![]() This all matching P14 was manufactured by the Eddystone factory as marked by the ERA (Eddystone Remington Arms) on the receiver & the E stamped on most parts of the rifle. ![]() Because the P14 and the M17 looked identical, the practice was to paint a red line around the M17 furniture so as to avoid any problems of identification due to the differing calibres employed. When WW2 broke out, the British once again looked to the US for help & the M17 was sent to Britain where they were issued to the Home Guard as part of the Lend Lease plan. Interestingly enough, it was not until 1926 that the British military officially adopted the P14 as the Enfield No.3 MkI. When the US entered WW1 they took the production facilities for the P14 & produced the rifle chambered for their own 30.06 cartridge under the designation of the Model 1917, otherwise known as the M17. ![]() The P14s which did make it into service with the British in WW1 were used primarily for sniping, due to being considerably more accurate that the SMLE (the P14 has a floating barrel as opposed to the fixed one on the SMLE) & that they were also available in fewer numbers. These were subject to further adjustments, because the size of the locking lugs on the bolt needed enlargement & the new specification was designated as the MkI* P14, which only further delayed its issue. It was not until February 1916 that the first MkI P14s were delivered. Winchester, Remington & Eddystone (a subsidiary of Remington created for the sole purpose of P14 production) were awarded the contract to produce the P13, now re-chambered for the standard British. This was to have been the Pattern 1913 Enfield (P13) & Vickers were awarded the contract to produce the new rifle.Īs WW1 on, it became increasingly clear that additional small arms would be required & with the British industrial war production stretched to its limits, the British Government looked to the USA to plug the potential gap in production. 276 ‘Magnum’ around which the new rifle was based. Initially the idea was introduce a new, smaller. For all intents & purposes the P14 is a copy of the Mauser Gew98, utilizing everything available to the RSAF at Enfield to avoid having to pay a single penny to the Mauser corporation in royalties. The P14 was initially intended to replace the Enfield SMLE but WW1 put an end to this.
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