M1917 Receiver Notch

[oldcorps]

I recently acquired a Remington manufactured '17 with a 9-18 barrel date from a military retiree who had gotten through CMP, supposedly via Denmark. The rifle isn't a rework and is still has 90% of its original blue finish but there is a nicely machined rounded notch at the rear center of the receiver ring. I've heard all kinds of explanations for the notch but after a little experimentation I have a plausible explanation: Using USGI M2 Ball ammo in Springfield stripper clips, when inserting these in to the Enfield action, there are no guide recesses as with the '03 or '03A3 Springfields, and the loaded clip cants forward, barely clearing the receiver ring. This isn't much of a problem with bare hands but attempting to load stripper clips with heavy gloves makes it more difficult to have the bullet tips clear the receiver ring. Basically, the notch facilitates rapid loading with gloved hands. Considering that these rifles were supposed to have been used in the cold climates of Canada, Norway and Denmark, this is as good an explanation for the presence of the notch as I can find.

Information

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[Kerry49]

Congrats on your m1917, oldcorps. I suspect there are several variations on these returned '17s.. I have a 17 with a 3/18 barrel that has indications of Danish return, I.e pin front sight, Canadian stamp on stock butt, remains of the wide red stripe behind the front barrel, numbered and mismatched bolt. does your have any of these? The book by Ferris details some of these mods that occurred along their winding road back to the USA. Btw, my17 has a groove at the rear of the action that accepts stripper clips, but no notch. yours may have been modified for service in the far north as you indicated. Good shooting!
Ps. Any chance of pictures?

[oldcorps]

The rifle's excellent condition and fine bore are what attracted me. The stock isn't cosmoline soaked and there are no signs of a red stripe but even though it's an obvious replacement because the end is marked "W" for Winchester, it's numbered to match the rifle above the lower sling swivel. Wherever it was, it saw very little use. It came with a Milsco 1943 sling which may have been added later. I have a WWI action cover which gives it a nostalgic look. My generation is still struggling with computers so I haven't learned to post pix yet.

My wife was born and raised in Ft. Wayne and is an IU grad.

[browningautorifle]

I haven't learned to post pix yet.

You could always email them to me and I'll post them for you. Check your PMs for email address.

[Wineman]

I don't understand. My Eddystone with a 1918 barrel has the clip slots. I have never attempted to use gloves (other than a shooting glove on my left hand) but the clips seem to fit just fine. I do use aftermarket SS clips with heavy springs but I have not had any issues loading it. Just shot a match last weekend and it worked fine.

Dave

[oldcorps]

You're probably not shooting under combat conditions in an arctic environment. The clip guides on the M17 receiver appear unchanged from those of the P14 which were intended for the British Enfield chargers, a design that provided considerable additional mass near the cartridge base for the .303 rimmed round. These fit quite snugly but with Springfield stripper clips, there's a lot of play, especially when trying to load rapidly with gloved hands and the rounds tend to cant forward. Happy to hear that you're shooting and enjoying your '17! Other than the lack of a windage adjustment, the '17 sights are user friendly for older shooters.

[browningautorifle]

Here's pics for Oldcorps...M1917.

[Promo]

The notch was to allow clearing the stripper clip the Norwegians used, since it moved the balls more forward. Nothing more.

[browningautorifle]

That makes more sense. I know the U.S. clips worked fine as was...

[oldcorps]

Thanks Promo. That amounts to the same thing, loading under arctic conditions. Both the '17 and the '03 have 3.5 inches between the receiver bridge and the rear surface of the ring but again, the Mauser system of the '03 holds the stripper more securely. Wasn't sure if the modification was done by Canada or Norway but I've seen '98 Mausers converted to 7.62X63 with the same modification.