Wanted: Full wood Stock for 1918 Lee Enfield

[David Dunlop]

Check with IMA in the US. They might have the full wood set and hardware you are looking for and they will be able to ship into Canada for you.

Here in Canada, SIR used to have full wood sets for these British and American rifles, but I am not sure what would be available since they merged with Cabelas. Wouldn't cost anything to ask them at any rate.


David

[Lynn Eades]

Lang, Ed, thanks for the revision. I did know it once, but the info was lost somewhere in my head I was not putting it together, "model OF 1914", model Of 1917 etc.
I actually owned a P14 for some years. It had been cut down to a 13 inch barrel. The result of my dad's friend having the muzzle in the water when trout fishing. The 13" barrel was all that was left after the pitch fork bit was cut away.

[Casey B]

Thanks for all the information and yes I see that it is not a Lee Enfield as I was told and after handling a few Enfields today.I saw the difference. So we all think it is a P14..Okay. I am slightly confused as to whether it is a modified Enfield or Springfield? there was a lot of onformation.
I just want to know what to ask for when locating the stock parts...that's all.

Yes he "Dad" took good care if it and it was purchased here in vancouver either at the three Vets or Army and navy when they actually sold surplus!
Thank you for the kind words and I would like to restore it to it's youth!

He didn't do the modifications but I fear that the way the front of the stock was cut and shaped that the front lower piece of wood may not be able to fit?

The dates... I was not sure of either as I see the date in the red box as 18-5 so May 1918 or is it the circled '16 and then 18 as the day and may as the month? there are several crowns as well tow in the picture another on the side of the chamber both have the BNP with a crown over it as well the Broad arrow.

I will try to find some more info on it. If anyone needs better pics to help fill in the gaps please don't hesitate to ask.


PS this link that was sent in a post... ( http://m1903.com/m1917markings.htm) did not seem to work for me...is it correct? thanks Casey

[rob love]

I only know of one source for P14/P17 wood at reasonable prices. The company has most of the hardware as well. Shoot me a PM Casey if you still need some, and I'll forward you the details.

I do not believe you will find any on this side of the border however. I usually bring 4 sets to the Calgary show each year and they are long gone before the public ever gets in to the show.

[Casey B]

thanks Rob sent you a PM...! Casey

[maple_leaf_eh]

I'm going to burst your bubble. The wood for P14/M17 rifles is quite hard to get. There are some surplus sellers, but all military surplus rifle types are enjoying a happy renaissance lately. Guys are doing exactly what the original poster is trying to do. All cheap or unbroken parts have been bought up lately, and many of those parts now trade on a secondary market for guys looking to match up makes and conditions.

Do a search on the American gun parts market for what they call Enfields. If the ad is for an SMLE, a No.1 or a No.4, keep looking. I don't know where to suggest here in Canada. The shops that had any quantities of P14/M17 rifles or parts went out of business 3 decades ago.

[Lang]

Casey,

I will put up another way to get to that web site. It tells you where to find the mark on every part to see who made them. Try this http://m1903.com/m1917markings.htm

The rifle is built on a British Enfield pattern and has no connection to the US Springfield. When the Americans entered the war the big gun companies were churning out the .303 P14 Enfield pattern for the British. The British had decided on this new rifle (with new rimless ammunition) to replace the SMLE but the events of 1914 and the failure of Vickers, the main contractor, to produce the required number led to continued SMLE production in UK and reversion of the P14 to .303 and the American contracts.

A big US 1917 investigation made it clear those companies making the British P14 could not convert to producing the standard US Springfield rifle in a short time. The decision was made to just modify the .303 to the standard US 30-06 calibre which could be done quickly because all the main components were already pouring down the production line for the British. So was born the P17 which pumped out until the end of the war and was issued alongside the Springfields to US forces.

Eddystone (a subsidiary of Remington until sold) produced 1,200,000 while Remington and Winchester produced about half a million each. It would appear the million rifles sent to the British 1939/40 were of this stock and 30-06 calibre. From what I have found they armed the Home Guard and often had a red band around the fore stock to indicate .30 calibre because they could easily be confused with the almost identical appearing .303 P14 which was still in use at the same time.

After WW1 the P17 was withdrawn and the US standardised on the Springfield which a large portion of the US forces were still using at the end of WW2.

Lang

PS. The date of your rifle is 1916 - '16. The other number is the proof load and it says "BNP (Barrel Nominal Pressure) 18.5 tons per square inch".

[Casey B]

Thank you the site link worked well. I will check it all. It looks so far like it was the first choice with the E's!
Looking for the parts I'll need but it's a long weekend here so Tuesday Emails are in so wait a little longer. thanks for your help and yours as well Rob!
Casey

[motto]

The BNP with crown above stands for Birmingham Nitro Proof which indicates that the rifle has been tested in an official Proof House.
Lang, I believe the huge numbers of 'Enfields' sent to Britain from the US at the outbreak of WW2 were in fact M17 and they were issued to or intended for the Home Guard. Better than broomsticks eh? No doubt ammunition was also supplied. The British didn't set up to produce 30.06.

I don't have documentation at hand for the above but I think it will be found to be correct.

David

[Lang]

Thanks Dave. The Barrel Nominal Pressure meaning for BNP came from a gun nut forum I found today - obviously your definition takes precedence. I put the home guard thing in my previous post. They may not have been so hard done by as the P14/P17 was a technically superior rifle and reportedly more accurate than the SMLE, if a bit heavier. After all it was the weapon designed and actually chosen to replace the SMLE.

Lang