New 1917's

[Mustang51]

I recently glommed two 1917's at separate auctions...a Winchester and a Remington.

The Winchester...



Auction description advised:

Condition: Very good with an excellent bore. Retains ca 50% original blue finish; very good wood with added gloss finish. Serial number 471495


The Remington...






Auction description advised:

Remington model 1917 30-06 great condition sn 434436

The Remington came with a weathered looking sling.

Better description and pics when they arrive.

 

[Adk Mike]

I'm a big fan of the 1917. I own two a Remington and an Eddystone. I only shoot cast in mine the are great shooters. Mike

 

[ball3006]

I have an Eddystone 1917. I also have two P14s, an Eddystone and a Remington. All are great shooters. The 1917 gets fed CMP 3006 ammo. I shoot Privi or handloads in the P14s. Love these rifles.....chris3

 

[wcoats]

I have a sportorized M1917, and like it a lot. (it was sportorized when I bought it, I would love to have one in it's original condition) should I not shoot modern ammo in it? It seems to shoot fine with the modern ammo I've tried, and seems to shoot 165 grain bullets best

 

[CmdrSlander]

The M1917 has an absurdly strong action. Modern ammo is more than fine. They have converted 1917's all the way to the belted magnum calibers.

 

[shuvelrider]

Does your Winnie contain all Winnie parts or a mix from Rem and Eddy, from what I read Win never shared parts on production for the war. But, during rebuild by the arsenals after the war, parts were mixed from gun to gun. Supposed to be a plus the more Win parts or all original for a Win example.
I have a Winnie that is probably 85% Win parts, fun to shoot.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Does your Winnie contain all Winnie parts or a mix from Rem and Eddy, from what I read Win never shared parts on production for the war. But, during rebuild by the arsenals after the war, parts were mixed from gun to gun. Supposed to be a plus the more Win parts or all original for a Win example.
I have a Winnie that is probably 85% Win parts, fun to shoot.

The M1917's did receive a mix of parts when they went through re-arsenal, just like the M1903's. I just picked up a Eddiestone San Antonio rebuild with a Johnson Automatics barrel. Got lucky, all E parts with exception of the nose cap, it's a W part. Barrel is like new and it shoots M2 ball like a dream.

 

[Mustang51]

Does your Winnie contain all Winnie parts or a mix from Rem and Eddy, from what I read Win never shared parts on production for the war. But, during rebuild by the arsenals after the war, parts were mixed from gun to gun. Supposed to be a plus the more Win parts or all original for a Win example.
I have a Winnie that is probably 85% Win parts, fun to shoot.

Not sure yet. When it arrives, I will give it a good going over and post better pics.

Like Madcrate posted, most of these went through the arsenal at some time or another and now have a mix of parts. I'm hoping it will have a good bore.

 

[Murphy4570]

I just got a M1917 Remington myself. Cool battle rifle, has better sights than my M1903, IMO. I can't wait to take it to the range.

Did Remington share parts between itself and its Eddystone facility? Mine has a couple parts marked with an E. Everything else is marked with an R.

 

[shuvelrider]

Rem and Eddy did share some parts, Eddy is actually part of the Rem company. Was set up to help handle the contracts that Rem took on for the war effort.

 

[surfinUSA]

Years ago I had the chance to by a sporterized M1917 for almost nothing. I wish I did, just didn't have the money at the time. I think these were some of the finest bolt action military rifles fielded.

Every now and then I think about looking for one.

 

[Murphy4570]

Rem and Eddy did share some parts, Eddy is actually part of the Rem company. Was set up to help handle the contracts that Rem took on for the war effort.

Thanks, that's about what I thought, as mine has no rearsenal proof stamped into the buttstock anywhere. The fact that it's got an original Remington barrel dated 2-18 made me think it was original too, as usually the barrel gets replaced during an arsenal refurbish.

I really like the battle sights this rifle has vs the M1903 Springfield sights, they are much simpler to use. The cock-on-closing bolt design is really cool too, barely need a finger to pop the bolt open, and slamming it closed is easy enough.

 

[henschman]

Nice... how much did you pay for those bad boys?

 

[madcratebuilder]

Starting prices on a unmodified M1917 normally start around $500, the Winchesters seem to bring a premium. More M1917's saw war1 service than did M1903's.

Most parts on a 1917 rifle will have a letter code which designates the factory that made the part. W= Winchester, R=Remington and E=Eddystone. You can also find ones with post WWI barrels made by High Standard (HS) or Johnson Automatics (JA). The vast majority of 1917's were rebuilt at some point in their lives and armorers made no attempt to keep the same letter-coded parts on a particular rifle so if you get an Eddystone for instance, don't be surprised to find R and/or W marked parts on it. Since most parts are plentiful, you can buy and trade parts with other owners in order to make yours more "correct".

The cock-on-closing bolt design is really cool too, barely need a finger to pop the bolt open, and slamming it closed is easy enough.

Yes, cock on closing. I have started a few different defecation storms on other sites when I claim the M1917 is cock on closing. The M1917 US Army manual uses the terms "half cocking cam" and "half cock notch" to identify two of the bolt areas. So some people believe that lifting the bolt "half cocks" the rifle. I disagree.

 

[Old Dog Man]

!917 Enfield

I have a friend that has a 1917, back in 64 I milled the rear sight down to take a 1pc. Redfiel base (wouldn't do that now) he's still shooting deer with it now. This is the funny part, he pores 4895 in a cigar box scoops the case full to the top and seat a 150gr. Hornady SP into the cannular ring and i've seen him shoot 3/4" groups. He calles it his fence post rifle. Loads with a Lee wham-bam die set. Al

 

[Murphy4570]

Yes, cock on closing. I have started a few different defecation storms on other sites when I claim the M1917 is cock on closing. The M1917 US Army manual uses the terms "half cocking cam" and "half cock notch" to identify two of the bolt areas. So some people believe that lifting the bolt "half cocks" the rifle. I disagree.

I have noticed what you are describing. When you rotate the bolt to the unlocked position, the bolt does indeed seem to pop the firing pin assembly back a little bit. If you lock it again, the assembly goes back to full uncocked though. I think it is just a small camming action that retracts the firing pin just a little bit. For what reason, I do not know.

I guess folks at those other sites aren't familiar with English firearms, huh? The British swore by the cock-on-closing mechanism. They felt it allowed the shooter to work the bolt much faster than the cock-on-opening design. Judging from their training of their soldiers in the "mad minute", with some soldiers getting off quite a number of aimed shots, I'd say they were right.

The price for the M1917 is about the same as the M1903. American rifles are doggone expensive.