M1917 Remington

[Mojaveman]

Picked up a nice M1917 from an old man that lives near me.

The bore isn't mint but it's not dark and the rifling is strong. The muzzle looks good. There's a serial number on the lower rear of the stock that matches the number on the receiver. With the exception of the bolt handle the bluing is still pretty good. The safety, bolt release and bolt all have an "E" on them which I presume means Eddystone?

Should I check the headspace before firing it? Are any parts prone to breaking and should I keep a few extras? What is the horizontal battle-sight ranged for?

[rainman8819]

Beautiful rifle. Hope to add one to my collection in the future.

[Spyder]

Purty. I've got one I picked up years ago and I haven't shot it yet, and don't really know much about.

Need to get it out and do a bunch of research, and take it out for some paper and steel fun.

Yours looks very nice!

[echo1]

Very good looking rifle. I've got an Eddystone that's been sportered but is salvageable. I have what's needed but haven't given it any time. PAX

[kris smith]

[Dan_Eastvale]

As far as headspace, did the man mention shooting it?

[TRAP55]

Kris, with the exception of some very early Winchesters, all M1917 parts interchange between the makers, spec'ed that way by the War Dept. Some minor fitting I'm sure was required.
The P-14 parts don't interchange with the M1917, and they didn't all interchange between the three? versions of the P-14.
Mojaveman, The battle sight is set for 400yrds with M2 ball equivalent.
Here's a manual:

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/docs/FieldManualsWWII/FM%2023-6%20(%20Basic%20Field%20Manual%20U.S.%20Rifle,%20Caliber%20.30%20M1917%20.pdf

[smle-man]

The only thing that ever seemed to break on a 1917 was the extractor and the upper handguard and the upper handguard was due to being used as a basic training rifle during WW2. There are still large quantities of replacement 1917 upper handguards available after all these decades.

[Mike A]

My grandfather was 'way too old for WWII--he had fought in the Spanish-American War in 1898-99, the "Philippine Insurrection" following that, the Moro Wars following that, and "Punitive Expedition" to Mexico in 1916, and on the Western Front in WWI. He loved France in spite of being shot once and gassed once--admired the French infantry "poilus" but hated their leadership. (He never had a good word to say about "that rascal Villa" either!).

When the Army denied his attempts to get back on active duty in 1942, he became an officer in the California State Guard, a collection of "cripples, crazies, and cowboys" according to him, that was to patrol and guard CA beaches, bridges, and factories while the nation was mobilizing the whole, the sane, and the pedestrians to fight Japan.

The Guard (which I think still exists, I know it does in some states like NYS) was issued 1917s as their standard infantry weapon. The "cowboys" mostly just kept their deer rifles, he told me.

[Mustang]

Kris, with the exception of some very early Winchesters, all M1917 parts interchange between the makers, spec'ed that way by the War Dept. Some minor fitting I'm sure was required.
The P-14 parts don't interchange with the M1917, and they didn't all interchange between the three? versions of the P-14.
Mojaveman, The battle sight is set for 400yrds with M2 ball equivalent.
Here's a manual:
http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.c...20M1917%20.pdf

Thanks for the link, Trap!

I've got 1917's from all three makers and find parts marked "E", "W", and "R" freely distributed among all of them.

I've heard different stories about at what point Winchester parts became completely interchangeable. Some claim that it wasn't until about half way through their production run. Another, which is more common and more believable, is that only the first 10,000 or so Winchester 1917's had parts interchangeability issues.

[kris smith]

My info is going off what I ah e read about the p14 rifles and there issues being accepted by the British. I guess it would make sense once the production lines were acquired by the Americans or leased would demand Interchangeable parts. From what I have read and heard the British relented on the matter and just designated sub models. E W R as sub models.

[mj1]

Solid rifles and good shooters with M2 ball or close to it.

Built like a battle ship. Roll up your favorite M2 or PPU 30-06 and have some fun.

[Garand Hunter]

A fair amount of these rifles were converted to sporter hunting rifles after WW1 by Remington according to a NRA program aired last year on the Outdoor Channel. There is one of these for sale in Oakley, Contra Costa County Calif. It has been modified to 300 Win Mag some years back. No irons, and drilled for a who knows what kind of scope mounts. Too heavy if comparing 03 Springfields to the Rems and Eddystone guns.

Shoot it !

Psalm 1

[Mustang]

There used to be a range officer at the range that I frequent who hunted in Africa. He had a Remington 1917 that had been converted to .458 Lott...which is basically a .458 Winchester Magnum Magnum

[Wyatt Burp]

That's what Sargent York used when he killed and captured all those Germans. Great solid warhorse.