Eddystone M1917 Sporter

[wilkersk]

I've got this Eddystone M1917 30-06 that was my father-in-law's. He's passed away, and I want to keep this rifle. It is a very nice shooting rifle, but it is looking a little ragged these days. The stock is very chewed up from years of deer hunting.

Since it is a sporter, I'm guessing it doesn't really have any value as a collectible, so I want to re-blue it and put a nice new wood stock on it.

Here's my question: Am I looking for a stock to fit an "Enfield Long Action"? I see ads for Enfield "long action" and "short action" So, I'm guessing "Short action" is the .303, while "long action" is the 30-06. Is that right?

 

[Bwana John]

If it still has its original rear sights and ears and front sight it is not too far gone, and can be set back up as a real M1917.

If the rear ears were ground off, Bubba away. You want the M1917 stock-NOT the Enfield.

Usually M1917 aftermarket stocks came with or without a "belly". The non-bellyed stock needed the magazine cut down and floorplate straitened.

 

[wilkersk]

If it still has its original rear sights and ears and front sight it is not too far gone, and can be set back up as a real M1917.

If the rear ears were ground off, Bubba away. You want the M1917 stock-NOT the Enfield.

Usually M1917 aftermarket stocks came with or without a "belly". The non-bellyed stock needed the magazine cut down and floorplate straitened.

Fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1917_Enfield
The M1917 Enfield, the "American Enfield" (frequently misidentified or mislabeled as the "P17", "P1917", or "Pattern 1917"), formally named "United States Rifle, cal .30, Model of 1917" was an American modification and production of the British .303 caliber P14 rifle developed and manufactured during the period 1917-1918.

OK, now I'm just confused!

Also, Google searches of "Model of 1917" will return "Eddystone Enflield" Frequently.

When I search the internet for replacement stock for M1917, I alway get "Enfield long action" and "Enfield Short Action". Thus, my original question.

Also, this rifle was sporterised with the rear "Dog Ears" ground off, the barrel shortened, and the whole thing reblued. Whoever did it did a very nice job.

 

[JESmith]

The M1917 was manufactured by three plants: Winchester, Remmington, and Eddystone (owned by Remmington). The actions are marked with the plant name and small parts were marked with a W, R, or E. You see the name "Eddystone" a lot because that plant produced about half the rifles, so they are the most common.

No Enfield stock will work unless it is specifically marked as a P14. The M1917 - P14 action is different than any other Enfield. What you are probably looking for is a Remmington model 30 stock. This is the sporterized version of the 1917 that Remington produced after the war. Many a 1917 was remade to look like one.

This is probably what you are looking for: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=131786937

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Here's my question: Am I looking for a stock to fit an "Enfield Long Action"? I see ads for Enfield "long action" and "short action" So, I'm guessing "Short action" is the .303, while "long action" is the 30-06. Is that right?

You want an M1917 Stock. If you question a particular stock's suitability, look at a picture of it. An Enfield has a separate buttstock. The M1917 has a one-piece stock like a Mauser or Springfield.

 

[rondog]

Can't the stock it has just be sanded and refinished?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That would certainly be my approach.

 

[dirtyjim]

both richards and great american gunstocks make sporter stocks to fit the 1917 action, richards stocks offers more american style sporter stocks & great american offers british and german style sporter stocks along with some american style patterns.

since your already going to have it reblued i would suggest having the receiver surface ground if the top of the receiver isn't perfectly concentric after the ears were ground off then having a set of custom bases made to the exact radius the receiver was ground to.
depending on how much you want to spend you could also look into a ed lapour win 70 style safety to replace the ugly factory safety and new bottom metal from sound metal products along with a new oberndorf style bolt handle.
you would end up with a very nice rifle and something to remember your late father-in-law.
you would not be bubba'ing away

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know if the P14 and 1917 actions are precisely alike externally, but they do not comprise "long" or "short" actions and I do not know what the stock ads are talking about. Both are what would be called long actions by modern standards.