WWI British Contract Remington Model 14 1/2 .44-40 22” Pump Rifle 1916 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,225.00
LSB#: 241207AA268
Make: Remington
Model: 14 1/2
Serial Number: 46915
Year of Manufacture: 1916
Caliber: .44 Rem or .44-40 W.C.F.
Action Type: Pump Action, Takedown Rifle with Full Length 11rd Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “REMINGTON ARMS–UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO., / REMINGTON WORKS, ILION, N.Y. U.S.A. PEDERSEN’S PATS / OCT. 12. 09.JUL.5.10NOV.19, 12”. The bottom tang is marked “REMINGTON / UMC / TRADE MARK / 44 REM. OR 44 W.C.F.”. The left of the barrel is marked “Remington / TRADE MARK”. There is a brass plate on the left side of the frame that is marked “REM-UMC”, “44 REM” with an underscored “U” in the center. The left side of the frame above the brass plate is marked with a rack number “D 705”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with “C / 46915”. The right side of the chamber is marked with a Remington Proof as well as a Dominion of Canada Proof.
Barrel Length: 22”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is beaded blade dovetailed and set screwed to the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch dovetailed to the barrel with an elevation wheel.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with round grooved slide handle, smooth semi-pistol grip, straight comb, and Remington checkered steel buttplate. The LOP measures 13 1/2” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There is a loss on the comb at the buttplate as well as the edge of the toe. There are scratches, compressions, and nicks. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is faint intermittent erosion throughout the grooves. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its finish. The balance of the finish shows general operation wear with finish loss on the magtube with intermittent oxidation. The screwheads are sharp with faint tool marks. There is thinning on the leading edges as well as scratches and nicks. There are pinprick pitting on top of the receiver. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The British Contract Remington Model 14 1/2 in .44 Remington (.44-40 Winchester) is a scarce and historically significant variation of Remington’s pump-action rifle, ordered by Britain during World War I to supplement a severe shortage of small arms. In April 1915, the British Admiralty procured 4,000 of these rifles, issuing them primarily to miscellaneous craft and the Royal Naval Air Service (R.N.A.S.). The selection of .44-40 Winchester as the chambering was a direct result of Britain’s previous purchase of 20,000 Winchester Model 1892 rifles in the same caliber. Due to Britain’s urgent need for arms, the British Admiralty and Royal Navy Command reached out to Winchester through purchasing agents at J.P. Morgan and the Canadian Minister of Militia, Sam Hughes, who agreed to send Canadian small arms inspectors to Winchester’s factory to process these lever-action rifles. The Canadian Master General of Ordnance was tasked with selecting the most suitable rifle options for the Winchester-produced .44-40 cartridges, which did not violate the Hague Convention’s restrictions on jacketed or split-jacketed ammunition, as the bullets had no jacket at all.
With the .44-40 cartridge already in British use, Canadian inspectors already in America, and small arms still in short supply, the Admiralty continued searching for additional rifles that could be quickly procured. This led to the selection of the Remington Model 14 1/2, a pump-action rifle chambered in the same cartridge, ensuring ammunition compatibility with the Winchester 1892s already in service. However, most of these rifles saw little to no actual combat use, as Britain soon acquired more suitable arms to fulfill their needs. After the war, many were swiftly ejected from service, and by 1925, A. Fleming & Co. listed 3,420 for sale as surplus. Unlike later Model 14 1/2 rifles with spiral tubular magazines, these early British contract versions retained the original full-length straight magazine tube. Some examples were marked with rack numbers on the frame, and all were stamped with a Dominion of Canada Proof on the barrel, indicating inspection and acceptance. Due to their limited numbers, unique military history, and connection to the broader British and Canadian wartime arms procurement efforts, surviving examples of these rifles are highly collectible today, especially those retaining their original markings and finishes. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.
