Gramps comes through

[cluttonfred]

Living overseas and working in a career the entails frequent international moves, I realized not long ago that my passion for collecting historical firearms was passing me by and the guns that really interest me from the WWI-WWII period were becoming further and further out of reach back home in the USA.

So, a couple of months ago I asked my WWII PBY Catalina pilot grandfather, 88 and counting, to keep an eye out for what he could find as my "agent." He knows what I like, since I basically learned most of what I know from him. I just got this e-mail relayed through my grandmother since she's the one who can use the computer.

Dear Matt,
I have purchased for you a 1917 Eddystone 30-06 in very good condition for $550.00.
Will hold for shipping. Send check when you can.
Gramps

Sorry for the tease, no pics yet, but I wanted to share. I love my Gramps!

PS--In the meantime here is a nice Box o' Truth article with pics if anyone doesn't know what the Model of 1917 looks like.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Gotta love 1917s - and good grandpas!

 

[cluttonfred]

Gramps comes through - Pics of my new M1917!

Well, these pics were taken by my mother who -- while a crack shot with a .22 -- is neither a gun buff nor a great photographer.

Still, my new rifle does exist and at least the sling question has been answered as this one appears to have something like a M1917 Kerr No-Buckle sling already installed.

Pics can be deceiving, but that color looks Parkerized and not blued to me, which likely makes this a WWII-era armory-refurbished model, maybe with the improved extractor as well.

Anyone have any other thoughts based on these pics?

Cheers,

Matthew

 

[DMK]

Nice find! That would fit in very nicely with my 1903s and Garand.

 

[cluttonfred]

I found this excerpt from An American Rifleman Report: Military Rifles which says:

The greatest fault of this rifle, and also of the Pattern 14, is rather frequent ejector spring breakage. Other than this, Enfield rifles are noted for their great durability and ruggedness. During World War II U.S. Army Ordnance developed an improved Enfield ejector spring which overcame the breakage problem.

Does anybody know how to tell whether the ejector spring is the original or the improved one?

Thanks!

 

[Chipperman]

Does anybody know how to tell whether the ejector spring is the original or the improved one?

If it breaks, it's the old one.



Sorry, no idea. I'd be interested in the answer as well.

 

[cluttonfred]

Nevermind, found it...

Original:
http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=412560-02&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

Improved:
http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=412570B&chrSuperSKU=412570&MC=

 

[Chipperman]

Hmmm, Interesting.
I'll have to check mine.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like shooting the 1917. I don't have one in original condition but I do have one that was sported out by the previous owner. It's not as nice as yours but it is a great shooter! I'm sure you will enjoy the one your Grandpa found for you...

 

[cluttonfred]

As sporters go, that's a very nice one, I must admit. Have you had any ejector issues, and does yours have the original one with integral leaf spring or the later one with a separate coil spring?

 

[rdoggsilva]

Congrat on your new M1917, they are great shooters, when sighted in. I got mine in 1964 (paid $25 for it). While in the service my nit-wit cos bubbaed the stock (could have killed him for that). Luckily he did not mess with the sights. I am now looking for stock, hand guards and hardware. The rifle is a hodgepodge of parts so not too worried about who made stock. Just get it back to mil-speck. She is right on and sofar have had no problem with the ejector.

 

[cluttonfred]

rdoggsilva, I see that Numrich has refurbished M1917 stocks (formerly painted white as drill rifles). I don't know of any other sources.

Cheers.

 

[Bwana John]

Does anybody know how to tell whether the ejector spring is the original or the improved one?

If its a coil spring its a replacement for sure.

I think there were leaf spring replacements in the early days.

 

[Full Clip]

I replaced the ejector on mine with the leaf version (and bought two since that's a spare part worth having). Easy fix, works great.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As sporters go, that's a very nice one, I must admit. Have you had any ejector issues, and does yours have the original one with integral leaf spring or the later one with a separate coil spring?

Owlnmole,
I've had no ejector issues at all. This rifle still has the original leaf spring setup. The rifle has also been modified so that you can close the bolt even when empty. Also, one more thing about this rifle, it's actually a Winchester 1917, not an Eddystone and has an original Winchester barrel which is in outstanding condition. In any event, I would still like to have one like yours since I've recently developed a taste for certain WWI and WWII US battle rifles. I'm hoping to find an affordable 1903A3, a 1917 Enfield, an M1 Garand, a M1 Carbine and a M14. (the key word there is affordable)

 

[rdoggsilva]

Owlnmole; Thanks just fired off a order.

 

[cluttonfred]

rdoggsilva, that's great, let us know how the stock, and your project, turn out. I assume you mean that you ordered a stock from Numrich?

ArchAngelCD, I hope you know that a true M-14 is selective-fire and therefore very restricted and anything but "affordable." A commercial semi-auto version like a Springfield Armory M1A Standard will run around $1400 or so, new, so better, but still a little rich for my blood. Good luck, nonetheless!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I know you can't really buy a M14 but I use that number because most of the time when I write M1A a lot of the readers don't know what I'm talking about. I also know finding a M1A that I can afford is just a dream on my part. I'm over 50 but until a few years ago I lived where you couldn't own guns. (NY City ) If I were living in PA all my life I would have all the guns I listed and would have bought them for pennies on the dollar compared to today's prices.