Now what do I do?

[codytrucker]

Went to a gun show yesterday , came home with something i've wanted for a long time. One a 99 Savage 30-30 . just a low priced shooter.
The other a pattern 14 Enfield , with the stock already cut down as a "sporter"
(bubba?) , but all the metal appears to be original . I bought it cheap , and because i've wanted one for a long time to re-stock re-build as a 303 stalking type rifle . Got it from a guy that got it in Canada a long time ago , so it has no import stamps on it . Hasn't been arsenal rebuilt either as far as i can tell.
My reservation on sporterizing this rifle is this . The serial # is 4xx . 3 digit #.
Not sure whether to try to find an old original stock and restore it , then sell it off and look for one more suitable to play with. Its an Eddystone ( E R A ) rifle . I don't know if a low serial number is anything other than a curiosity on this or not.
Anybody know anything about these?

 

[LoonWulf]

@boom boom and @tark are usually my go tos for something like this, but there are a bunch of knowledgeable people on the forums that can probably help.

Personally if the metals still good I'd PROBABLY do a resto, or sell it to someone who would....how to go about getting the stuff you need, and if the low serial helps valuse.......well that you'll have to find out from one of the more knowledgeable members.

 

[CapnMac]

"We" may need photos, to see if important metal bits have been chopped off or filed away, as that really affects how many steps a restoration might require.

 

[MarshallDodge]

If it is restorable then I vote restore it.

They aren't making any more of them.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Been there, done that -- very recently, in fact: https://thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/pattern-14-remil.861749/



I just confirmed that the link I gave in the above post to Numrich's site for the stock I ordered is still good. So far, the rifle's just been used by me as a pistol caliber 'carbine' on my club's indoor range, but it shoots surprisingly well that way:

https://thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/enfield-p14-mauser-g98-indoor-fun.862366/

 

[boom boom]

They are an excellent action and if you reload .303, your brass will last a long time. There are a lot of drill rifle stocks around from rifles that were demilled by boring a large hole through the barrel chamber with the stock and handguards still on. They will have stripes of paint on them and the action are usually marked DP for drill practice only. In a SMLE, I would not use a DP marked action to build a rifle. In a P14, a DP marked receiver should be looked over by a gunsmith before firing if the rifle is new to you. Probably safe, but you never know. Eddystone, ERA, did have some documented problems with brittle receivers in the 1917 rifle which is the sibling of the P14. Nothing of that has surfaced with the P14 version but the Brits are notoriously tight lipped about such matters. They would probably know from Weedon Repair Centre which refurbed them for WWII action for the Home Guard as the No. 3 rifle (see Dad's Army--a very funny comedy by the Brits done in the 1970's--you will see those rifles there.)

I've rebuilt a couple and they fire fine. The heavy rifle soaks up the recoil and the sights are better than the No. 1. Mk3 (aka old Smellie) WWI era Brit rifle. They have much better tighter chambers usually. Up North, in Canada, some of these P14's have been reamed out to an improved cartridge called the .303 Epps which is close to .308 in performance. Make sure to check your chambers.

Oh, one weakness, be REALLY careful of the ejector spring. These are brittle, poorly designed, and frequently break with rough handling. There are no replacements except from another rifle and that spring brought over $50 bucks the last time I saw one for sale on Fleabay. The 1917 ejector spring will not fit. Leave it in and don't monkey with it. In a pinch, a broken spring can be augmented by an auxiliary spring but that can give uncertain ejection.

 

[Jim Watson]

Tell us about the Savage, too.
.30-30s are not real common.

 

[boom boom]

Went to a gun show yesterday , came home with something i've wanted for a long time. One a 99 Savage 30-30 . just a low priced shooter.
The other a pattern 14 Enfield , with the stock already cut down as a "sporter"
(bubba?) , but all the metal appears to be original . I bought it cheap , and because i've wanted one for a long time to re-stock re-build as a 303 stalking type rifle . Got it from a guy that got it in Canada a long time ago , so it has no import stamps on it . Hasn't been arsenal rebuilt either as far as i can tell.
My reservation on sporterizing this rifle is this . The serial # is 4xx . 3 digit #.
Not sure whether to try to find an old original stock and restore it , then sell it off and look for one more suitable to play with. Its an Eddystone ( E R A ) rifle . I don't know if a low serial number is anything other than a curiosity on this or not.
Anybody know anything about these?

With the low digits, look for a star on the receiver and bolt handle. If that is missing, you have a collectible. The brits for some reason altered the p14 to a new bolt with slightly longer lugs. The no star Enfields are rare.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

With the low digits, look for a star on the receiver and bolt handle. If that is missing, you have a collectible. The brits for some reason altered the p14 to a new bolt with slightly longer lugs. The no star Enfields are rare.

Good point! If I recall rightly, the star indicated a collection of relatively small modifications to improve feeding.

codytrucker, Othias discusses this kind of stuff during this video, if you want the whole P-14 back-story:



Another feature to look for is whether the rear volley sight is still present -- these were universally removed during the Weedon refurb and are also pretty rare to find intact:



Whenever you have the rifle apart, check each major part for the E stamping -- sometimes a sporterized P-14 can pick up a few replaced bits of stock furniture marked W or R, though in general parts from the three makers' rifle's do not interchange. My lightly-sporterized Winchester P-14 came with a Remington-marked stock band and floorplate, for example. All matching parts are usually the case, and most desirable from a collector standpoint.

 

[Merle1]

They are an excellent action and if you reload .303, your brass will last a long time. There are a lot of drill rifle stocks around from rifles that were demilled by boring a large hole through the barrel chamber with the stock and handguards still on. They will have stripes of paint on them and the action are usually marked DP for drill practice only. In a SMLE, I would not use a DP marked action to build a rifle. In a P14, a DP marked receiver should be looked over by a gunsmith before firing if the rifle is new to you. Probably safe, but you never know. Eddystone, ERA, did have some documented problems with brittle receivers in the 1917 rifle which is the sibling of the P14. Nothing of that has surfaced with the P14 version but the Brits are notoriously tight lipped about such matters. They would probably know from Weedon Repair Centre which refurbed them for WWII action for the Home Guard as the No. 3 rifle (see Dad's Army--a very funny comedy by the Brits done in the 1970's--you will see those rifles there.)

I've rebuilt a couple and they fire fine. The heavy rifle soaks up the recoil and the sights are better than the No. 1. Mk3 (aka old Smellie) WWI era Brit rifle. They have much better tighter chambers usually. Up North, in Canada, some of these P14's have been reamed out to an improved cartridge called the .303 Epps which is close to .308 in performance. Make sure to check your chambers.

Oh, one weakness, be REALLY careful of the ejector spring. These are brittle, poorly designed, and frequently break with rough handling. There are no replacements except from another rifle and that spring brought over $50 bucks the last time I saw one for sale on Fleabay. The 1917 ejector spring will not fit. Leave it in and don't monkey with it. In a pinch, a broken spring can be augmented by an auxiliary spring but that can give uncertain ejection.

FYI, there is a simple fix whereby you cut notches and use a spring similar to that from a ball point pen.

 

[codytrucker]

Tell us about the Savage, too.
.30-30s are not real common.

It's a 1921 gun . not sure if its been rebarrelled or what . Barrel bluing is strong , but the rest of it is about gone . Buttstock has been broken and repaired top of wrist , and has a couple patches . Looks like it had a medallion in it at one time and someone took it out and plugged the hole. It has a crecsent butplate , though. I like that . shot it a couple times this a.m. . Think i'll be looking for a tang sight for it.
Gonna try some spire point loads out in it , should be fun.

 

[codytrucker]

Good point! If I recall rightly, the star indicated a collection of relatively small modifications to improve feeding.

codytrucker, Othias discusses this kind of stuff during this video, if you want the whole P-14 back-story:



Another feature to look for is whether the rear volley sight is still present -- these were universally removed during the Weedon refurb and are also pretty rare to find intact:

View attachment 899768

Whenever you have the rifle apart, check each major part for the E stamping -- sometimes a sporterized P-14 can pick up a few replaced bits of stock furniture marked W or R, though in general parts from the three makers' rifle's do not interchange. My lightly-sporterized Winchester P-14 came with a Remington-marked stock band and floorplate, for example. All matching parts are usually the case, and most desirable from a collector standpoint.

From what I see , it wasn't given the weeden re-work. it isn't stamped on the receiver or bolt. the brass plate in the stock has a number 1 stamped in it and that's all. All the proofs and stampings on the action are on the receiver ring , except a number 1 stamped on the left rear of it . Nothing on the left of the ejection port like you see on a lot of them . All serial numbers match. The stocks been thinned and sanded down , there are no stamps near the brass plate like you would expect . It doesn't have a volley sight , either. I did watch the C&R video . He always has a lot of info . Thanks . I am going to try to find out how to put pictures on this sooner or later , hopefully .

 

[fpgt72]

It's a 1921 gun . not sure if its been rebarrelled or what . Barrel bluing is strong , but the rest of it is about gone . Buttstock has been broken and repaired top of wrist , and has a couple patches . Looks like it had a medallion in it at one time and someone took it out and plugged the hole. It has a crecsent butplate , though. I like that . shot it a couple times this a.m. . Think i'll be looking for a tang sight for it.
Gonna try some spire point loads out in it , should be fun.

Try the hornady leverolution, I can tell you my 30 Remington (basically a 3030) really liked that bullet.