Sporterized 1917 needs sights

[Epaphroditus]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/189803856@N04/

Got this handed down through the family.

Story is it was carried by my great grandfather as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Sporterized by my grandfather.

At one time it had a scope and a kinematic mounting of some sort. The parts have long since been lost (I've never actually seen them).

Wondering if the brain trust has any suggestions?

[golfish]

That's a beauty brother.

[Dago Red]

Very interesting. I’m no means an expert so I guess am not familiar with that mounting system. Very curious. What make?

A great place you could find out more and get recommendations is accuratereloading forums. Top tier riflesmiths hang out there and some collectors of high end 1917s.

Red

[ojisan]

Might be a Kuharsky Bausch & Lomb quick-detach scope mount if you want to try and find the rest of the pieces.
The rest of the mount is probably on the scope.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kuharsky+scope+mount&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiEqd_iiqnrAhVEA6wKHacIAJIQ_AUoAXoECA4QAw&biw=1920&bih=969

[Epaphroditus]

It's a Remington.

[LynnJr]

I think he was referencing the mount and not the gun itself.

[Epaphroditus]

I think my gramps made the mount. There's no markings of any kind on any parts.

[Epaphroditus]

OK!

Yes, the mounting is custom built hybrid using a Kuharsky Brothers style spindle which has windage and elevation adjustments in the rear spindle and the from "V" block just hold the scope barrel in place.

Tried a Bausch & Lomb Balfour 4x scope but it has just ever so slightly to large OD eyepiece so the bolt hits it - without more custom work there is no way to make that work.

Found a Bausch & Lomb Baltor (2.5x) scope that had a smaller eyepiece OD.

After much hassle and struggle I got it mounted and sighted in and the bolt clears fine.

We are back in action!

Amazingly enough < 2 moa with factory ammo.

Rifle built in Oct 1918, went to war, sporterized by my paternal grandfather sometime in the 1960's and sat in my cabinet for 30 years. Now I plan to harvest an elk this season and gift the rifle to my youngest for Christmas.

[ojisan]

Don't you just love it when a project comes together?

[Epaphroditus]

Patience is a virtue! Procrastination is not.
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.

[Killer Bee]

nice rifle and great story!

but as usual, late to the party, not sure if I would have been much help with scope fitting but might have helped on the mount..

this is a Bausch & Lomb Balfor A fixed 4x on a Kuharsky Bros. plunger mount on top of a Winchester model 100



pretty neat system, happy to own a functional piece of history as I'm sure you are as well..

[Calif Hunter]

It looks like he added a cocking piece to the end of the bolt, as well. Nice! I have one of these that was my first centerfire rifle, but nowhere near as nicely done. Mine just had the military stock cut down, a ramp front sight put on the slightly shortened barrel and a recol pad installed. It was accurate enough with the aperture rear sight to shoot jack rabbits at 100 yards with my younger eyes. I liked the cock on closing action, actually. It seemed faster to me than the heavy bolt lift on a Mauser as you already have the momentum going when closing the bolt.

[Epaphroditus]

Yes, it cocks on closing the bolt.

[Epaphroditus]

Shot it a bunch today. Purposely took the scope of and put it back on between shots. Held zero just fine. Remarkable.

Wind was pretty strong and gusty today so grounds opened up to about 3moa.

I think the next thing to do is make sure the barrel is floated and to bed the action.

[200Apples]

Beautiful rifle. This one case where one can say, "They don't build 'em like they used to!".

And the stock work is unique, too.