continuing problems bringing a m1917 back to life

[blackrat]

I've posted it a few times but I've been trying to get a sporterized 1917 back into shooting condition since the barrel is in great shape and I'd like a scoped bolt action without mangling my other rifles.

I had two problems before:it was converted to cock on open and the safety would fail in that if it was on safe and you pulled the trigger it wouldn't fire while on safe but a son as you thumbed the safety forward the pin would drop.

Going off suggestions I replaced everything in the safety and picked up an unmodified cocking piece. Now it chicks on open but the bolt still drops if I thumb from safe to fire. On top of that now the bolt gets stuck shut after the pin drops. I removed the safety so the plunger wasnt in the locking hole and the entire trigger assembly and it still would not release. I had to come from underneath with a small screwdriver to push the cocking piece back a bit while applying pressure to the bolt to get it up. Whatever it is it's somehow involved with the cocking piece and the receiver since the trigger and safety blocks had been removed.

From the research I've done I see that common changes for sporterization included some people grinding away the bolt, trigger, and receiver but can't get idea where. My bolt has a lot of bluing missing and heat marks but the trigger fall lands seem stock

Is anyone familiar enough with the parts to see if it Has been touched?

Receiver






Bolt







Trigger/assembly

[blackrat]

Last one of the trigger

[gunboat]

Sorry, I can't tell by looking -- BUT
If you are near me you can tear mine down for comparison -

If you are looking for an issue stock 7anthony7 may be selling one

[Enfield47]

Where are you located? I have a P14 and many parts are interchangeable with the M1917, but not all. If you are close to me, we can see how the P14 parts compare to yours.

It looks like your safety is moving the way it's supposed to but something in the bolt body must have been messed with. Sarco has a stripped bolt for $37.50 http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/p17boltstripped.aspx but I can't guarantee that will fix the problems. Your best bet is to find someone who has a M1917 so you can compare parts and swap out some to see if it makes a difference. I would start with the bolt since it won't require any disassembly of your rifle. Then you can move on to the trigger and sear to how they compare.

[TRAP55]

Bolt body has been altered for the cock on opening. The safety problem is because the cocking piece is not disengaging from the sear far enough to allow it to reset.
Your best bet is to keep it Cock on Opening, and have a good bolt gun gunsmith repair the safety/sear contact.

[blackrat]

Thanks for the offers on checking out your guys' rifles. I'm up in the peninsula, sj is close but once I factor in gas back forth plus your time it might be a wash compared just picking a stripped bolt trigger assembly.

Bolt body has been altered for the cock on opening. The safety problem is because the cocking piece is not disengaging from the sear far enough to allow it to reset.
Your best bet is to keep it Cock on Opening, and have a good bolt gun gunsmith repair the safety/sear contact.

Unfortunate I have to pick up a replacement bolt since its one the shore machine company replacements that cycles really smooth but they're still affordable. I kinda figured something was done to it considering the heat marks but couldn't compare it to anything. Considering I have removed the safety, trigger, and sear and still have the bolt locked up you think I still need a replacement sear or would the non modified bolt be enough? A replacement sear is only a few bucks.

The problem with taking it to a gunsmith is that the local one closed awhile ago and the other guy is both booked up for months and apparently unwilling to waste time on a sporter according to the counter guy

[Enfield47]

I would listen to Trap, he knows what he's talking about. No point in wasting your time and money on more parts that can't be guaranteed to fix your problem until you know what will work.

Maybe you could meet someone at a range and check their rifle against yours just to see how it's supposed to function. It would be quite a haul to the northern shoot at the end of the month but I think Will55 will be there with his M1917s if you wanted to test things out.

[6mmintl]

Get a new bolt, cocking piece, and trigger assy and move forward cheaply.

[Father Ted]

The problem with taking it to a gunsmith is that the local one closed awhile ago and the other guy is both booked up for months and apparently unwilling to waste time on a sporter according to the counter guy

What a smart businessman

[ccandgc]

Better to fix it yourself, not just for the satisfaction of getting her up and running again, but you will know the ins and outs of your rifle.

[Enfield47]

Better to fix it yourself, not just for the satisfaction of getting her up and running again, but you will know the ins and outs of your rifle.

True, but his has been pretty messed with. It's possible a new bolt, trigger, and sear might fix it, but heaven only knows what other modifications bubba made. He changed the safety parts out, and it still allows the the hammer to fall.

[ccandgc]

True...unfortunately these love to be black holes...sucking up all the cash and parts you can throw at it. Hopefully one of those other parts solves the problem!

[blackrat]

What a smart businessman

tell me about it. to be fair, there is a serious lack of old school gunsmiths in my area since tabors retired and I imagine the place I went to has a heavy backlog but it was surprising to get turned down in giving them work. I went to another place specializing in selling old and antique rifles to asked the very knowledgeable guy there where he recommended to go and other than the place where I got turned down he drew a blank.

Better to fix it yourself, not just for the satisfaction of getting her up and running again, but you will know the ins and outs of your rifle.

believe me I hate having others do what I'm capable of but as enfield stated this rifle has a murky history. it doesn't help that the m1917 has a lot less info on the web than the more common and popular rifles. just finding a good picture of an unmolested bolt or info on what specifically was commonly done to these guns back in the 50s and 60s is hard to track down. I'm ordering a replacement bolt and trigger assembly as recommended in this thread, at this point there's nothing else to change out in the action.

[justin4fun]

If the parts swap doesn't work find a friendly calgunner to help. I know some have offered. Sometimes a experienced eye can make all the difference. good luck.

[justin4fun]

Bolt body has been altered for the cock on opening. The safety problem is because the cocking piece is not disengaging from the sear far enough to allow it to reset.
Your best bet is to keep it Cock on Opening, and have a good bolt gun gunsmith repair the safety/sear contact.

I know you wouldn't leave it wrong unless you had to. You have more then one long time project waiting for the right parts to be found. What if op took a vacation to Dixon. where there's a will there's a way. It is just how much it is wanted. May need a different action depending on what bubba has done. Although I am not a purist would love for it to be as it should.