Very late number RIA 1903 I purchased today...a few questions.

[Todd2]

Thanks fellas I appreciate the learning experience. I called the shop owner and asked if he had any 1917 Eddystones in stock he said he had two. Then I expained my dilimma to him and he's gonna let me trade it for the 1917. I'll be sure to look it over he said the bores are good on them sure hope so. I'd rather have a nonmatching rifle I can shoot than a safe queen. I'll let you all know how it goes. He also had one of those swiss K31s and a more expensive 1903 that I remember had its original finish. And he's got a ton of M1 Carbines.

[Calif-Steve]

Take some pictures of the 2 M1917's and post the photos here BEFORE you take something home. We will help you.

[Todd2]

The price on this was $600 so I got $80 back and I'm very happy. First I looked at his other 1903 he wanted $900 for it. The receiver looked real good but the bore was dark. Then I looked at the Eddystone it's from 1918 and has a 1919 Winchester barrel. All the receiver and bolt are Eddystone. The stock is well used Remington. The stock looks like it's seen a few battles. It came with this old leather sling it's not a 1907 does anyone know if it's from another country? I could find no rust or pitting on receiver. When he shown the light through the bore it was so bright it almost hurt my eyes, it's very smooth and silver with lots of rifling. Anyways I'm now happy and will check with him in a few months after I save some dough I still want a 1903.
Oh after these pictures were taken I polished the stock and sling with Johnson Paste wax. The sling looks much nicer as does the I'll try to take a pic with my tablet showing some dings in the stock.

[Todd2]

Dings but no cracks!

[supercub]

Well Todd, I think you did much better this time. The finish looks original on that rifle which I like better than the refinished. I would like to know what the muzzle and throat measurements are before buying though. How's the headspace? What's the date on the barrel and is it Eddy as well?

[Todd2]

Well Todd, I think you did much better this time. The finish looks original on that rifle which I like better than the refinished. I would like to know what the muzzle and throat measurements are before buying though. How's the headspace? What's the date on the barrel and is it Eddy as well?

The barrel is 2-19 Winchester so it must have been changed out. The wood stock has an R stamp on the wood under front sight area. The receiver and bolt all have little Eddystone E's.

[Fred G.]

Calif-Steve had given you some Excellent advice in his post where he advised that you take and post pictures and other information about any other rifle that you were wanting to buy so that knowledgeable guys on this forum could advise you before you bought anything.
If you had, somebody here could've advised you to hold off on that one because there was apparently a problem with re barreling either Eddystone or Remington or Winchester receivers with barrels from another company in that doing so incorrectly could and often did crack the receivers. Maybe your new rifle is OK though. Others will hopefully chime in on this with what they know about it....

[Calif-Steve]

Bore condition is everything. In late 1919/19320 Springfield began receiving all of the M1917's from Europe. They had a huge re-build effort and many rifles were re-barreled and put away. So finding an Eddystone with a Winny barrel is common. But, what is the condition of the bore?

[Todd2]

Bore condition is everything. In late 1919/19320 Springfield began receiving all of the M1917's from Europe. They had a huge re-build effort and many rifles were re-barreled and put away. So finding an Eddystone with a Winny barrel is common. But, what is the condition of the bore?

The bore is super bright and shiney. Good rifling. The W stamp near the front sight has a line stamped through it making me think the military did it.

[Fred G.]

That's pretty neat that it's got a mint bore!