P14 & P17 enfield....? need help.

skipbo32 · Mar 24, 2011

i purchased an enfield rifle thinking it was a 1917 .30-06 for $375. the serial number starts with a "W"......so im thinking it is in fact a british P14 in .303 instead.

am i right? and if so, is the rifle worth less? sorry, im a noobie at these guns. i got it in an estate sale.

any info would be great. thanks.

mljdeckard · Mar 24, 2011

What does the actual barrel say?

Keep in mind, they were designed as .303s and later made as 30-06s instead. The magazine holds one extra round in -06.

critter · Mar 24, 2011

Great guns in either case. Good price-whatever it is. Shoot it a LOT-it can stand it.

kragluver · Mar 24, 2011

A very-very early M1917 (don't call it a P17 - no such thing) could have a W as you state. All the P14s made by Winchester were so marked. Nearly all US Model 1917s will state so on the receiver:

US MODEL OF 1917
WINCHESTER (or REMINGTON, etc)
SERIAL NO.

I say "nearly" because there were a very small number of the earliest production guns that were stamped differently. Before you shoot it, it would be good to have a chamber cast made. It may be a .303 Brit as you say or it may have been sporterized and chambered in an all-together different caliber.

Devonai · Mar 24, 2011

There are two simple ways to determine the caliber if the weapon isn't marked.

One, get a .303 snap cap and try to chamber it. If it's in .30-06, the rim will be too large for the bolt face and it will ride forward and not lock up.

Two, get a .30-06 snap cap and try to chamber it. If it's in .303, the rim will be too small for the bolt face and the extractor won't grab it. Also, the .30-06 is longer so it won't fully chamber.

Slamfire · Mar 24, 2011

I have a "DP" stamped P14 receiver. It was part of a training rifle.

It is a Winchester receiver and has the W before the serial number.

I have Eddystone and a Remington M1917. No E or R before the serial number.

Probably a British P1914.

As for value, the P14's always brought less than P17's because people want 30-06's.

skipbo32 · Mar 24, 2011

how much less are the P14s compared to the 1917s? this winchester is in very good condition and appears to have all matching parts.

BrocLuno · Mar 24, 2011

That price difference is an American thing. Around the world and in the old Commonwealth nations, the 303 would maybe be worth more? Ballistically, they are not that far apart. Either will do almost all the big game in the world (OK, not cape buff & elephants nowdays). They are both fine cartridges.

If it's in real good shape, that's likely a better indicator of price than caliber

Jim Watson · Mar 24, 2011

Look at the pictures of the bolt face in Frank DeHaas' book, excerpted at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=tu...&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

The P14 and 1917 locking lugs and extractors are visibly different and he describes some other differences you could use to tell which pig in a poke you have.

skipbo32 · Mar 24, 2011

jim...

thanks for the link. well that settles it. i deffinatley have a P14.

well, i was a little disappointed to learn that i dont have the sgt Yorke gun in 30-06 (that i thought i was getting)......but the gun is in such good condition that i cant complain. it looks like a new gun!

i was looking around and it seems i can get .303 for about the same price and the 30-06 anyway.......303 maybe on the cheaper side. so im fine with that.

i know that the 1917 winchesters are the most desired......does that hold the same with the P14s? mine is a winchester.

bbrownie · Mar 24, 2011

here in Canada P-14 and U.S. Model of 1917 are worth about the same price. Winchester,s will cost you a few more dollars than Remington or Eddystone in either caliber.

Brownie

skipbo32 · Mar 24, 2011

thanks for the info guys.....

here are some better pics of my P14. as you can see it is in very good condition and the action works like new. the bore is good.....it had some crud and a bit of rust that i am currently cleaning out. as of right now the bore is somewhat shiny. the stock is in almost perfect shape and has not been refinished. can anyone tell me a ball park figure of what this gun retails at? i got it in an estate sale for $375.

henschman · Mar 24, 2011

It's probably worth about 600 bucks or so. I would have snapped it up for that price, too.

Liberty1776 · Mar 24, 2011

That is in beautiful condition. You did real well.

Jim Watson · Mar 24, 2011

Good to see one in military trim.
A lot of these got Bubbaed or even Gunsmithed because the .303 bolt face will work for belted magnums. Use a 1917 magazine box and cobble up a heavy sporter.

Ohio Gun Guy · Mar 24, 2011

That is a beauty!

Not feeling sorry for you.....

P14 & P17 enfield....? need help.

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