Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters My search for a vintage 404 Jeffery is over

Ticklish question...

If it was mine, and I wanted to hunt with it, I'd need a QD scope.

How big a sin, drilling and tapping for scope? In its current condition, does it have substantial collector value un-tapped or is it just a shooter?

DF

Hello Dirtfarmer,

Thanks for the reply.

It would be a "BIG SIN" to drill and tap this rifle. It is a true collector from a Vintage time of Dangerous Game Hunting.
Working range for such rifles was usually under 50 yds and sometimes at distances measured in feet.

I've got dozens of other rifles that have scopes.

Is the rear sight island soldered or screwed on the C&H?. If it is screwed on, a Weaver base could be adapted to the barrel contour and hole spacing. A micro red dot then could be mounted on the single base. The arrangement would allow iron sight challenged shooters to shoot the C&H and not permanently mess with the collectibility.

Hello carbon12

Thanks for the reply.

Its soldered on. And I'm not "iron sight challenged" with the practicle range of the 404 Jeffery.

Great gun.

DF

Hello Dirtfarmer,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, now on to finding some History about it.

Provenance and history can sometimes get interesting.

Here's a link to an early, pre-war Superposed I traded for, just liked the looks, not knowing anything about it.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=124719

This thread went on for years, NOT a quick read...

DF

Duh! sorry! and I even have a nice one in my safe! I'm just an Anglophile

THIS!!!^^^^^^ Thanks!!!!

Hello kaywoodie,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I think?

Hello All,

Well, Here's an update on my rifle.

Detail examination shows that this rifle was originally a P-14 Eddystone. What I find most interesting is the "thumb cut" in the left receiver wall.

It serves no purpose other than cosmetic to replicate the "look" of a 98 Mauser action. Or, the only other explaination would be that the thumb-cut it was intended to add finger clearance to aid in pushing the large cartridges down into the magazine box from above. I know for sure that it could not have been for loading from a stripper clip because if you place a cartridge into the existing stripper clip slot that is cut into the top of the rear receiver ring, the cartridge is far too long. The front of the cartridge hangs over the front receiver ring by about 1/2". In order to load the cartridges into the magazine box, you have to tuck them back "under" rear receiver ring, and push them into the box.

While researching C&H bolt action rifles on the Internet, I have found several pictures of identical rifles in 404 caliber, but none of them had the thumb cut. However, a C&H catalog picture of the rifle from the 1950's that I found, does show his feature, so it was not an after market alteration. (see below) You can see it if you look closely. The thumb cut is there in the receiver, but just as with my rifle, the wood of the stock is not cut away around it.

I was told that this rifle was shipped to an African Game Deptment, and I'm still looking for more information about this.

Think the P-14 was chambered for the .303 British during WWI. While the 1917 Enfield was chambered for the .30/06.

That's a beautiful old rifle and an awesome cartridge.
I have a BSA P14 in 404 Jeffery built by my late Brother 10 years ago for my 60th.
Originally bought as a 303 sporter in auction for $ 10 it took nearly three years for Brother to make the stock and do all the metalwork.
I wish that I had the ability to post pictures here because it is a really nice piece, albeit a bit heavy..

The thumb cut out will be for ease and speed of loading. A feature for a dangerous game rifle

Buckstick, That rifle caught my attention at the SCI convention a couple of years ago and I took a number of photographs of it. A number of rifle makers cut thumb slots in DG rifles and I did the same on my 458 MKX Mauser as it helps speed things up when you need to cram rounds down rapidly.

Hello 458Win,

Thanks for the reply.

Do you still have any ofthe pictures? I would enjoy seeing them. Do you recall what the asking price was back then?

Hello Bud Gills

Thanks for the reply.

Below, I have posted the pictures of your BSA rifle for you.

Many Thanks Buckstix, I appreciate your doing that for me....

Was the bolt modified to cock on open?

Hello Huntz,

Thanks for the reply.

No, the bolt was left "cock-on-close". I was told that many PH's liked the P-14's left that way because if you kept the rifle on your shoulder while working the bolt to chamber another round, it was much easier to "push" the bolt forward against the spring tension. Pushing "palm-forward" with the outstretched arm was a more natural action.

However, on rilfes modified to "cock-on-open" you would have your hand "palm-up" on the outstretched arm in an awkward lifting position trying to lift-up against the spring tension.

I have other P-14's modified to "cock-on-open" and I've tried it both ways. I found it true that it is much faster and easier to rapidly aim and work the action while keeping the rifle against your shoulder.

I suppose that this varient of a working rifle that found its way into the hands of Game Department shooters, was used for fast shooting when culling big game animals.