This Pattern 1914 rifle was made as a contract rifle for the British during World War I.
The primary contractor (Vickers) was unable to produce more than a handful of rifles, so the P14 became a de facto afterthought.
As the UK had an urgent need for rifles, and contracts for the new rifle were placed with arms companies in the United States. T
hey decided to ask these companies to produce the new rifle design in the old .303 caliber for convenience of supply. The new rifle was termed the “Pattern 14”.
In the case of the P14 rifle, Winchester and Remington were selected.
A third manufacturer, Eddystone Arsenal – a subsidiary of Remington – was tooled up at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Thus, three variations of the P14 and M1917 exist, labeled “Winchester,” “Remington” and “Eddystone”.”
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