1917 Eddystone

LEOLT · Nov 24, 2013

I don't know about y'all, but few things bring a renewed smile and refresh the reason why we collect and shoot S&W's. Today I purchased a 1917 Eddystone Enfield at a local show. Why you ask would I be posting this, is because low and behold the inspectors mark is that of the one and only Elmer Keith at the Ogden arsenal in 1942 or so not real sure how long he was there. A near perfect specimen and a prize to behold. I like to recall all of the stories and development of the .44 and to own a few, but none finer than my 29 in blue 4 inch. Great history and and a great group to be associated with, IMHO.

gregintenn · Nov 24, 2013

You can't post something like that without pictures!!!! Sounds like a great score.

Jebus35745 · Nov 24, 2013

Nice catch, I know where one is but not sure on the price yet. Part of a collection comming out for sale. We need pics and some sort of a range report. If it shoots good, I may buy the local one. Larry

charlie sherrill · Nov 24, 2013

I've got an Eddystone dated 1918 in near mint condition. During WWI Springfield didn't have the capacity to make enough 1903's for our troops. Eddystone, Remington, and Winchester were already making Enfields for the Brits so it was easy to just change the caliber and make them for our guys. Our troops carried more of these than the 1903. They are very well mmade rifles and if you ever get a chance to get one jump on it.

zzzippper · Nov 24, 2013

I don't think the 1917 was still being produced in 1942, was it? Pretty sure it had been relegated to reserve status after WWI and the 03 was made standard. By 1942 the Garand had been standard for several years.

Ijust looked it up. The 1917 went out of production in 1919. Yours may be a depot rebuild/refurb to help ease the early weaon shortage. Still good history. If yours was rebarrelled you should check the receiver for cracks.

LEOLT · Nov 24, 2013

Thanks good information! This is a March 1918 original barrel with E markings. I need to find when Mr. Keith was at the arsenal and I apologize for the 1942 assumption as this was told to me, poor fact checking. It is marked with the circle P. ordinance eagle 339

mkk41 · Nov 24, 2013

Two good books on the much maligned and misunderstood 1917.

LVSteve · Nov 24, 2013

Many 1903s and 1917s went through Ogden for inspection and many carry Elmer Keith's mark.

Quite a few 1917s were rebarreled in the period before and after WWII. The snag with that is that some Eddystone rifles developed cracks in the receiver in this process. It is thought the original barrels were put on a bit tight by a machine and the process of getting them off caused problems. If we believe Wikipedia the new barrels used 4 or 2-groove rifling instead of the Enfield pattern 5-groove. If the rifle cocks on opening then it has been messed with and fitted with the accursed Dayton-Traister abomination.

zzzippper · Nov 24, 2013

mkk41 said:
Two good books on the much maligned and misunderstood 1917.

I agree, I prefer the 1917 to the 03. Bruce Canfield is also a good source which is where I got my info.

sigp220.45 · Nov 24, 2013

I love the poor 1917, too. This one lives above my fireplace:

zzzippper · Nov 24, 2013

According to Canfield replacement High Standard barrels have 4 groove RH twists and the Johnsons have two groove RH twists. Since the OP says he has a 1918 barrel it shouldn't matter.

LVSteve said:
Many 1903s and 1917s went through Ogden for inspection and many carry Elmer Keith's mark.

Quite a few 1917s were rebarreled in the period before and after WWII. The snag with that is that some Eddystone rifles developed cracks in the receiver in this process. It is thought the original barrels were put on a bit tight by a machine and the process of getting them off caused problems. If we believe Wikipedia the new barrels used 4 or 2-groove rifling instead of the Enfield pattern 5-groove. If the rifle cocks on opening then it has been messed with and fitted with the accursed Dayton-Traister abomination.

spad124 · Nov 24, 2013

My October 1918 Eddystone goes well with my S&W M1917. That's reason enough to own an Edddystone.

zzzippper · Nov 24, 2013

spad124 said:
My October 1918 Eddystone goes well with my S&W M1917. That's reason enough to own an Edddystone.

I'm still looking for a S&W 1917.

LVSteve · Nov 24, 2013

zzzippper said:
According to Canfield replacement High Standard barrels have 4 groove RH twists and the Johnsons have two groove RH twists. Since the OP says he has a 1918 barrel it shouldn't matter.

OP must have put that up while I was typing.

Cyrano · Nov 25, 2013

From experience: the original 5 groove, left hand twist rifling, in the enfield pattern, doesn't like boattail bullets. You'll get a lot better accuracy using flat basd bullets. As an example, my first 1917 came back from China. It had stood guard in the monsoon for many years, and had not a trace of oil anywhere on it. The barrel was really bad. I loaded some NATO 148 gr boattails, and they keyholed at 100 yds. One keyhole was so bad I could see the crimping cannelure in the ouline of the bullet hole. Flat based bullets shot a lot better, but that paticular barrel was beyond help, no matter what you shot in it.

My two 1917s both have their original barrels and they're in good condition; they still like flat based bullets better than boattails. The WWII replacement barrels don't share this peculiarity.

LouisianaJoe · Nov 25, 2013

I have an October 1918 Eddystone. The barrel is marked 9-18. It is my understanding the they started parkerizing them in 9/18. Mine is parkerized. Bore appears to have not been fired much.
Serial Number 116xxx

http://joesherrill.com/images/1917 Right 870.jpg

Click the image for a larger photo.

LEOLT · Nov 25, 2013

Pic's

kimporter · Nov 25, 2013

i was under the impression parkerizing was done on ww2 era rebuilds

kraigwy · Nov 25, 2013

If you have a M1917, you have to have a bayonet to go with it. Its the law.

bummer · Nov 25, 2013

I own a M1917 Eddystone that I use in our clubs military rifle matches, great shooter like it better than the 03/03a3's that I own. I believe 2 men had the same initials at Ogden and that you can tell by the periods after each letter

1917 Eddystone

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