jsfricks
Member
Just picked up my first 1917 Enfield. It's a Remington, with a Remington barrel dated 9-18. The receiver dates to 12-18 so I doubt if this one saw any action in WWI.
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My first M1917 Enfield
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Rpg
Member
Great rifle!
You'll love it
You'll love it
Looks real nice.
Point of information the P14 (British version. 303) holds 5 rounds in the magazine your American rimeless 06 cartridge gun will hold 6.
Point of information the P14 (British version. 303) holds 5 rounds in the magazine your American rimeless 06 cartridge gun will hold 6.
tndrfttom
Member
True but conspicuously refinished. Due to their rush rush manufacture sanding stopped at a coarse grit.
U.S. 1917s are my favorite surplus rifles. Their sights, weight and balance makes them easy to shot accurately offhand. Nice find.
Engine49guy
Member
The 1917 is my favorite bolt action battle rifle,
Longer site radius , better sites and lower felt recoil combine to produce better accuracy than my old 1903 .
Another neat feature is it uses the same bayonet as the Winchester trench broom :
Longer site radius , better sites and lower felt recoil combine to produce better accuracy than my old 1903 .
Another neat feature is it uses the same bayonet as the Winchester trench broom :
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I guess that's why Alvin liked his so much!
Sgt. York did not use a 1917 Enfield for his exploits. While the All American Div. was issued Enfield rifles when it disembarked for France, York acquired a 1903 by "midnight requisition" from a Marine Corp unit encamped near his company.
This information is from a Bruce Canfield article and verified by one of York's sons. I believe the article appeared in the American Rifleman magazine several years ago.
Targets Guy
US Veteran
My US Springfield Model M1917 is my best shooting battle rifle (even better than the Krag).
Ours are pretty close in age. Mine was made in Eddystone in Oct 1918.
Ours are pretty close in age. Mine was made in Eddystone in Oct 1918.
OP
jsfricks
Member
Yea, probably a refinished stock but they left all the stamps in place, nice and sharp edged. The day before I picked it up someone on the local forum listed a bayonet and scabbard for it. The bayonet is the more seldom seen 1918 stamp and the scabbard, I believe, is the British issued model. From my reading, these bayonets were reissued to the British in early WWII and they used their scabbards (1907) instead of ours so they would work with their belts. I paid $60 for the bayonet and scabbard and less than $500 for the Enfield.
Now that's a "cool tool"! Nice find, boyh the rifle and matching bayonet.
I never could run down a deer to bayonet so I don't pay much attention to them. However, I can report that "Enfields" make venison lay down.
It is very likely that your barrel band and front stock fitting were reblued as well. Despite there being over 3 million of them U.S. 1917s with 90% original (pre-1920) bluing are rare. The Canadian military reblued some and those have the best looking military bluing that you are likely to find. During WWII the U.S. rebarreled a lot of 1917s with High Standard (HS) and Johnson automatic (JA) barrels that were broach cut with the same broaches as 1903A3s. WW I barrels have British designed rifling that has a little larger groove diameter but their deep grooves and wide lands make the cross sectional area of the bore slightly smaller.
One of these days or actually one of these years I'm going to have a Springfield or 1917 rebuilt into a cast bullet rifle. Don't worry. It won't be my original 1917. I'm thinking a .30-40 built on a P14 action or rebarreling my .308 Norma Springfield to .35 caliber.
It is very likely that your barrel band and front stock fitting were reblued as well. Despite there being over 3 million of them U.S. 1917s with 90% original (pre-1920) bluing are rare. The Canadian military reblued some and those have the best looking military bluing that you are likely to find. During WWII the U.S. rebarreled a lot of 1917s with High Standard (HS) and Johnson automatic (JA) barrels that were broach cut with the same broaches as 1903A3s. WW I barrels have British designed rifling that has a little larger groove diameter but their deep grooves and wide lands make the cross sectional area of the bore slightly smaller.
One of these days or actually one of these years I'm going to have a Springfield or 1917 rebuilt into a cast bullet rifle. Don't worry. It won't be my original 1917. I'm thinking a .30-40 built on a P14 action or rebarreling my .308 Norma Springfield to .35 caliber.
Engine49guy
Member
Just pulled out my 1917 bayonets, Both are Remington made, one is dated 1917 and the other 1918,
both have the US style belt attachment on t heir scabbards, The leather is a green color.
I also have a long bayonet for my SMLE and it has your style FROG button scabbard and the leather is brown.
both have the US style belt attachment on t heir scabbards, The leather is a green color.
I also have a long bayonet for my SMLE and it has your style FROG button scabbard and the leather is brown.
Your 1918 barrel will have 'Enfield' rifling; five groove, left hand twist. The shape of the rifling is a little different than ours, and you will find it doesn't like boattail bullets.
OP
jsfricks
Member
As with most military rifles, these went through Arsenal rebuild and they didn't worry about putting the correct parts back on. The front bayonet lug band is a parkerized Eddystone, stamped with an E. The middle band is a Winchester, stamped with a W with an Eddystone swivel. From what I've read the Winchesters had better blue, and this middle band shows. So mines not 100% matching, if so I could probably double my money on it. But the main parts are Remington and I got it for a bargain price so I'm thrilled with it. Now to just get out and shoot it!
Targets Guy
US Veteran
Weapon: US Springfield Model M1917, 98 years old
Shooter: US citizen, Model Obsolete, 70 years old
Ammo: US Army issue 30-06, 40 years old
First time firing rifle.
Range: 100 yards
10 rounds
Iron sights (shooter did use glasses)
Shooter: US citizen, Model Obsolete, 70 years old
Ammo: US Army issue 30-06, 40 years old
First time firing rifle.
Range: 100 yards
10 rounds
Iron sights (shooter did use glasses)
I bought an Eddystone this summer. The sights are easier on old eyes than the Springfields and the weight really helps with recoil. It's a great shooter. You will love yours.
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