Winchester M1917 - need some education here.

[Bainter1212]

Good looking rifle.

I would say $600 is just about right. I would have paid that much for that gun.

I paid $275 for mine in November but it is a functional, chromed parade rifle with a somewhat neglected bore.

Yours should be a very good shooter with a VG+ bore.

[Mike A]

As-issued Winchester 1917s are even scarcer than their production numbers indicate since they were for many years the "go-to" action for custom gunsmiths to convert to belted magnum calibers.

P.O. Ackley was one of the most famous to use this action--he liked it because it was very strong, had a long enough magazine for regular length magnums like .375 H&H (not to mention all his own short magnums from .228 to .458), and it was CHEAP, especially the ones that had been dragged thru the mud on the Western Front or the P14s that had been issued to British Colonial troops. You could get '17s in sad shape for $5.95 back in the late 1940s and P14s were cheaper and even easier to make into a belted magnum.

Ackley's own blowup testing for Army Ordnance during the war showed that the US "Enfield" actions, P17 or P14, were "just Mausers"--no stronger than any other well-made Mauser. Of course that means VERY strong, but not as miraculously stout as some have claimed. The strongest action he found--also a Mauser--was the Japanese Arisaka 6.5mm!

"Enfields" P17 or P14 ARE heavy; no doubt of that. But they have excellent sights as issued, and also made excellent sniper rifles. The British in WWI used P14s mainly for that on the Western Front where weight was less important (since nobody was going anywhere, mostly).

$600 was no bargain, but it was OK and you got you one hell of a rifle.

I could fill pages with the WWII and post-WWII use of these in the hands of Allied troops and in various civil wars after WWII. Greek Civil War? Very nasty. Philippine resistance to the Japanese? PLA use of 1917s they got from ones we used to arm the KMT before and after WWII? There's more.

Even the California State Guard in WWII was issued 1917s (after they took their .30-30s home).

[rdfact]

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

What store? Would this happen to be Just Guns in Sac?

[big103]

600 is about right for a rebuilt win. The prices like moat C&R is creeping up. Was the barrel marked W with a date?

[joefrank64k]

Sounds like you did fine, nick. The 1917 is one of my favorite rifles to shoot. And since everyone else is throwing up their peacock feathers, here's mine

[nick]

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.

Yes, the barrel is 5".

[nick]

What store? Would this happen to be Just Guns in Sac?

Nope, sorry. Field Time in Westminster.

[nick]

600 is about right for a rebuilt win. The prices like moat C&R is creeping up. Was the barrel marked W with a date?

Didn't check, and I still have over a week until I can pick it up.

[rdfact]

Nope, sorry. Field Time in Westminster.

I was asking because Just Guns in Sac had (maybe still has) an Eddystone that looked pretty good...except it had been D&T'd for a scope. That poor thing had at least 8 holes drilled into the receiver. The horror.

[nick]

600 is about right for a rebuilt win. The prices like moat C&R is creeping up. Was the barrel marked W with a date?

The barrel is Eddystone, marked 8-18.

[nick]

I was asking because Just Guns in Sac had (maybe still has) an Eddystone that looked pretty good...except it had been D&T'd for a scope. That poor thing had at least 8 holes drilled into the receiver. The horror.

Blasphemy!

[Full Clip]

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.

Ha, I already replaced two on mine before swapping to the improved spring design.