1917 Winchester enfield sporter for 275$ humm ;/

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The stock appears to be one of the "Rollover" cheek-piece styles sold by Herters back in the '50-60s. They were offered in semi-finished, semi-inletted do-it-yourself form and widely used by amateur kitchen table gunsmiths to "sporterize" surplus military rifles. White line spacers and angled foreend tip were popular at that time due to the "Weatherby influence" and supplied by Herters. M-1917 Enfield rifles were cheap and easily available then and widely used for amateur sporterizing projects. Typically, if the rifles were converted by professional gunsmiths or knowledgeable amateurs, the "dogleg" bolt handle would be straightened to a more graceful shape and the cock-on closing wold be converted to cock-on opening. Also there would be some checkering to take off the plainness and add a more professional touch. Your rifle has been improved by straightening the bottom metal and removing original rear sight "ears" plus installing good front and real sights. Those Enfields were, and are, fine rifles and good shooters.
 
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I have my grandfather's, which has a similar (but not as pretty) sporter stock on it. In the early 2000s, my dad wanted to scope it, so I found a no-drill-no-tap mount for it. We removed the rear sight slider and screwed it in and put a 3-9 on it. When my dad died, I took it and tried to really zero it, (he was always satisfied with 'minute-of-milk-jug' accuracy,) and I couldn't make it work. I pulled the scope off and gave it to my sister for her .243, and I intend to restore it to as-issued condition.
 
Yeah, everything but the cheekpiece would be something I'd like, too. To hunt, I'd be wanting the most open aperture disk available, and an ivory-ish front bead which last I knew can still be found.
 
I like *period* modded or repaired guns.
I'd need to know the bore condition from chamber to muzzle.

I'd dig it MUCH more with express or safari sights and would also rather it were already ready for a scope.

In the end, it's kinda cool but..... caveat emptor!

Todd.
 
I've picked up two of these faux Model 30's over the years, one scoped.
I really like carefully sporterized milsurps from the early to mid twentieth century - I consider them to be at least as historic as their unmodified brothers, as they kept right on serving their owners long after their pristine brothers were consigned to a warehouse.
 
I've picked up two of these faux Model 30's over the years, one scoped.
I really like carefully sporterized milsurps from the early to mid twentieth century - I consider them to be at least as historic as their unmodified brothers, as they kept right on serving their owners long after their pristine brothers were consigned to a warehouse.
I've developed a particular fondness for the ones which closely followed NRA/DCM pamphlets, booklets and suggestions from back in the day. I used to collect that period documentation for handguns and long guns but then another collector bought me out of it for research. Should have made copies, dammit!

Armorer's repairs, theater modifications and truly custom, period sporterization will always get my attention.

Todd.
 
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Something to find out before buying: who made it, Winchester, Remington or Eddystone? The reason is, some of the early manufactured receivers were over temped during heat treating and were made brittle. Serial numbers off potentially effected guns can be found on the internet. Both Remington and Winchester made guns should be good to go.
 
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