Markings on the L.L. 1917s to Russia?

[rifles4me]

were the M1917s that we sent to Russia under lend / lease marked in any way? Also, were any of them returned?

[Johnny P]

Were any Lend-Leased to Russia? 119,00 were L-L'd to the British, and over 152,000 to the Chinese.

[rifles4me]

Were any Lend-Leased to Russia? 119,00 were L-L'd to the British, and over 152,000 to the Chinese.

yes, we sent some but I haven't been able to get any detailed information and have been searching for roughly 10 years. I did read that the majority of them were the early star winchesters that were pulled from service due to the inability to swaps parts but I can not confirm that either.

[rifles4me]

There was a short mentioning of them being sent to Russia in the "For collectors only" book about the Model of 1917 & pattern 1914 rifles and I also seen a 2 second clip of them being handed out to soldiers on a youtube video. that is all of the information I have found to date.

[rifles4me]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGW9a...has_verified=1 this video shows Pattern 1914s some may be 1917s but at 0:11 you can see unit discs on the stocks and at 0:12 you can see the volley sights which were common with British rifles. perhaps we only sent the pattern 1914s that were surplussed after the No.1 Mk3 production numbers were met and P14's were no longer sent to the Brits.

[twh]

I cannot view the video you reference but my guess would be its the one I have seen where a group of partisans are being handed rifles and a hand full of shells off the back of a truck. If this is the video the rifles are British P-14's that it has been assumed were swept up in the takeover of the Baltic states. I believe after WWI Estonia and maybe Latvia were resupplied with British surplus. I do not beleive I have ever seen any reference to Russia receiving any lend lease model 1917's. They did receive some US arms when they received tanks and half tracks as they were supplied complete with there standard compliment of small arms.

[rifles4me]

I cannot view the video you reference but my guess would be its the one I have seen where a group of partisans are being handed rifles and a hand full of shells off the back of a truck. If this is the video the rifles are British P-14's that it has been assumed were swept up in the takeover of the Baltic states. I believe after WWI Estonia and maybe Latvia were resupplied with British surplus. I do not beleive I have ever seen any reference to Russia receiving any lend lease model 1917's. They did receive some US arms when they received tanks and half tracks as they were supplied complete with there standard compliment of small arms.

yes sir, that is the video.