I have an early Winchester P14 but it appears to have an Eddystone stock, no finger groove and the volley sight dial is stamped E. Was this common?
Is there a way to trace the manufacturing or acceptance date from the serial number?
The barrel just behind the foresight is stamped 1903. Were barrel blanks for Springfields used in the early runs of the .303.
It appears that this was accepted by the British army and Weedon repair carried out by W W Greener.
Any help greatfuly accepted

As I understand, the P14 (.303) was only produced by Remington's Eddystone factory. Winchester will only produce the U.S. version of the P14 which is the M1917 in 30-06. Thought the P14 contract with Remington/Eddystone was canceled early in WWI and after the U.S. entered WWI, then Winchester then began producing the U.S. M1917.

As to barrel blanks for Springfields being used in early runs of the .303, seriously doubt that. 1903 Springfield barrels were made in the U.S. government Springfield arsenal and Rock Island arsenal and their production was too limited to supply anyone else with barrels, especially someone like Remington building the P14 for Britain.

Bosie, the P14 and M1917 shank diameter is larger than the shank diameter of the 03 Springfield.

Remington made P14s, Eddiestone made P14s, Winchester made P14s, In the old days the Remington was the #1 choice when building a rifle because it did not have the the large hole in the top of the rear sight bridge, next came the Winchester, then the Eddystone, when it came to quality there is little difference between the Remington and Winchester, when it came to the quality of the Eddystone it was a guess.

Winchester made P14s Winchester stamped their P14 303 with W, if your rifle was a M1917 the receiver ring top would be stamped Winchester.


http://imageevent.com/willyp/f...britishww1enfieldp14

F. Guffey

Many, Thanks for the replies. The stock is an Eddystone one and the action, barrel are Winchester the W being stamped on the receiver ring and on the bayonet stop. The serial number is W59854. Is there any way of finding out when manufactured? I presume with the low serial number that it would be around Spring 1916

http://1914-1918.invisionzone....php?showtopic=134552

Another forum, I do not have SS# manufacturers dates for the P 14, seems the date is near the test fire tonnage stamped on the barrel.

F. Guffey

Many thanks, Will take a look at your link later in more detail. First glance very interesting.