I'm sure this has been asked before, but has anyone found a reliable source for serial number production dates on the 1917s?
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I'm sure this has been asked before, but has anyone found a reliable source for serial number production dates on the 1917s?
Well I can give you the exact date for Winchesters but only an approximate month/year for Remington Eddystone.
Winchester was the only one that maintained the serial number logs once the contract was completed.
Dan
Here are the ones I have, Eddystone 636499, with an E 2-18 barrel, Eddystone 217271 with an E 9-18 barrel, Eddystone 830880 with a Winchester 3-19 barrel. Thanks,
Well the Eddystone 636499 will have been built in approximately 9-18 so that barrel isn't original, Barrel date is too early.
Eddystone 830880 was made in approximately 8-18
The best source to find the dates is C.S Ferris's book "United States Rifle Model of 1917.
Dan
How about a Winchester... 100628?
It has a 12-17 Winchester barrel.
Thanks
Winchester 100628 was born on 14 Dec 1917, sounds like it has the correct barrel as well - congrats :)
Dan
Dan, Can I trouble you for Eddystone #1338197 with an E 11-18 barrel ?
Thank you.
Lonewolf, not a problem at all.
You are looking at approximate production date of December 1918 for your rifle, good chance the barrel is original too :)
Dan
How about a Remington with serial number 222580? The barrel is stamped 12-17 just under the ordnance "flaming bomb".
Also, is there any government source that could indicate what service or even unit the rifle was issued to and when?
Here are two reference books not mentioned, although they are both out of print.
The American Enfield (2003) by Harrison
The US Enfield (1983) by Skennerton
how about 505507 stamped 7-18 in remington
i got a 10-17
A 12-17 barrel is very likely a replacement, the build date for the rifle is probably in the 4/18 or 5/18 period.
Dan
The rifle would be made in 8 or 9 of 1918, a 7-18 barrel has a very good chance of being original :)
Dan
Dan Wilson,
Thanks for bird-dogging the serial number manufacturing dates here.
I have an Eddystone with a 1,345,XXX serial number and a 12/18 marked Eddy barrel.
According to oldguns.net U.S. MILITARY DATES OF MANUFACTURE U.S. Military Model 1917 Rifle: Eddystone:Covering numbers: 1 - 1355000
the date of manufacture for that serial number is January, 1919.
That date and the barrel date stamp seem to indicate the barrel and receiver are correct for each other. (All other parts on the rifle are Eddystone marked except for the cocking piece which is marked W NS.)
Does a 1,345,XXX serial number conform with a Jan 1919 manufacture date according to your sources?
Also, is it true that all late model Eddystones came off the assembly line Parkerized rather than with a blued finish?
Or was Parkerization done only when re-arsenalled?
Thanks you.
I have an Eddystone SN 3782xx with an Eddystone barrel dated 2-18. I've seen reports that this SN was manufactured in March 1918 and other reports that say April 1918. In either case, I assume that it's highly probable that the barrel is original to this receiver. Is that a good assumption?
I see that 1,345,xxx could be a Nov or Dec 1918 manufacture date. Realize that with Eddystone and Remington any manufacture date ends up with a "best guess" as Winchester was the only maker that kept serialization logs. Winchester I can even give you the day it was made but not so with the other two.
As for the park vs blue issue, I have never seen, or heard of an original Eddystone that was completely parked. It is my theory that some parts were parked but not the whole rifle. I know that Ferris says in his most excellent book that parking was fully implemented by Sep 1918 but I have an Oct or Nov 18 rifle that was blued. Like I say that is just my theory and I could be wrong.
Dan
Good info, Dan.
Thank you for taking the time! :bow:
What's the date for an Eddystone with serial number 175XXX?
Ohhh thats a nice early one.
November 1917 is your date.
Dan
Yep, I come up with March 1918 for the rifle so a Feb barrel has a high probability of being original.
Dan
Were you asking a question? Just confused about your post.
Dan
Dan,
Yep, that's the answer I was looking for.
Many thanks.
Al
Hi Dan.
How about a Winchester #398422 with a Win 8-18 barrel?
Thanks,
-Jason
08-14-1918 per Ferris's book.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebuckhunter
Hate to bother you Dan, but could you please check on my Eddystone:
#742105, barrel E 6-18
Under the hand guards on mine is a nice matte blue finish. The rest of the exposed metal of the rifle was painted black.
Any ideas how to remove the black paint without harming the rifle ?
Eddystone 742105 born on (approximatly) 6-18 so your barrel is right on :)
As to your finish, first I would try some paint stripper -caution- test on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it dont strip to bare metal!! I prefer JASCO for all the stripping that I do on military arms. If the paint is American that should do it and shouldn't harm any remaining bluing.
But if its the British "cast iron" black paint then your going to be stuck with manual removal methods (that crap is tough!!), for that I use medium steel wool and start rubbing, and rubbing and rubbing!! Sooner or later it will work down to the original finish, just go easy once the paint starts wearing down. This may be far from the optimal method but its the only "safe" way I have found to get the British "black concrete" off!! DuraCoat could learn from these guys!!
Sorry it took so long to reply but have been tied up recently getting a web site built up.
Dan
I think we all owe Dan an enormous debt of gratitude here for taking the time to answer all of our questions.
I've been offline for a few months, but I see that he is still the "go-to guy" for these matters.
Thank you so much, Dan! You are VERY appreciated.
:thup: :clap:
Hello Dan and thanks for all your efforts. I am new to this forum because I am researching my new 2 me ERA sporter I found at an estate sale this week. My serial number is as follows 150***
Thank you!
Best,
Ron. :thup:
FWIW a table of US rifle Production from the 1919 Report by Benedict Crowell, "America's Munitions".
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...on_month-1.jpg
Regards,
Jim
Thanks Dan.
Hi Dan. Thanks for all your help!!!
How about Eddystone 955162. Barrel date E 8-18. Thanks!! Cheers!
This list was published in a German book around 20 years ago - Serial numbers are only for the year 1918 and some month of 1919.
Hi, I have a No.3T serial number W230579 and would be grateful if you could please confirm the month and year of manufacture.
Many thanks Steve
It is not possible to find this here: This list is for the U.S. Model of 1917 (.30-06) - I don`t have a list for the British P. 14 (.303 brit).
And the main problem with the British sniper rifles is, that most of them were made after WW1 - in Australia os for Ireland.
Ok thanks for getting back to me