Winchester M1917 - need some education here.

[nick]

I was buying a revolver today (an S&W Victory, if you must know), and the store had an M1917 made by Winchester. It's parkerized (so it was refinished for WWII/lend-lease, right?), the stock has a RIA stamp on it, the barrel is VG+ (but I can't measure it just yet, it's in jail right now), the overall condition, I'd say, is a VG/VG+. It has a low 5-digit number (10xxx or so). Everything appears to be in a good working order. I paid $600 for it. Is it too much, too little, just right? Anything I should know about it (like the low-number M1903s, for example)? It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, I just liked that rifle.

BTW, they also have an Eddistone with a 7-digit (1mln-something) serial for $500, but not nearly in as good a condition.

The stock looks shiny on the picture, but it doesn't appear refinished (the RIA cartouche is sharp, for example).

[bigbossman]

Any other Winchester parts on it? Barrel, stock, bolt.........

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Hey Nick,

You should be in good shape at $600. I paid just slightly more than that for my Eddystone M1917. I haven't shot it yet but it is a great historical piece for a collection. These were the primary infantry rifles used by our boys in WW1. The M1917 isn't quite as handy and slick as the 1903a3 but it feels like a great rifle. Apparently the action is quite stout as well. A fine weapon for a Soldier to own. I thought I read that Winchesters are the least common of the M1917s as well.

[nick]

Any other Winchester parts on it? Barrel, stock, bolt.........

Didn't know how to check - I'm not familiar with M1917s. I'll check when I get it.

[nick]

Hey Nick,

You should be in good shape at $600. I paid just slightly more than that for my Eddystone M1917. I haven't shot it yet but it is a great historical piece for a collection. These were the primary infantry rifles used by our boys in WW1. The M1917 isn't quite as handy and slick as the 1903a3 but it feels like a great rifle. Apparently the action is quite stout as well. A fine weapon for a Soldier to own. I thought I read that Winchesters are the least common of the M1917s as well.

Nice rifle, Dan!

Per Wikipedia, the production numbers are:

Eddystone - 1,181,908
Remington - 545,541
Winchester - 465,980

And yeah, the rifle weighs a ton. It better be stout

[TRICKSTER]

Didn't know how to check - I'm not familiar with M1917s. I'll check when I get it.

Almost all the parts should be marked. This link will show you what the parts are and where to look. http://m1903.com/m1917markings.htm
Also buy a few extra ejectors or upgrade the ejector to one with a small spring, the old style are prone to breakage. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/412570.htm#412570B

[nick]

yes I must.. pics of the Victory please..


sorry for the hi-jack

Gotta get it first, it's in jail. It's not a Navy one, but a lend-lease one. FTRed by the Brits in 1955.

[nick]

Almost all the parts should be marked. This link will show you what the parts are and where to look. http://m1903.com/m1917markings.htm
Also buy a few extra ejectors or upgrade the ejector to one with a small spring, the old style are prone to breakage. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/412570.htm#412570B

Thank you, saved the link. I suppose, I could always just use a piece of rubber instead of the leaf spring

[TRICKSTER]

Thank you, saved the link. I suppose, I could always just use a piece of rubber instead of the leaf spring

Some people just cut the spring from a ball point pen and use that when the leaf spring breaks.

[Father Ted]

As stated, matching W's is critical to value as well as over all condition and bore condition as well. What makes you think it was Brit leased? Was the red band painted on handguard and stock near nosecap? Canada and Britain did this to tell them apart from p-14's that fire a different cartridge. There is nothing to worry about as far as low # like M1903s, however M1917s are pretty notorious for having excessive headspace. You want to check it with a field gage snd completely strip the bolt. Good luck.

[Enfield47]

Great find! All Winchester parts will be stamped with a W, including the stock.

I picked up a great book for my P14 and in covers the model of 1917 as well. It has a lot of great info including disassembly. http://www.amazon.com/British-Enfiel...ttern+14+rifle

[smle-man]

Gotta get it first, it's in jail. It's not a Navy one, but a lend-lease one. FTRed by the Brits in 1955.

Is it the 5" barrel version? I've got one with Austrian police markings. It is a very accurate shooter. You'll be happy with yours.


Mine, with the M1942 GI holster that came with it.

[smle-man]

I was buying a revolver today (an S&W Victory, if you must know), and the store had an M1917 made by Winchester. It's parkerized (so it was refinished for WWII/lend-lease, right?), the stock has a RIA stamp on it, the barrel is VG+ (but I can't measure it just yet, it's in jail right now), the overall condition, I'd say, is a VG/VG+. It has a low 5-digit number (10xxx or so). Everything appears to be in a good working order. I paid $600 for it. Is it too much, too little, just right? Anything I should know about it (like the low-number M1903s, for example)? It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, I just liked that rifle.

BTW, they also have an Eddistone with a 7-digit (1mln-something) serial for $500, but not nearly in as good a condition.

The stock looks shiny on the picture, but it doesn't appear refinished (the RIA cartouche is sharp, for example).

Nice rifle. Don't be disappointed if the rifle doesn't have Winchester marked parts. When the rifles were overhauled for WW2 service the parts were dumped into bins and reinstalled on rifles in no particular order or desire to keep everything matching. Remember on price for C&R arms: "You never pay too much, just too soon".

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Remember on price for C&R arms: "You never pay too much, just too soon".

QFT!

[highpower]

Nice catch! I have a Winchester M1917 that also went through the rebuild process. The receiver and barrel are both Winchester as is the bolt. Everything else is Eddystone. It doesn't matter to me as it is a great shooter and the bore is perfect.

The only weak point on the M1917's is the extractor (already mentioned), other than that, all manufactures made good rifles throughout the rifles production run.

Nice Victory also.