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2 Attachment(s)
Mint M1917
Picked up the most beautiful, unissued Eddystone M1917 at the Montgomery Gunshow yesterday. The gentleman that I purchased it from ordered it out of a magazine in 1967. It is flat mint and in the original shipping box (it cost $2.28 to ship on 16 Jan 1968...) unfortunately it is not an arsenal box and he didnt have the bill of sale.
My main question is above the trigger assy there is an Eagle proof and a US in a shield. I have never seen a US in a shield before and looking through Ferris's book, I dont see anything mentioned about it. I'm thinking it might possibly be a way to help identify it as US 30/06 in the Rack?:dunno:
Any ideas???
PS Anyone interested in seeing pic I can send them to you... Kenny27@aol.com
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Very nice! :dancingbanana:
Do you have any more close up pics of the rifle, maybe some showing arsenal marks? Wonder where it was stored after it rolled off the assembly line.
I'm also curious if you have determined from the barrel date stamp and serial number when your Eddy was made, and how many of the parts are Eddy marked.
The reason why I ask is I am wondering if there are many M1917s that are unissued and went from factory to arsenal to private hands without an arsenal rebuild in the process.
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M1917
Quote:
Originally Posted by
eldowerks
Very nice! :dancingbanana:
Do you have any more close up pics of the rifle, maybe some showing arsenal marks? Wonder where it was stored after it rolled off the assembly line.
I'm also curious if you have determined from the barrel date stamp and serial number when your Eddy was made, and how many of the parts are Eddy marked.
The reason why I ask is I am wondering if there are many M1917s that are unissued and went from factory to arsenal to private hands without an arsenal rebuild in the process.
Barrel date is 11-18 and serial number series is 1.26 million. Pretty much shows Dec-1918 as being built, with Jan 1919 having the last rifles made. It is ALL Eddystone. Everything has the little E marks and it does not have anything other than the original Arsenal eagles (and the little US in a shield...) No rebuild marks/stamps anywhere and it is all original finish (a beautiful blue...)
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Thanks, Phrogpilot.
Very cool!
So NO arsenal marks at all?!
Does that mean that some M1917s were stored in arsenal but weren't rebuilt or reinspected and therefore received no arsenal stamps?
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Just asking, have you had it apart to check for internal E markings?
I did that to mine and found some parts that were not Eddystone. From the outside it looked great and still does but inside there were other than Eddystone parts.
Yeah, nice rifle and we'd like to have some more pics.
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M1917
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Originally Posted by
armabill
Just asking, have you had it apart to check for internal E markings?
I did that to mine and found some parts that were not Eddystone. From the outside it looked great and still does but inside there were other than Eddystone parts.
Yeah, nice rifle and we'd like to have some more pics.
Nope, I have not had it apart and do not intend on it. The screws are still staked from the factory and do not look to have ever had a screwdriver in them so I'm not going to be the first one to mess them up. If you could see the rifle, you would understand...
Whats your email, Ill send you pics...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
eldowerks
Thanks, Phrogpilot.
Very cool!
So NO arsenal marks at all?!
Does that mean that some M1917s were stored in arsenal but weren't rebuilt or reinspected and therefore received no arsenal stamps?
Yes, I would say so because it does not have ANY arsenal marks on it whatsoever...
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I have Eddystone 1238410, bbl date 10-18, in similar condition. No lend-lease or US arsenal marks and all Eddystone parts. The only wear is a bit of rubbing on the buttplate,muzzle and bolt handle and some stock dings. Finish on mine is not blue, but what appears to be black parkerizing. Muzzle gauges .301. It does not have the US shield mark on the stock-only the eagle device. On reloading for this rifle I found the throat to be a bit shorter than my WRA and Rem M1917s. I've had this rifle since 1974 and recall paying the princely sum of $38.00 for it.
I picked up 3 ex-Danish rifles about 18 yrs ago, a WRA and 2 Rems. No lend lease marks on these. They are in ex condition with the original blue finish and mostly matching parts. They all have the stocks and bolts serial numbered as was the Danish practice. Bolt s/ns do not match the receivers,but both headspace OK. 2 of them have the Danish "notch" milled out in the rear of the receiver face.
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iv seen the shield marking on other surplus rifles, likely from the company that sold it, and nothing to do with the US military.
last time i saw it was on a Victory model Smith.
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They're out there. I was thrilled to find an all-original late Eddystone a couple weekends ago; 10-18 barrel, a bit later receiver. I had stopped at a local sport store on a whim while the kid was at a swim meet nearby. It was the last rifle I checked out at the store (had a $$ '03, trapdoor, & m1 carbine) 'cause I just wasn't expecting much on a M1917 - all I've seen are parts gun - I am SOO glad I didn't walk out 1st!
Have had it apart - completely original Eddystone. Has dark grey Parker finish that is smooth 'black' on exposed surfaces (appear much as yours does), a layer of old grease on those metal surfaces has made/kept them dark & shiny. Also thrilled to see the 1907 sling it came with had a 1917 date on it.
Yours may be Parker finish too (likely should be, I think).
I'll have to get some pics up!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...img1869l-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...img1864d-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...img1866k-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...img1867v-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...img1870i-1.jpg
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My Eddystone was also "arsenal mint" i.e. as new inside, but plenty of dings on the outside from 90 years of being shunted about!
No. 129xxx and 11-18 barrel - fits perfectly on the chart in Ferris, P.88.
No rework stamps whatsoever. Yes, I did dismantle it, to "de-cosmoline" it. And I can assure you, it is possible to remove and replace staked screws without it showing, if you have a very carefully torqued setup.
The barrel channel did not have a speck of dirt in it. Everything, but everything, is Eddystone, plus plenty of little eagles and inspection marks.
Definitely as originally manufactured. The finish is exactly as in the photos at the start of this thread.
It also shoots excellently. But before I found it, I had seen a couple with those oh-so-shiny bores that are in fact bellmouthed from years of incorrect cleaning.
They are out there. Keep looking lads!
Patrick
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5 Attachment(s)
Some must have not been used as I have a Remington 1917 serial # 213043, bbl dated 3-18. About mint and untouched condition with about 99% original blue/black finish still remaining with only the bbl bands and trigger guard starting to turn a plumb brown in color. The rifle is unfired except for proofing and with only minor handling blemishes on the stock. There is still Cosmoline in the chamber and under the wood. All the correct mfg and inspector stampings are present on the wood and metal and are deep and sharp. Two of the eagle proof marks are stamped with the same inspector’s number, one on the stock and one on the back of the receiver. The rifle is in all correct, untouched, and all original condition as manufactured and shipped from the Remington factory. It's complete with a 1918 dated leather sling which appears to be the one issued with the rifle. I had another one just like it that I had sold when I needed money for another purchase, Ray
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
rayg
Some must have not been used as I have a Remington 1917 serial # 213043, bbl dated 3-18. About mint and untouched condition with about 99% original blue/black finish still remaining with only the bbl bands and trigger guard starting to turn a plumb brown in color. The rifle is unfired except for proofing and with only minor handling blemishes on the stock. There is still Cosmoline in the chamber and under the wood. All the correct mfg and inspector stampings are present on the wood and metal and are deep and sharp. Two of the eagle proof marks are stamped with the same inspector’s number, one on the stock and one on the back of the receiver. The rifle is in all correct, untouched, and all original condition as manufactured and shipped from the Remington factory. It's complete with a 1918 dated leather sling which appears to be the one issued with the rifle. I had another one just like it that I had sold when I needed money for another purchase, Ray
Ray, Beautiful rifle. I have also have a Remington that looks like it could be your rifles brother. Now to find a Mint Winchester...:runaway:
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Very nice rifles! I wonder if those of you with original Eddystone rifles could post some close up pictures of your bolt sleeves. I'm interested to see what the "E" marking looks like (regular E or serif) and if they have eagle stamps in the top grooves.
Also, are your handguards marked with an E?
Thanks.
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I also have an Eddystone with the same US Shield and engle head mark in the exact same spot. I will check to see what numbers are on the eagle head. I got this M1917 directly from CMP last year at the Southern Store. Probably from a VFW post. The Stamp looks cool. Serial number 1118222 with an Eddystone 8-18 barrel. Great condition. $300 CMP price couldn't be beat. Anyone else with an US Shield stamp on a M1917 stock? Maybe an update for the Ferris book.
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You guys are all young, huh?
1969-70 the M1917 could be had new for $35 in grease. They weren't a popular rifle. The M1903 was the popular rifle. Very few wanted the M1917. But there were lots of them brand new, unissued, in grease in sporting goods stores all over.
The US in the shield is shown in the J.C.Harrison book as a Eddystone mark of unknown purpose. Says it shows up on some Eddystones.
My Remington M1917 made in March, 1918 is ONE digit off from a rifle known to be in France in 1918. ONE digit. It was in Springfield Research Service when they were online and free.
This is from the Martin Retting, Inc in Culver City, Calif. This catalog was the last one in 1968 before the Gun Control Act of 1968 took effect on January 1, 1969. Officially, the good ol'days ended on January 1, 1969. I graduated high school in 1969.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4/r001vi-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4/r002vi-1.jpg
Dutch
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Let's see, 1967, I was 5 and were going to hawaii for my dads next duty station. :)
john
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I picked up a nice Eddystone yesterday at a Gun Show in Penticton BC. Serial number 16XXX which says it was built in Sept/17. It is in very good condition and the bonus was a Remington Bayonet with scabard. The scabard is painted white and was that for parade use? Really happy with the gun. I don't think I will ever fire it, just put it with my other Lee Enfields, now just need to find a nice P14.
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Enfield303T
I'm sorry to inform you that you are just starting. :rofl:
You will also need Winchester and Remington 1917's. Along with 1 each Eddystone , Winchester and Remington P14's. :beerchug:
I still need a Remington P-14.:banghead:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Doug Rammel
I'm sorry to inform you that you are just starting. :rofl:
You will also need Winchester and Remington 1917's. Along with 1 each Eddystone , Winchester and Remington P14's. :beerchug:
I still need a Remington P-14.:banghead:
Gee thanks Doug that's all I needed to hear considering I still need alot of Lee Enfields. LOL Do you know why the scabard has been painted white?
One thing is you don't see many very good ones at the shows I seem to attend.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
enfield303t
Gee thanks Doug that's all I needed to hear considering I still need alot of Lee Enfields. LOL Do you know why the scabard has been painted white?
One thing is you don't see many very good ones at the shows I seem to attend.
No I don't know why. I see a lot of bayonets without scabards.
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Just picked up another "cherry" Eddystone, nearly as nice as the one described in my earlier post that I've had since 1974. This latest one is s/n 1278300 with an 11-18 bbl, nice sharp inspectors marks, all Eddystone parts, mint bore ,.301 muzzle, no refinishing, nice matching walnut, no marks/signs of foreign service. As a bonus it came with a Kerr sling and nickle plated oiler c/w thong and brush.
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Concerning the hand guards, the upper hand guard on mine has the E on the top towards the rear. No marks at all underneath.
The bottom hand guard has no markings at all. So it's an Eddystone by default?
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Early-on they stamped the handguards with E, R or W. But they busted up so many finished handguards that they halted the practice. Your rear handguard is most likely an Eddystone handguard.
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A picture is worth a thousand words.
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My lower hand guard has nothing on it, either side but the upper is just like that pic.
Also, my bolt handle has the "E" on the side real close to the bolt body.
