Wanted: Full wood Stock for 1918 Lee Enfield

[Lang]

Casey,

I will put up another way to get to that web site. It tells you where to find the mark on every part to see who made them. Try this http://m1903.com/m1917markings.htm

The rifle is built on a British Enfield pattern and has no connection to the US Springfield. When the Americans entered the war the big gun companies were churning out the .303 P14 Enfield pattern for the British. The British had decided on this new rifle (with new rimless ammunition) to replace the SMLE but the events of 1914 and the failure of Vickers, the main contractor, to produce the required number led to continued SMLE production in UK and reversion of the P14 to .303 and the American contracts.

A big US 1917 investigation made it clear those companies making the British P14 could not convert to producing the standard US Springfield rifle in a short time. The decision was made to just modify the .303 to the standard US 30-06 calibre which could be done quickly because all the main components were already pouring down the production line for the British. So was born the P17 which pumped out until the end of the war and was issued alongside the Springfields to US forces.

Eddystone (a subsidiary of Remington until sold) produced 1,200,000 while Remington and Winchester produced about half a million each. It would appear the million rifles sent to the British 1939/40 were of this stock and 30-06 calibre. From what I have found they armed the Home Guard and often had a red band around the fore stock to indicate .30 calibre because they could easily be confused with the almost identical appearing .303 P14 which was still in use at the same time.

After WW1 the P17 was withdrawn and the US standardised on the Springfield which a large portion of the US forces were still using at the end of WW2.

Lang

PS. The date of your rifle is 1916 - '16. The other number is the proof load and it says "BNP (Barrel Nominal Pressure) 18.5 tons per square inch".

[Casey B]

Thank you the site link worked well. I will check it all. It looks so far like it was the first choice with the E's!
Looking for the parts I'll need but it's a long weekend here so Tuesday Emails are in so wait a little longer. thanks for your help and yours as well Rob!
Casey

[motto (RIP)]

The BNP with crown above stands for Birmingham Nitro Proof which indicates that the rifle has been tested in an official Proof House.
Lang, I believe the huge numbers of 'Enfields' sent to Britain from the US at the outbreak of WW2 were in fact M17 and they were issued to or intended for the Home Guard. Better than broomsticks eh? No doubt ammunition was also supplied. The British didn't set up to produce 30.06.

I don't have documentation at hand for the above but I think it will be found to be correct.

David

[Lang]

Thanks Dave. The Barrel Nominal Pressure meaning for BNP came from a gun nut forum I found today - obviously your definition takes precedence. I put the home guard thing in my previous post. They may not have been so hard done by as the P14/P17 was a technically superior rifle and reportedly more accurate than the SMLE, if a bit heavier. After all it was the weapon designed and actually chosen to replace the SMLE.

Lang

[Lang]

Here they are:

Here are more including the red band indication .30 calibre. With a big 30-06 stamp in the wood.

[Ewen B]

Here is one source in Manitoba you may check for parts..

Greg Steele bought up a pile of parts and old rifles, and may have what you want. He is located in Brandon, Manitoba. his phone number is 204-725-1608. If he is not there, leave a voice mail. He has his hands into a number of things and it may take a while for him to get back to you. Ewen