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

[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

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Now that does make some sense Patrick! I'll bet you're right. (I knew we kept you around here for something)

If it had a bulged barrel from an obstruction and maybe even broken stock too it would have been a throw away or cost more money for parts than it was worth.

Turn it into a Planet of the Apes flame throwing beast and people are bidding on it.

[Patrick Chadwick]

If it had a bulged barrel from an obstruction

I once saw a Carl Gustav M96 that was bulged like an onion a couple of cm behind the foresight. I mean that - approx. doubled diameter! On your side of the pond, I have little doubt that it could have been turned into a carbine. Over here it was just scrap. But I was impressed that the barrel had not split - it must have been excellent steel (in fact, it was, and the Swedes knew what they wanted, even delivering the material for the first Mauser-made series) and perfectly symmetrical in its grain structure.


Patrick

[Malygris]

M1917 Tanker anyone?

Instead of the grenade sight attachment, they could have put a saddle ring there and called it the m1917 Mounted Cavalry model.

This rifle would be a great candidate for a lamp stand tho', give your man cave that extra militia look. Hehe, be kinda cool, you wrap your hand around it and click the trigger to turn it off instead of pulling the little chain thingy. To change the bulb, you work the bolt, and it lowers the shade for you. The safety switch doubles as a dimmer switch.

The ideas are limitless.

But - I'm glad my only m1917 is the doughboy model. Now if I can just get this durn m1907 sling mounted. One of the copper rivets wasn't fully seated and won't go through the sling swivel.

[OLDER THEN DIRT]

Stop your belly aching. Unless it was something rare, to each his own. Customizing a firearm is no differant then customizing a car, mc, boat, house, etc. I like it & so do others, or they wouldn`t be bidding on it. It`s one of a kind.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Well, to each his own indeed and it's over $400 now. This may start a new craze and all the kids will start choppin' milsurps for individuality.



The grenade launcher site really makes it though.

[Malygris]

It does have a certain 'Movie Gun' look to it. Looks like it should have came out of an old Twilight Zone.

In the episode "Two" with Elizabeth Montgomery and Charles Bronson, Elizabeth appeared to carry a cut down M1 rifle.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I love watching the old Twilight Zone episodes, Malygris! Watched them on the local channel when I was a kid, and they have marathons now on cable here once in a while on holidays. (Probably do everywhere)

My wife loves them too and when they have marathons we just keep it on the channel all day, but I don't remember the one with Bewitched on it. Will look for it next time and see if I can spot the carbine.

I still like your idea of the lamp with all the features you dreamed up! You may have seen it, but DaveN found an awesome and rare old BP rifle that had been made into a lamp many years ago, and he found it after the thrift store it was in was throwing it out. Great thread that's still going on months later and it's on it's 11th page now.

Found MUSKET in thrift store.

[Chuckindenver]

i like lil Carbines..mine doesnt have a gernade sight though..lolAttachment 28908

[browningautorifle]

That's cute Chuck. I did one of those on a LE No1 Mk3. Turned out about perfect.