My First M1917 and I have a barrel question

[esu_1985]

Just a heads up Banjo,

Although the likelihood of finding one is probably extremely low, some re-barreled Eddystones had issues with hairline cracks in the receiver where it meets the barrel.

In C.S. Ferris's book " United States Rifle Model of 1917 " page 167 he wrote a paragraph titled Eddystone Sales Prohibited. The Columbus [Ohio] Army Service Forces Depot sold the Model of 1917 rifles. The Ordnance Supply Officer there recommended on May 14,1947 to the Chief of Ordnance that no Eddystone rifles be sold. They had a lot of complaints from people who had there guns polished and blued. These were all re barreled rifles in Army inventory. The Army finish did not show the cracks so they could not tell a good receiver from a bad one. Original barreled rifles were OK. Re barreled rifles could crack under the stress of re barreling. Remington and Winchester did not have this problem.

Like I said, the likelihood is very small, but you should closely examine your receiver under magnification to make sure. You might have to apply a penetrant and wipe to see if any "bleeds" from a potential crack.

Any chance for some pics?

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[RC20]

First I am not a gun smith, but I do follow probably the most respected and prolific 1917 Barrel replacer since WWII in Chuck in Denver is his moniker, I believe Warpaths something is his business (he does this for a living and a LOT of 1917s. )

What we have is the equivalent of an unban legend before we had them on the internet.

The basis of that is the 1917 was a prolific contributor to being a Sporter conversion.

Not having the right tools could lead to a cracked receiver. It would be Eddystone, Remington of Winchester.

As the US Arsenals had the right tools, few if any of those were the cause. If they did they probably pitched it.

Over the years a lot of barrels got replaced by home amateurs as well as smiths not equip0ed with the right tools.

You hear about over torque on Eddsyones. Impossible as they used a witness mark, it was right or it was not and all mfg of the 1917 used the same mark.

So yes any barrel change rifle should be inspected, that applies to all of them, not just 1917s.

---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

Thanks, I had read some place that the two groove was about as accurate as the others but there was a pressure difference as in lower pressures with the two groove so I guess that means there would be loading differences to be considered between them.

Thanks, I had read some place that the two groove was about as accurate as the others but there was a pressure difference as in lower pressures with the two groove so I guess that means there would be loading differences to be considered between them.

I doubt there was significant differences, the throat to the original 1917 barrels used a more slope type, 1903 were more square.

[fjruple]

Just a heads up Banjo,

Although the likelihood of finding one is probably extremely low, some re-barreled Eddystones had issues with hairline cracks in the receiver where it meets the barrel.

In C.S. Ferris's book " United States Rifle Model of 1917 " page 167 he wrote a paragraph titled Eddystone Sales Prohibited. The Columbus [Ohio] Army Service Forces Depot sold the Model of 1917 rifles. The Ordnance Supply Officer there recommended on May 14,1947 to the Chief of Ordnance that no Eddystone rifles be sold. They had a lot of complaints from people who had there guns polished and blued. These were all re barreled rifles in Army inventory. The Army finish did not show the cracks so they could not tell a good receiver from a bad one. Original barreled rifles were OK. Re barreled rifles could crack under the stress of re barreling. Remington and Winchester did not have this problem.

Like I said, the likelihood is very small, but you should closely examine your receiver under magnification to make sure. You might have to apply a penetrant and wipe to see if any "bleeds" from a potential crack.

Any chance for some pics?

The problem of cracking receivers was known back in WWI. I have to find the quote from a letter from the President of the Winchester company to an US Army Ordnance Captain complaining about the quality of the steel to be used in the receivers which resulted in cracking of the receivers. The Captain responded back that the cracked receivers were being pulled from the production lines as discovered. It not to say that several perhaps hundreds slipped through due to war time (WWI) production. Unfortunately there is no follow up information during the US rebuild programs in WWII if they encountered any cracked receivers during the rebuild process. I will see if I can find the letters and quotes.

--fjruple