I understand that the Remington M1917 enfield doesn't leave a duckpond when removing the rear sight pedestal. However, I don't know about the P14's. I have seen a P14 on the internet marked ERA that left a duckpond. What does "ERA" stand for? Is there a P14 that does not leave a duck pond after machining/filing off the rear bridge skyscraper? How hard is it to fins a Rem 1917 action, and at what cost are they going for. I asked a similar question on the classified section, but the answers I got led me to ask more questions. I don't want a "duck pond" action, and I don't want a super hard Eddystone action either. I've got a couple extra 416 Rigby bottom metals that can be easily made to work with the Enfield action and I want to make the best choice.

The P14 and 1917 Remington do not have a duck pond, REM. marked. Remington owned/operated two arsenals, Bridgeport , Conn marked REM(no pond), Eddystone, Penn marked ERA/Eddystone(with d p) and of course the other arsenal was WIN it had the dp too.

Thanks for clearing that up for me!
Matt

I have an Eddystone 1917 which does not have the duckpond. No, it has not been filled.

Colorado I have built over a dozen rifles on P14 & P17 actions. ERA Win and Rem. All of the ones I have seen all have the duck pond. As already pointed out it is very easy to fill these. The Rem & Win actions are all quite good.Good luck building your rifle.

Late 1980's Century Arms was selling P14 actions for a whopping 29.95 ea, you got a good break for lots of 5 or more. I sold about 50 off of type 1 ffl ALL ERA's had duck ponds and NO REM had one period. I have viewed hundreds more and ALL are as I describe above, I'm not from Missouri, but "show me"

I've owned four 1917's, still have one. Two rem two winchester, both winchesters had ponds (one was filled wonderfully) neither remington did. My understanding is that remington solved the heat treat problem and was able to eliminate the pond, but I don't know if they had early production ones that had it. From what I was told ALL other 1917's, eddy and win, had the pond.

just my limited experience.

Red

From ones that I have personally seen and handled Remington P14s marked RE in an oval have the duck pond. Remington 1917s do not. All other P14 and 1917s do.

quote:

Originally posted by viperidae:
From ones that I have personally seen and handled Remington P14s marked RE in an oval have the duck pond. Remington 1917s do not. All other P14 and 1917s do.

This has been my experience. I have another Rem, P14 in the safe. I'll have to pull the sight and spring to check it.

I own several rem 1917's. None have the duck pond.

Roger

This is a poor photo of my 1917 Eddystone action, my good camera is on loan. I dehorned it myself, and it has not been welded or filled;



Link to a recent Gunbroker action that also does not have the D/P. Hard to say for sure it has not been filled, but judging by the quality of the rest of the action, it is doubtful anybody would go to the trouble and leave the rest untouched.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=213546836

quote:

Originally posted by swheeler:
Late 1980's Century Arms was selling P14 actions for a whopping 29.95 ea, you got a good break for lots of 5 or more. I sold about 50 off of type 1 ffl ALL ERA's had duck ponds and NO REM had one period. I have viewed hundreds more and ALL are as I describe above, I'm not from Missouri, but "show me"

Here you go Mr Wheeler. This is a Remingtom P14 with a duck pond. The other Remington P14 That I owned also had the duck pond.



Roger

Forgive my ignorance. I think I see what you guys are talking about. But just to make sure.
What is a duck pond????

Thank you, Tony

quote:

Originally posted by tony300wby:
What is a duck pond????

Thank you, Tony

The oval hole in the rear bridge-



as per Rojelio's photo above. It would in use be covered by the flat rear sight spring. I've always imagined it would be a great place for some sort of "drop in" back up peep sight base.

quote:

Originally posted by Rojelio:

quote:

Originally posted by swheeler:
Late 1980's Century Arms was selling P14 actions for a whopping 29.95 ea, you got a good break for lots of 5 or more. I sold about 50 off of type 1 ffl ALL ERA's had duck ponds and NO REM had one period. I have viewed hundreds more and ALL are as I describe above, I'm not from Missouri, but "show me"

Here you go Mr Wheeler. This is a Remingtom P14 with a duck pond. The other Remington P14 That I owned also had the duck pond.



Roger

Nice photo, now show me one of the right bank of the reciever ring(same reciever),RE remington/eddystone arsenal?? Remington did own both arsenals. Eddystones say Eddystone right bank, Remingtons say Remington right bank, and Win say Winchester. Lets see a close up of reciever ring/right bank, and I do appreciate you calling me MR, sir is fine also.

Actually MR wheeler, only the US model of 1917 had the names spelled out (Remington, Winchester, and Eddystone). ALL of the P14s had either RE in an oval like the picture, ERA for Eddystone, and the Winchesters just started their serial numbers with W. The only thing on the right side of the receiver is the serial numbers. I have examples of all three.

Roger

Well at least you got the MR right! Maybe you got fakes/regrinds Maybe Century was selling 1917 recievers with P14 bolts 20 years ago, I really don't know, or care. I do know I haven't seen any pictures of the rec.

quote:

Originally posted by swheeler:
Well at least you got the MR right!

I just figured that anybody that knew as much about P14s as you do must be called MR.

I know what Rojillo has , P13 with P14 barrels. collectors item

Still haven't seen a picture of the right side, I promise I won't check the number for stolen!

quote:

Originally posted by swheeler:
Still haven't seen a picture of the right side, I promise I won't check the number for stolen!

When you quit drinking, I'll show you another picture. I don't think it would do any good, though.

As I thought, now I've got a cold one waiting!

quote:

Originally posted by swheeler:
As I thought, now I've got a cold one waiting!

LOL, Good night MR Wheeler. I've had enough fun for one night.

I bow to Rojillo's expertise! He da man!

Well, don't plan on calling swheeler MR....maybe something else. But, I have 2 Eddystone rifles in the safe, one with a 35 whelen barrel and the other still has original barrel. I removed the ears and did the machining on the 06 receiver...neither...that means none to you wheel...have a duck pond. These are the 4th and 5th 1917's I have owned.
3 eddies and two rems. no pond...I am not sure if you can specifically identify by manufacturer, maybe by range of serial numbers....I agree wheel, you should bow to Rojelio's expertise

quote:

Originally posted by Lost Oki:
Well, don't plan on calling swheeler MR....maybe something else. But, I have 2 Eddystone rifles in the safe, one with a 35 whelen barrel and the other still has original barrel. I removed the ears and did the machining on the 06 receiver...neither...that means none to you wheel...have a duck pond. These are the 4th and 5th 1917's I have owned.
3 eddies and two rems. no pond...I am not sure if you can specifically identify by manufacturer, maybe by range of serial numbers....I agree wheel, you should bow to Rojelio's expertise

Must be "fakes" I'm sure plenty here would like to see a picture, myself included, but then a good plug job would be hard to detect by a photo! And SIR would be fine, you can forget the MR mister.

I have two winchesters m 1917 without pond

and one p14 eddystone I think that does not have the big re on top it is in 303 for sure and the bolt mag box and ejector are all correct bolt is numbered to action.

quote:

Originally posted by CRUSHER:
I have two winchesters m 1917 without pond

and one p14 eddystone I think that does not have the big re on top it is in 303 for sure and the bolt mag box and ejector are all correct bolt is numbered to action.

Thanks Crusher, so I didn't know shit, just thought I did! I am curious about the actions I was buying though, from what I have found out here they must have been 1917 recievers with P14 bolts? I had a P14 action that said REMINGTON on the reciever with bolt and mag correct for P14 and no duck pond. Oh well, livce and learn I guess. I have never owned a Win, but have seen several sporterized and all had the pond. Evidently the arsenals all tried both ways for a while, probably next to no records from 90 years ago.

Colorado Matt; to tell if one is going to have the duck pond or not, you have to have the rifle in hand and remove the rear sight and look.

quote:

must have been 1917 recievers with P14 bolts?

I believe a quick check for a '14 bolt is a serial number written/etched on the underside of the bolt handle.

The bolt face is different between the two, but that's not something I could not use to differentiate either.

IIRC...

Here are the 3 versions of P14s. The Remington at the top (RE in an oval), Winchester in the middle (hard to see, but, the serial no. starts with a W ), Eddystone at the bottom (ERA).

The P14 bolts were different in that the locking lugs were configured different because they didn't utilize a coned breech as did the M1917, the extractors were different, it used a different firing pin, and of course, the bolt face was larger to accommodate the rimmed 303B.



These were all stamped with DP meaning they were demilitarized by drilling a hole through the chamber and welding a pin in the hole then used for "drill purpose".

If I get to the shop tomorrow night I will post pictures of my eddystone I just started modifying. I also have a Winchester 1917 in the shop. I have a Remington 1917, all matching numbers from 1918.

The Winchester 1917 has a duck pond
The Remington 1917 has no duck pond
The Eddystone 1917 has no duck pond

Here is another Enfield oddity. This is an early Winchester P14 action with a dovetailed safety lock holder instead of a screwed one. This is the only one I have ever seen like this. So, I guess you don't know what you get until you get it.