age of a P-14

[351 power]

how can you tell year of manufacture. i'm looking at one. also interested in putting a Williams FP peep sight on it. will it need drilling?

[Mikey]

I believe that with the P14 and the M1917 if you remove the stock you should see a flaming bomb cartouche on the bottom of the barrel, about midway down, that should have a date stamped in it.  My M17 had a 3/18 date inside the bomb. 

The P14 began life as the production model of the P13, but ceased production when the US entered WWI and continued as the M1917 which I believe was 1917 (don't quote me here). HTH.

[S.S.]

1913 to about 1918. I would not modify it at all,
it is not necessary. .303 ammo is not the easiest thing
to find nowadays though. Many of these were made by Remington
and are excellent rifles. They were kept as Reserve weapons for
the home guard in great britain up until the late 1940s.
Some are stamped with a prominant "RA" (Reserve Arm) .
They are deadly accurate and somewhat rare.

[351 power]

thanks for the replies. i did find a website that estimated by serial #, which put this rifle in march 1918. ammo is not too bad as i started reloading for .303 awhile ago. here in canada it's still a pretty common caliber. i can find empties at the range fairly often. will try to find an original rear sight now

[Harry Snippe]

THINK YOUR LUCKY TO FIND A SHOOTER !!
I have been watching the local dealer for one with a shootable barrel , never mind the rest , and have come empty .It would not matter to me if the outside had dings rust or a battered stock. Most rifles seen, the bores are every worn , or washed , pitted with rust . If the actions were even non pitted or rusted on the inside one might convert a rifle with a rebarrel .
If I located one , I was thinking of the 303 Epps conversion.