As Issued Model of 1917

[browningautorifle]

The package was a little more than $45, though. About 1,750% more... but I gladly paid it! These don't show up often anymore.

Yes indeed...those days are gone. Al we see around now are the seconds. Not clean collectors.

[menefrego]

Good for you. I know the feeling when you first handle it and as you scan over it one by one everything falls in line. I felt the same when I found one .

[jamie5070]

So were they originally parkerized then or refinished before they left the factory? I have an 11-18 dated barrel that is parkerized except where the front sight base was. In that spot it is blued.
john

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 PM ----------

The barrel I mentioned is an eddystone.

[Seaspriter]

were they originally parkerized then or refinished before they left the factory? I have an 11-18 dated barrel that is parkerized except where the front sight base was. In that spot it is blued.

According to a recent history of the Eddystone plant:
"The browning procedure was replaced by a process developed by the Parker Rust Proof Company. This new process came into full operation at Eddystone by September 1918, resulting in a decrease in manpower from 305 (for the browning process) to only 80 (for the Parkerizing process). "

[martin08]

I have another complete original Eddystone from just a month or two before the one in the OP. It has the earlier blued finish.

For comparison.

[donki1967]

Wonderfull...

---------- Post added at 12:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------

I see you have a .075 front sight heigh, how does shoot your rifle?

[martin08]

Wonderfull...

---------- Post added at 12:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------

I see you have a .075 front sight heigh, how does shoot your rifle?

Umm................ I've never fired either one. Those are just parts of the 'collection' stuff. If I shoot in .30-06, I have a beater Remington 03-A3.

[donki1967]

Personaly I can't help but shooting my "little collection stuff"...except my Lebel modèle 1886 M93.

[Patrick Chadwick]

A beautiful "Eddy". And Ferris lists receiver 1211642 (only 6 away!) as being produced in October 1918. So receiver and barrel are contemporary. Appears to be what I term "arsenal mint" - i.e. never issued, just shunted around for decades and finally sold off as surplus. If you take the trouble to make up ammo with the powder charge and bullet seating depth optimized for the rifle (which can reduce the group size by a factor of 2-3) you should find that it outshoots just about every other type of rifle of the same vintage.

[bmbrpilot]

Very nice rifle and kit
Does anyone know anything about the star / circle stamp on the receiver? I have a very low number 1917
Thanks bmbrpilot