Remington Model of 1917 at gun store as consignment

[usabaker]

ran into a Remington Model of 1917 at a gun store today. It's completed but the bore looks dark and most of the metal is good and I'd say 80% of it blue is still there but, there is a bit of surface rust near the front sight about a patch 2: long on one side and a bit on the upper band.

He's asking for $500.00 (well $499.95) still haven't decided if I want to go back and make him an offer. Most of this consignment rifles are way overpriced which is the reason I've never bought a rifle there. But, I would love to add a Remington Model of 1917 to my collection.

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[rcathey]

A good set of wood for these rifle are worth $250 alone.
I’d be all over it and I already own a 1917!

[usabaker]

A good set of wood for these rifle are worth $250 alone.
I’d be all over it and I already own a 1917!

Yeah, I've been looking at prices, this one on GunBroker looks to be in near the same condition. LOL just bought 3 guns this month...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/747107643

[rcathey]

I sell some on GunBroker and I’ve bought some on GunBroker and I can tell ya, GunBroker bidders are the worst haha.
It makes no sense since they do a soft close but people will still wait until the last minute to bid.
I mean to say, that one will end higher than $500, I’d bet.

[usabaker]

Yeah, I'm sure it will I was just using it as an example of the condition of the one I saw at the gun store. He has a 60day layaway maybe I'll do that, not too happy with the rust though don't know what I'll find when I take off the handguard. But then that could be a bargaining chip.

[RazorBurn]

If it's in good shape I'd be on that like white on rice. Very fair price for a Model of 1917! Most I see sold go for six to seven hundred bucks.

[rcathey]

Most I see sold go for six to seven hundred bucks.

Seconded!

[jamie5070]

Ask him if you can run a brush and patches down the bore. If 0the bore looks good buy it.

[usabaker]

Ask him if you can run a brush and patches down the bore. If 0the bore looks good buy it.

The bore was dark but the rifling looked strong. Went down there today with bore and no-go gauges but he was closed so I'll head down tomorrow.

THanks,

[Patrick Chadwick]

"the bore looked dark" is a frequently used phrase that is not very helpful. It may be rust, but is often a grimy deposit of dust and oil.

When I clean my rifles, I finish off with a squirt of Ballistol on a loose patch that is pushed through the bore. This prevents any rust from starting, but also holds dust.
As a result, if you were to take one of my rifles out of the cabinet, and it had not been shot for some time, then the bore would aso "look dark" - simply because of the dust deposit in the oil. Needless to say, the bore is perfect, and all it needs is a dry patch pushed through it.

When I bought my Martini-Henry the bore also looked dark. I cleaned the barrel in the shop, having agreed the price with the seller beforehand, with the option of not concluding the sale if the bore was indeed rusty. After all, you don't want either to pay a lot for a rusted barrel or to spend your time improving the rifle so that the seller then decides to ask more for it! So I cleaned the M-H in the shop, and the bore came up beautifully, apparently having been well greased before storage.

I suggest you do the same - agree the price to be paid if you take it before cleaning it. Then run a dry patch through the bore. Rust will instantly be detectable by the patch dragging on the rough surface and coming out seriously abraded. However, in my experience, the chances are good that it is a layer of grime consisting of dust and ancient oil or grease.

Worth going to the shop "armed" with cleaning gear and $500, I think? If the bore is good, it's a "grab it and run" price.

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