kinda off topic- M1917 Enfield

[bigcatonhd]

My half brother just dropped of a M1917 Eddystone marked rifle to go toward his debt. It's been in the family for years and I'd forgotten about it. I know absolutely nothing about military rifles. I gathered some info from the web but decided you guys and gals were more knowledgeable. I'm not looking for a value since I know that's too subjective but rather 1. is it collectable? 2. are they shootable (the bore is bright with distinct rifling)? 3. are they safe with modern ammo? 4. it's not marked but were all M1917 .30-06? 5. anything to look for that would make it more collectable? I'm certainly no collector but might look to trade itr toward something else. Thanks in advance!!

 

[sureshotbob]

Bigcat the answer to all your question's is yes !!! The Eddystone's are the least valuable then Remington's with Winchester's being the most valuable.. The Eddystone should have the letter E stamped on the bolt ,stock and some of the smaller part's. Also Eddystone's have a bad reputation of the receiver's cracking were the bbl. screw's in. I'd say value is in the $450.00- $750.00 range.

 

[Tony C.]

Before I shoot the rifle, I would take the barreled action out of the stock and check for crack under the receiver, as the previous poster said its a common problem with this model of Enfield 1917 thats why its the least valuable version.

If the receiver looks OK, it should be safe to shoot.

Tony

 

[Steave]

Regarding value and if it is collectible, it will depend on condition, and it is original and unaltered. Yes, a nice, original 1917 Enfield will have some collector value, one that has been sporterized or a victim of bubba gunsmithing will have very little value.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Model 1917-.30/06 caliber
Model 1914- .303 British caliber
Basically the two are the same except caliber.
Jimmy

 

[MR .44 Spl]

My half brother just dropped of a M1917 Eddystone marked rifle to go toward his debt. It's been in the family for years and I'd forgotten about it. I know absolutely nothing about military rifles. I gathered some info from the web but decided you guys and gals were more knowledgeable. I'm not looking for a value since I know that's too subjective but rather 1. is it collectable? 2. are they shootable (the bore is bright with distinct rifling)? 3. are they safe with modern ammo? 4. it's not marked but were all M1917 .30-06? 5. anything to look for that would make it more collectable? I'm certainly no collector but might look to trade itr toward something else. Thanks in advance!!

1.) Somewhat, although there are a lot of them out there.
2.) Absolutely
3.) Should be, but check for a cracked receiver as mentioned. This was primarily a problem with receivers that had been rebarelled.
4.) All 1917's were originally made in .30-06. However, because of the strength of the action, they are often found rechambered in any of a number of cartridges. Check to be sure.
5.) If its in original shape is the big thing. Even an Eddystone with the original finish and all "E" marked parts would be very desirable to a collector.

 

[bigcatonhd]

thanks for the replies. It seems to be original, at least to the point that it hasn't been altered or butchered. I found several pdf manuals online so I'll take the action out of the stock and check for cracks as advised. After looking at it a little more tonight it really is in pristine condition as far as the metal and furniture. Absolutely zero rust or pitting.

 

[bmcgilvray]

They're both collectible and shootable. The '17 Enfield used to be the red headed step-child of U.S. military small arms collecting but now has a degree of respect and is priced accordingly these days.

Which manufacturer made your new acquisition? Did you happen to notice the month and year marking on the top of the barrel just behind the front sight?

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

It is not a Springfield '03, but would be very collectible. Modern ammo would be a good question for a gunsmith. Low pressure varieties of most common calibers are available.

 

[s&wchad]

The vast majority of US Model 1917 Rifles were arsenal rebuilt. An original gun is quite a find. Virtually all of the parts down to the bands and swivels were marked. An original stock would have an "E" stamped on the nose (under the barrel on the front) and small eagle head inspector stamps in front of the floorplate and behind the trigger guard.
This one is a WWII rebuild of an Eddystone with a Johnson Automatics two groove barrel, a contract stock and a mixture of parts, but it appears unfired since.

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

 

[bigcatonhd]

Okay guys...I checked for the markings as instructed. On the top of the barrel behind the front sight it's marked with the "E" and 6-18. There are also a lot of flaming bombs stamped into the action and on the bolt handle etc. I'm waiting on a good rainy day to remove the furniture and check for the cracked action etc. It's kind of growing on me but I'd still rather have the money my brother owes me.

 

[2152hq]

June of 1918, Eddystone barrel, most likely the original to the rifle. The original finish on those rifles was a blued finish. Most were refurbished between the wars and received a Parkerized refinishing,,but not all.
The bolts were not serial numbered to the rifles. They are marked like the rest of the parts with the mfg letter,,'E' in this instance. Usually on the underside of the handle.

A few 1917's that have a serial numbered bolt had the numbering done by the Brit's when many of these went there in the WW2 LendLease program. They saw a need to # the bolt and also mark the 30-06 caliber 1917's with a red stripe around the stock to make them identifiable quickly from the nearly identicle looking P14's in 303British caliber they already had in some number.

A few 1917's have bolts marked 'USMC'. The usual story given the buyer is that the rifle is a special run for the US Marines, but in fact the bolt body is a subcontracted mfg by the 'United Shoe Machinery Corp. They were a big defense contractor then and in WW2.

Alot of the small parts, like the sight parts & bolt stop/release are marked with the mfg letter in a way that can be seen w/o any disassembly.

An original finish WW1 1917 in nice shape is into the $500+ in the Eddystone version. Add for Remington and Winchester.
Remingtons seem to be the best finished, but Winchester gets the most money usually.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I have a personal view that the "cracked receiver" reputation of the Eddystone receivers is a bit overblown. I've read that it's exaggerated, only a problem with a small batch of receivers, and also that the receivers typically didn't crack until the original barrel was removed. I've no personal experience with this though. A person so minded could research it for himself.

A happy accident. I checked this '17 Enfield manufactured 9-18 by Eddystone by using "The Collector's Field Guide Series: Volume Five, P-17 The American Enfield." This rifle is apparently all original with appropriate characteristics including all proper markings and no additional rebuild markings. Never took the rifle all that seriously until acquiring the book and researching it. Bought this '17 Enfield in the mid-1970s for $75 at a time when the rifles weren't considered valuable enough for "restoring" to original configuration.

It was over 100F when the photo was taken so the stock was "sweating" some oil.

I would love to have some additional reference works specific to the M1917 rifles if anyone can make a recommendation.

 

[bigcatonhd]

You folks are great! The more I find out about this rifle the more I like it. Everything I've checked seems to have the "E" stamped in it so from what you're saying this might be an example that hasn't been arsenal rebuilt. The finish is remarkable, the stock is sound and the bore is in great shape. The monetary value isn't that important since I don't plan on selling it but more the historic value. This is all I need...a new addiction...military rifles. My wife's gonna kill me.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Eddystone, Remington, and Winchester had already been making these for the Brits in 3-03 for WWI. When the US entered the war Springfield couldn't make enough 03's in 30-06 to properly supply all the troops so the three above mentioned companies (actually I think Eddystone was owned by Remington) started making them in 30-06. They made more of these rifles in 30-06 than Springfield could make, thus more of them saw use. You hardly ever see them in the old WWI movies. I've had them all at one time or the other and the only one I have left is the Eddystone. It's all correct and darn near mint. (I've shot it some) Most of them that I've seen sold lately go for $500 to $750, with a nice Winchester bringing the most money. Most are like other military rifles and have mixed parts and are arsenal refinished. CMP had some recently but the ones I saw were not in very good shape.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Here's mine. Sporterized by a pro, deep blueing, accurate.

Among the strongest of actions and the basis for magnum conversions!

Heavier than a sack of bricks, so I probably won't hump it around too often. Mine's still in 06.

Made in June of 1918 according to the s/n.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I shot the M1917 in a few high power matches. Though I began high power shooting with the 1903-A3 Springfield, the '17 was a different breed and would take some getting used to with it's cock on closing bolt and longer bolt through. It was perfectly accurate and speedy enough for rapid fire with stripper clips.

Here's a P-'14 Enfield that's been sporterized. It would have appeared identical to the M1917 except for differently styled grasping grooves on the fore end. This one was sent to P. O. Ackley in the 1950s, rechambered to .303 ICL Improved and restocked in cherrywood. The .303 ICL Improved amounts to a ".31-06" in performance.

.303 British and reformed ICL Improved case.

 

[jdlii]

I bought mine, an Eddystone in "as issued" condition, when I was still in college. I was driving a Coca Cola ("Coke") route during the summer and paid about $100.00. This was in 1976.

The rifle remained "unfired" until a couple of months ago. A friend of mine, who I shoot high power with, and I took all of our .30 caliber rifles out to the range to see if we could shoot up a can of G.I. ball ammo. The ammo was Lake City with a production date of 1967 in Garand clips and bandoliers.

The rifles that I took were all in original condition. A 1903 Springfield with a 36' barrel date, a Remington 03A3 with a 44' barrel date, a Springfield M1 with a 56' barrel date and the 1917 with a 1918 barrel date.

We set up on the 200 yard line and shot the standard 200 yard target. All of the rifles performed very wll with the bolt action rifles holding the 9 and 10 ring. The Garand held the black, as well but, the 1917 turned in a great performance.

I was shooting from the sitting, crossed leg position, wearing my heavy leather Creedmoor Shooting jacket and "slinged up". The shots were fired, slow fire, one at a time and I scoped each shot with the spotting scope. After a couple of sighters, I shot a ten (10) shot string. The Eddystone turned in a score of 97-4x. The last five (5) shots were as follows: 10, 10, 10, X and X. The last shot blew the spindle out of the 2 inch spotter in the X ring. So, if you do your part the 1917 will certainly do its part. If your rifle is like mine, you will have to readjust the rear ladder sight to the "upward" position after each shot. It has a tendancy to lean forward after each shot.

According to some of the material that I have read, more U.S. Troops went to war in 1917 with the Enfield and the Canadian Ross rifle than any other. The A&E channel had a really good show on a few years ago about the Lost Batallion. They were armed with the Enfields and gave a good account of themselves.

While the Enfield was orginally issued to Alvin C. York's All American Division (now the 82nd A.B.) he "requisitioned" a 1903 for his personal use and exploits for which he was awarded the C.M.H.. His son was interviewed about the "controversy" regarding which rifle his dad had used during the Great War. He recounted the story that his Dad had told him about acquiring the 03' and confirmed the rifle used by Sgt. York. So, the statute on the grounds of the state capital, showing Sgt. York firing a 1903 Springfield, is correct.

j. lane
Tullahoma, TN