why would someone do this to a perfectly good 1917??

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I see these kind of jobs done on old milsurps back in the 50's and 60's and think it's just sad, but they were cheap guns back then.

Doing it today is just a crime to me when I see this done. You can put it back together but it'll never be original again. I know everyone has their own ideas but I just hate it when any antique makes it all of these years in original condition and then gets butchered by someone to make a few extra dollars.

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[Patrick Chadwick]

and then gets butchered by someone to make a few extra dollars.

Well that's what I don't understand. Surely it would be worth more in original condition? Unless, of course, there was a serious defect at the front end of the barrel (bent? bulged?), and this carve-up was seen as a desperate way of making something shootable out of it.


Patrick

[RodericusRex]

I don't know why anyone would do that. I have a perfectly good, pretty, apparently new 1917. Still has green preservative paint on it.
It is in such condition I don't want to shoot it!

[Patrick Chadwick]

Still has green preservative paint on it.

Are you sure that is paint? Or was it reparkerized at some time? I believe grease on top of parkerizing can look very green.


Patrick

[onlycrimson]

Hate to bring this back up, but damn that thing sold for a lot. I think it's kind of neat, of course I would prefer the original though.

[kenwest516]

One way of looking at is. For every one they butcher it ads just a little more value to ours.

[dannytoro1]

I just put an Eddystone sporter on lay away. Quite odd since it has been re-barreled with a Sako Finnbear barrel of only 20" length and was re-chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. Oddly enough it also still retains a grenade sight. I just love the way the action cycles. But first order of business is a new long barrel and I want to neck up the chambering to either 8mm or 9.3mm.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Interesting diversity of opioion in the posts, Here is my 2 cents.
While I can appreciate the gunsmiths art sporterizing a milsurp I still cringe a bit when I see one . The pictures of barge loads of Arisakas being dumped in to Tokyo harbor or Garands M14s falling under the torch, I have no words to express that feeling. My vote, preserve what can be preserved or restore if that suits your style. Value is not the issue to me. The legacy is.

[dannytoro1]

But sporterizing also demonstrates what the designer of the weapon had in mind delving into the possibilities of his weapon. It is nearly a crime to limit an Eddystone action to 30-06. There are barge loads of decaying 1917's that will never see the light of day except for the interest of people modifying them.

[trooper554877]

But sporterizing also demonstrates what the designer of the weapon had in mind delving into the possibilities of his weapon. It is nearly a crime to limit an Eddystone action to 30-06. There are barge loads of decaying 1917's that will never see the light of day except for the interest of people modifying them.

mate point me in the direction of those barges and I'll take the lot!!
Where are they?
cheers
Ned