1917 Eddystone Enfield Barrel Question?

[varmintsunlimited]

Can anyone tell me to locate a barrel for my grandfathers P-17 1917 Eddystone Enfield Rifle? The barrel currently on the rifle is heavily pitted and rusted. I have tried gunbroker, and several surplus parts sellers and have had no luck to date. Would really appreciate any help here!!

 

[Chawbaccer]

check with Pac Nor. http://www.pac-nor.com/prefit/
Can be a bit pricy. How does the original barrel shoot, even with the pits?

 

[varmintsunlimited]

I called them earlier today and they were going to charge me $550.00 for the re-barreling plus shipping back and forth. Does anyone have any other less costly recommendations?

 

[Chawbaccer]

Numerich has them cheaper, but you will need to have the extractor and sight cuts done as well as installing it. Check locally for what this will cost. It is unlikely you will find a take off because most of them are ruined in removing.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=595130&catid=11889

 

[dfariswheel]

Your first decision is whether you want an original USGI barrel or a modern replacement.

If you want a USGI original, that's going to be tough to find in good condition and expensive. Most of the good surplus barrels are long since bought and used.
A used barrel may be in no better shape than the one you have.

For a modern barrel, you can buy semi-finished commercial profile barrels or a barrel blank and have a good gunsmith turn it on a lathe to the GI profile.

The Gun Parts Corporation modern replacement is already turned to the GI contour. All it needs is to be fitted to the action and be finished on the outside.

WARNING: Re-barreling, especially a 1917 is NOT a job for the corner gun tinkerer. You need a real gunsmith who knows his stuff and has a 1917 Enfield action wrench, as well as the necessary head space gages and barrel vise setup.

 

[Jim Watson]

A Shaw barrel would cost less but you would likely have to change the barrel channel in the foreend, they do not duplicate existing barrel contours.
http://www.ershawbarrels.com/pricelist/pricelist.asp

 

[Jim K]

Note that Eddystone barrels were installed with machinery and some are very tight. When the barrel is not going to be salvaged, the gunsmith should make a relief cut just ahead of the receiver to prevent receiver cracking when the old barrel is removed.

That is just one reason why I second Dfariswheel's comment about the "corner gun tinkerer."

The factory made the extractor cut before installing the barrel by using a special gauge that made a "witness mark" or draw line to use as a reference point. Since the gunsmith doesn't have that tool, he has to install the barrel, mark it for the cut, then remove it, make the cut and reinstall. That takes time and raises the cost, but there is no other way to do it.

Jim