Newbie Here with M1917 Sporter Question

[my05hammer]

This past July I bought a Winchester M1917 off GunBroker that had been sporterized. I searched around on the internet looking for data on these and read somewhere that a company sporterized a bunch of these in the 1960's? Is this true? Or were all the sportered M1917's done on an individual basis?

Any gurus out there that can fill me in on the "sporter" history of these guns?

Mine came with what appeared to be a Redfield rear sight. I removed the sight and had a local gunsmith install a weaver rail on it and mount a scope for me. He mounted it in such a fashion that if I want to I can remove it and go back to the Redfield sight.

Information

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[bb1]

What is a 1917?
There was a cottage industry sporterizing these. A square built their "Hannibal" rifles on the Enfield. I don't know if their source was 1971 or P-14. The action is so large and strong, it was used for 505 Gibbs on down. Don't know about any specific company from the 60's. Most serious(some??) straightened the bolt handele. For one thing, the stock is easier to cut and it looks more like a sporter with the straightened bolt handle. The floor plate on yours was straightened. The sling swivels date the piece back to the 60's. Good looking rifle.
Bill

[my05hammer]

I have heard the term "Straightened Floor Plate". I assume it has something to do with the bottom of the magazine well? What does this involve and why was it done?

Thanks.

[Dan Wilson]

The trigger guard has a dogleg just behind the front screw, many builders worked the dogleg out so the guard goes straight across and look more like a commercial rifle.

Dan

[my05hammer]

Well its been a looooooooooong time but I finally got this rife sighted in. I can get a 3 inch shot group at 100 yards with the cheap scope and my inadequate shooting skills. I believe that a pro would do much better for sure lol!!

I ended up using a set of Burris scope rings with the offset inserts to get the scope mounted properly.

Now to practice with it and then eventually save for the better scope.

[Charlie Xray]

I have heard the term "Straightened Floor Plate". I assume it has something to do with the bottom of the magazine well? What does this involve and why was it done?

Thanks.

This 1917 has a straightened floor plate. It removes the guppy-like belly of the military version and gives it smoother lines.



CX

[my05hammer]

This 1917 has a straightened floor plate. It removes the guppy-like belly of the military version and gives it smoother lines.



CX

I see now what you mean.

That is one nice rifle too.

[Charlie Xray]

Thanks. It is my favorite deer rifle. Hunted with it in Alaska for caribou and several southern states for whitetail.

CX

[bb1]

At the top of tjhis page is a P-13 with the orig. floorplate. It is buttt ugly. They are sliced in two and welded back together. The seam should be visible. It sure is when I weld one. There have been newly manufactured "flat" floorplate that don't have a reweld. Maybe on your next one you will have more to look at.

[Randy A]

Didn't someone mention a few weeks ago, something about Golden State Arms or Santa Fe. They were a company in the 50s or 60s that sporterized these?