Anybody buy a M1917 Enfield from CMP?

[Grayfox]

I got an e-mail today from CMP. They have some M1917 Enfield Rifles in stock and for sale. Service Grade is $1100 and Field Grade is $1000
I've purchased M1 Garands, Carbines and 1911s from CMP and always been happy with them. Just not sure if I want to branch out into the bolt actions or not.
Has anybody here ever ordered a M1917 from CMP? How did you like it? What was its condition? How did it shoot? Are they worth it? General opinions? Pictures?

 

[Ματθιας]

Get one while you can.

 

[jaymoore]

Just don't be surprised if the headspace appears to be on the long side. The locking lugs are on an inclined plane rather than being the usual 90 degrees to the bore axis. A great feature when you are in the trenches (about 100 to 1 camming leverage!), but it makes uninformed gunsmiths nervous.

Reference: The Bolt Action: A Design Analysis, by Stuart Otteson.

BTW: I bought my first M1917 circa 1980ish! Still have it.

ETA2: A work buddy bought one a few weeks ago during one of his excursions to the CMP South store. He found it quite satisfactory.

 

[murphydog]

I have not, they were last offered several years ago and this must be a different batch, so it would be hard to compare.

 

[Grayfox]

According to the description, these were ceremonial rifles returned from various Veteran's organizations and generally received in poor condition. I know CMP examines them and certifies them as safe to fire, but I'm a bit concerned as to overall condition. I'd hate to shell out $1K for a beat up, ugly rifle.
IDK, I'm thinking this may be something I'd rather see in person before buying.
Oh well, saw the e-mail, got curious, itch now scratched.

 

[LVSteve]

Just don't be surprised if the headspace appears to be on the long side. The locking lugs are on an inclined plane rather than being the usual 90 degrees to the bore axis. A great feature when you are in the trenches (about 100 to 1 camming leverage!), but it makes uninformed gunsmiths nervous.

Reference: The Bolt Action: A Design Analysis, by Stuart Otteson.

BTW: I bought my first M1917 circa 1980ish! Still have it.

ETA2: A work buddy bought one a few weeks ago during one of his excursions to the CMP South store. He found it quite satisfactory.

That's curious. I have never experienced an odd effects checking headspace on my M1917 and P14s.

 

[AJ]

Nothing wrong with the 1917. Good rifle. Remington thought enough of it they sheared off the "Ears" and called it the Model 30..........

CMP has it and you want it, do not drag your feet!

 

[erikpolcrack]

Until recently, I've kept a pretty close eye on US Milsurp prices on line and at the auction sites. You ought to be getting a first class M1917 for $1000. If you look around, you might find a nicer example for less money. CMP prices have gone through the roof since I paid less than $300 for a fine M-1 twenty years ago.

 

[target tech]

The CMP isn’t doing anyone any favors. You can still find decent 1917s at shows for 700 or 800 dollars. When you find guys who actually want to sell the stuff they bring to a show.

 

[AJ]

The CMP isn’t doing anyone any favors. You can still find decent 1917s at shows for 700 or 800 dollars. When you find guys who actually want to sell the stuff they bring to a show.

CMP is not the old DCM. CMP is in this to make money. However, have seen many folks buy from CMP over the years and resell immediately resell for a profit. Have been buying rifles in western Pa. for years and as in anywhere else the prices have been going up. The first 1917 that I bought was in a small gun shop (no longer there) in Connaught for $300, a real nice Winchester. Garands usually go for well over $1K+ at auction in Cory, Pa. If you get a motivated seller (who needs quick funds) you may get one cheaper. I you get a savvy seller (who has done his homework and priced on-line prices) you will pay more. At least with CMP you get what they say they are as to the quality. Some folks can pick those out and some can't.

 

[cgt4570]

Can't speak to the 1917's, but I picked out my M1, M1 Carbine and Kimber .22 at the south store back when I lived 2 hours away. At that time, I felt like they under graded them a little. My rack grade Garand had rough wood, but excellent metal parts. I put it in a CMP repro stock set.

 

[Patrick L]

CMP is not the old DCM. CMP is in this to make money.

In spite of this, I always felt you got a fair shake from the CMP. CMP basically grades by muzzle wear and throat erosion. It is what it is. And while they do operate to make a profit, it is a profit that keeps them going AND keeps them funding junior programs. They don't gouge you.

I have a much bigger problem with the clown dealers selling rifles for 3x what CMP sells them for, often flat out lying about their condition and provenance. My absolute favorites are the ones who can "prove" they have Omar Bradley's personal M1 carbine etc. with all matching parts! A milsurp with matching parts almost certainly means Bubba the sleazy dealer has spent some time on the various parts websites. I hate them all!

 

[AJ]

In spite of this, I always felt you got a fair shake from the CMP. CMP basically grades by muzzle wear and throat erosion. It is what it is. And while they do operate to make a profit, it is a profit that keeps them going AND keeps them funding junior programs. They don't gouge you.

I have a much bigger problem with the clown dealers selling rifles for 3x what CMP sells them for, often flat out lying about their condition and provenance. My absolute favorites are the ones who can "prove" they have Omar Bradley's personal M1 carbine etc. with all matching parts! A milsurp with matching parts almost certainly means Bubba the sleazy dealer has spent some time on the various parts websites. I hate them all!

Never said that CMP was not the best deal in town. Just that they were in it to make money, whereas the old DCM was not.

The clown dealers were helped along by CMP allowing them to buy as many as eight M1 Garands a year to be resold to those who could not buy from CMP or did not know about CMP. When they had heavy barreled .22 LR target rifles for sale you could buy quite a few. The USMC Remington 40X's were selling for 2 1/2 times what the CMP price was ($600). The others about 2X.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

My grandfather bought his 1917 Winchester for $11, shortly after WWII. It doesn't look like a military rifle no more.

John

 

[murphydog]

The CMP states that they sell their inventory at market value. From this they obviously make a profit, but as noted above this funds their marksmanship and training programs, and I doubt anyone employed by them are living the high life on their salaries.

 

[Engine49guy]

The P17 is a great rifle, found mine locally private sale for around $400 , after using it I sold off my 1903.
Mine is an Eddystone, had a Winchester as well that my buddy talked me out of then traded for some piece of fluff...( insert angry emoji)

For those that have never owned one the cool things about the 1917 are it has a much better sighting system with the rear flip up ladder mounted on the receiver, the front has two robust dog ears that protect the fs post.
The action cocks on closing like the SMLE but the bolt looks more like the Mauser design.

Another interesting tidbit is that the long bayonet for the 1917 also fits the Winchester 98 "Trench broom" shotgun.

 

[22shtur]

The CMP states that they sell their inventory at market value. From this they obviously make a profit, but as noted above this funds their marksmanship and training programs, and I doubt anyone employed by them are living the high life on their salaries.

The CMP has been funded again by congress for a few years now. The upper management is doing well.

 

[inspcalahan]

I got one of the Service grade offerings last month. Headspace and everything checks out really nice, minty bore and no bent or really worn pieces. The stock has seen a lot of oil and is pretty dark, perhaps it'll clean up a bit.


The box in shipping took a good hit - it's a large cardboard box with the rifle sandwiched between two egg shell foam pieces - put another fresh ding in the stock.

I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet and likely won't for a few weeks. I've wanted one for years and figured a CMP gun would at least be cool because it came from the Gov't stores, to go along with my Garands and 1911A1.


I'm honestly underwhelmed. Glad I finally have one but probably wouldn't go this route again.