P17 Info

[GAIRLOCHIAN]

I was looking at a P17 today and there was no ser,# on the bolt.Is this normal ? It:s an Eddystone ser# 1254xxx.Are they worth more than a similar condition P14?

Information

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[Badger]

I was looking at a P17 today and there was no ser,# on the bolt.Is this normal ? It:s an Eddystone ser# 1254xxx.Are they worth more than a similar condition P14?

I stand to be corrected as U.S. arms aren't my specialty, but I think originally the M1917's only had serial numbers on the receivers and not the bolts. They did however, have the "flaming bomb" marking on the handle.

Oddly enough, the Eddystone M1917 that we have in house, for which we haven't had the time to prepare a proper MKL (Milsurp Knowledge Library) entry, indeed has a multi digit number on the bolt handle.

However, I believe this has something to do with it's Canadian import heritage and use, perhaps added by one of these organizations that appear to have used it at one time.

"C" Broad Arrow Canadian Military Acceptance Mark.
NSTC (National Service Training Command?) Mark.
COTC (Canadian Officers Training Corps) Mark.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Model 1917 U.S. Rifle Serial # 698184 (Mfg by Eddystone in June 1918)

As far as valuation against the P14, that's a good question. I think that could vary depending upon market forces, such as laws of supply and demand, which side of the border you live on and concentration of British versus U.S. collectors.

Regards,
Badger

[Ken T]

Bolts are not serial numbered on U.S.military weapons.The only serial is on the receiver.