My new M1917. Help, what do I have?

[Patrick Chadwick]

You need "United States Rifle Model of 1917" by C.S. Ferris for full details on markings. The rifle looks very good to me. What is the barrel date? Should be August-September 1918. There is a rough correlation between barrel dates and receiver numbers. This is only approximate, because the M1917 was one of the first really mass production rifles with genuinely interchangeable parts, with a much higher degree of interchangeability than the P14.

Eagle marks over numbers are government inspectors' marks (see Ferris P.105-6). I don't know about the D. The rifle is not obviously refinished, apart from the very shiny foresight blade (which could be a field replacement) but this is hard to tell from photos. Other parts appear to show normal wear.

The fact that the bolt is an Eddystone bolt is irritating for a collector, but of no concern for a shooter. M1917s with barrels in good condition are generally very good shooters, and if the head clearance is OK (please search the forum for a description of the very simple method of checking this) you do not need to let yourself be flustered by well-meaning busybodies telling you that you must spend a fortune on headspace gauges before shooting it. The bolt may well have been replaced by an armorer for a good reason. In fact, the combination of a replacement bolt and foresight blade would suggest a rifle that has been optimized. If the head clearance is good and the rifle shoots dead center at 100 yards with service ammo, that may well be what happened.

You seem to have a very good "low-mileage" rifle. Enjoy it.