Rifle ID please

[ready4shtf]

My dad gave me this old .303 British which he said was an "Enfield". I cant seem to find the Mark or series. Can some one look at this picture and tell me? The website I found this on indicates a SMLE? Its identical to "Fig A" in the following picture.

 

[ready4shtf]

It's identical to this one in every aspect, except it has no scope. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=53341812

 

[ready4shtf]

Nevermind. Found it.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/philqgbr/enfieldP14.html

 

[monsternav]

It is a Pattern 14 (as in 1914) rifle.
1. Can you post pictures? Or at least tell us who the manufacturer is? And year. (just curious)

2. Are you sure it is 303? A lot of them were made for the US in WWI in 30-06.

 

[ready4shtf]

I hope its .303 because thats whats loaded in it. I've shot it a few times and the cases didnt change shape or have trouble extracting. Pretty sure its .303. He bought it back in the 70s for $50 packed in cosmoline. Is there anything special about them I need to know? I dig the flip up rear sight alot I dont see why its marked out to 2,400 on the sight. I dont think I could hit anything that far with iron sights

 

[Jim Watson]

Yup, Pattern 14 Enfield. Nothing in common with SMLE except the calibre.

YOU are not going to hit much at 2400 yards with your one lone rifle. However, if your company runs their sights up and shoots at a German company, you might get some hits. The notion of ultra long range massed fire goes back before machine guns and easily mobile artillery like the French 75.

 

[Diomed]

I second - what's on the receiver? From your description the volley sight is intact, making it rarer and more desirable.

 

[ready4shtf]

Here is the back of the reciever. This sight flips up and slides. You can use the fixed aperature or switch to the sliding and elevated one.

 

[ArmandTanzarian]

What other markings are on it? Yes, I think you'd have had serious troubles when shooting it if it was a u.s. 1917 rifle in .30-06, so it's undoubtedly a P14 Enfield. Great rifle.

 

[ready4shtf]

It says "ERA" in an oval on the top of the reciever. But the rest of the weapon is covered in wood. And I was to afraid to take it apart to look underneath. There is a 3 digit stamp on the stock with white paint which I assume to be an issue number, to whoever had it. I think its "193" or something.

 

[monsternav]

Often called a "rack" number. From my experiance it is not usually associaed with a particular person (other than "here, you get rifle x, rack number x). It is more for the armorys' record keeping (easier to see a white number than that little, dark stamped serial number).

Here are disassembly instructions:
http://www.surplusrifle.com/m1917/index.asp

A US M1917 is the same rifle, modified only to chamber 30-06.

Volley sights are on the side of the rifle, like grenade launcher sights on an M203/M16 combo. Turning it into a little .303 mortar. Like Jim said, massed fires, Companies or Battalions maybe.
The sights on the side would be for true indirect fire (no need to see your target). Using the rear sight, you would still have to see what you were aiming at (guessing here), kind of like the more direct mode of using the M203.

 

[Diomed]

Your rifle was built by Remington-Eddystone. Does the serial number on the bolt match the number on the receiver? It should. Does it have a brass disc on the right side of the butt, or maybe a round wood plug?