were sent, and some given to foreign allies of Britain. I've seen them from India and some with Arabic writing on the stocks. Their close cousin, the U.S. Model of 1917, received much the same treatment following WW I. They did see extensive use by U.S. troops "over there", but less respect thereafter. I've always thought of the P-14s and M-17s as having deserved a greater role in history than they achieved.

DG

[1Hawkeye]

The asterisk marks on the receiver and extractor mean they have been replaced during the rifles service life. There should be more stamps on the underside of the barrel at the breech end which will indicate when the work was done.

[nicholst55]

The Drill Purpose P14 rifle that I bought about a hunnert years ago had a hole drilled in the chamber and a steel rod welded in place. Apparently not all received that treatment.

[leebuilder]

Many P14s were refurbished after WW2 then sold or donated to smaller countries within the commonwealth, of them many were just stamped DP and used as drill rifles without being decommissioned. I have a "Caribbean drill rifle" internally its near mint, on the outside it looks like it was dragged behind a truck.
Be well

[Texas by God]

I bought a DP P14 with the chamber pinned and welded. It was an Eddystone. I had ER Shaw rebarrel it to .450 Marlin and I did the rest of the work myself. They are a big old honking action but a good one. The military ones sure point naturally for me, not unlike a #4 Enfield.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk