P14 in Afghanistan

Combat Diver

Combat Diver

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Have a late production run Remington P14 (1915-16 dated) that the firing pin tip broke off. Volley sights still on the gun.

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Afghan Muhmond/Eddystone M1917 rifle was brought in as it was getting demilled to bring home. Got the striker assembly from it. Got both striker assemblies apart and filed/honed M1917 firing pin end to fit thru smaller P14 bolt face . M1917 striker assembly won't thread into P14 bolt. Khyber Pass striker assemble too crude without lots of needle filing on striker. Assemblies shown below.

P14 parts on top/17' bottom
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CD
 
Potentially stupid question, but why not cut the P14 firing pin back and weld on a new bit of bar stock that can then be finished on a lathe or even on a grinder if that’s all you got. Not sure what the original firing pin is made from, so heat treating could be a problem.
 
JimB said:
Potentially stupid question, but why not cut the P14 firing pin back and weld on a new bit of bar stock that can then be finished on a lathe or even on a grinder if that’s all you got. Not sure what the original firing pin is made from, so heat treating could be a problem.
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Correct firing pins can still be had from SARCO for $20. I just knew that there was a 1917 here on the compound that I might get. Still deciding what to do next, thanks for the suggestion however for another option. Plan on being here another 2 years before calling quits so might just order the pin so I can still play with this rifle here.

CD
 
Combat Diver said:
Correct firing pins can still be had from SARCO for $20.
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Yeah, can’t beat that with a stick.

I’m full of uneconomic options! My first thought was to cut it back, thread the stub and make a replaceable tip. Could stick a spare in the buttstock so in 100 years when it breaks again someone will think kindly of you. Decided quickly that it really only makes sense if you have an apprentice that has some free time and needs a project to practice on the lathe.
 
Update: Ordered and received at home a new striker/firing pin from SARCO. Wife will forward later. Yesterday received another Remington produced P14 with volley sights. Gun is within 6k serial number from other one. Have it totally disassembled and soaking in the solvent tank. Will post pictures when cleaned and reassembled.

CD
 
Wife sent me the new firing pin from SARCO and received this week and reinstalled it. Took two P14 Enfields, both made by Remington in 1917 to the range today. Ammo was half MkVII ball made 36' and 41'. The other half was AP .303 W Mk I made in 41'. Got 15 .303 stripper clips yesterday without ammo and now I've totally out of .303 ammo. Had one dud and several that refired on second attempt. Pulled the Armor Piercing projo out of the dud. You can see the comparison between the MkVII ball and AP bullets. Both bullets loaded with cordite (stringy sticks of powder).

IMG_7649 pair of P14s.jpg IMG_7650 P14.jpg IMG_7655 P14 target.jpg IMG_7662.jpg

CD
 
The P14 is a nice shooting rifle, usually very accurate if in good condition and stocked properly. A product of mistaken lessons from the Boer war.
 
Bought at the bazar last year. He was asking $80 but we settled on $60. Yes, can mail them home registered mail, with no practice limit that I know of. They've had not so nice Mauser and SMLE bayonets in past. Right now bazar is closed due to CD-19.


CD
 
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Combat Diver said:
Bought at the bazar last year. He was asking $80 but we settled on $60. Yes, can mail them home registered mail, with no practice limit that I know of. They've had not so nice Mauser and SMLE bayonets in past. Right now bazar is closed due to CD-19.


CD
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Thanks!
 
I’m curious about what the bores and chambers look like on these old rifles when they come in. I’m surprised they (well some of them) shoot as well as they do.
 
Red Marley said:
I’m curious about what the bores and chambers look like on these old rifles when they come in. I’m surprised they (well some of them) shoot as well as they do.
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Some still have life and others don't. Got a 98K (Mauser 42 code, 1940) and a 1891 Dragoon (Ishevek, 1921) that have shot out barrels.

CD
 
I'm surprised these are still be confiscated or are they being found in caches? I would've thought they all be rounded up by now. Pakistan be reaching the bottom of the armories at this point.
 
rufrdr said:
I'm surprised these are still be confiscated or are they being found in caches? I would've thought they all be rounded up by now. Pakistan be reaching the bottom of the armories at this point.
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Not positive on how the teams picked these up. They either bring them in to me or blow them up in place.

CD
 
Finally disassembled the Pattern 1913 bayonet and cleaned it possibly the first time in over 100 yrs. Again sword bayonet was made for the British by Remington on Sep 1916. Scabbard is also original, just need the frog (leather belt attachment that goes over stud)
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Arrow with crown is British acceptance proof. CI over A is the inspector I believe. X mark denoting the convex side of the blade for bend tests
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Putting a edge on the relic.
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According to British specifications, the finish was to be:
Blade: 17" Hardened, Tempered, Polished and Sandblasted.
Crosspiece (Guard): Browned
Pommel: Browned.
The remaining parts were Oil-Blackened.
Note: Both US and British terminology of the time used the term browning for what we now call bluing. Browning extended up the blade from the guard about 1 inch, covering most of the ricasso flats.


CD
 
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Combat Diver said:
Both US and British terminology of the time used the term browning for what we now call bluing.
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Another educational post, thanks!

[raises hand, waits on Teacher] Based on nothing other than the colors that (might) appear from the process of that era, I'm going to assume that "browning" means rust-bluing. If so, then isn't boiling or steaming the treated metal the part of rust bluing that causes the oxide to turn from rust red/brown to black, which is then oiled to create what we know as rust bluing?

In other words, what's the difference between "browning" and "oil-blackened?" Are they just different stages of the same process?
 
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