M1917 Star in Circle

[Dan Wilson]

Well if Duff has a book out on the 17 now I guess I need to buy it and see what is different than Ferris.

As for the star bit, well even though Col Thompson said, on Mar 25 1918

"The Winchester and Illion rifles, until considered interchangeable under final degree, were marked with a "star" on the left side of the receiver

there are other things that tend to refute that.
1) All Early Winchester Rifles, Even the two model shop (experimental development) rifles in the Cody Museum that have NO govt acceptance stamps, nor were even submitted to any govt entity, are sporting the stars on the receiver.
2) Winchester SMLE #3's (P-14's) have the very same stars on the receiver rings
3) I really want to say one of the shotgun nuts was telling me some of the 1897's had the stars as well (that is just hearsay though, I have never seen it myself)
4) On M1917's, the star is stamped into the Hardened section on the receiver rails, they would have had to anneal this area prior to striking OR the star would have to be stamped in before initial heat treatment. If it was a mark forbidding movement into the ETO, why would Winchester have been stamping them into All the receivers since March (?) 1917, long before interchangeability issues were brought up over seas and long before any M1917 ever even made it overseas.

Just cause its written in a book or a letter don't all make it so, I see too much empirical evidence that puts loads of doubt on the theory put forward (perhaps mistakenly) by Col Thompson.

Dan

[5MadFarmers]

Well if Duff has a book out on the 17 now I guess I need to buy it and see what is different than Ferris.

As for the star bit, well even though Col Thompson said, on Mar 25 1918 there are other things that tend to refute that.
1) All Early Winchester Rifles, Even the two model shop (experimental development) rifles in the Cody Museum that have NO govt acceptance stamps, nor were even submitted to any govt entity, are sporting the stars on the receiver.
2) Winchester SMLE #3's (P-14's) have the very same stars on the receiver rings
3) I really want to say one of the shotgun nuts was telling me some of the 1897's had the stars as well (that is just hearsay though, I have never seen it myself)
4) On M1917's, the star is stamped into the Hardened section on the receiver rails, they would have had to anneal this area prior to striking OR the star would have to be stamped in before initial heat treatment. If it was a mark forbidding movement into the ETO, why would Winchester have been stamping them into All the receivers since March (?) 1917, long before interchangeability issues were brought up over seas and long before any M1917 ever even made it overseas.

Just cause its written in a book or a letter don't all make it so, I see too much empirical evidence that puts loads of doubt on the theory put forward (perhaps mistakenly) by Col Thompson.

Dan

That was a very well thought out post. Your points are compelling.

[jls77]

Ran across this pic. of the star on a Winchester P-1914. This rifle also has many British proofs. JLS

[A square 10]

just FYI my P14 eddystone does not have the star , my 2/18 winchester M1917 does , no longer have my remington so cant check ,

"And last of all, this has probably been covered, but the stock has been chopped and both handguards thrown out plus the front barrel band ta "sportyize " da rifle. I do believe these parts are still available and fortunately the metal bits haven't been buggered. (except for the odd shape of that barrel band)"

for those wanting stocks and handguards - john is listing them here -
Accessories, Parts Sniper Stuff Catalog

and as to the comment above about percieved recoil of the M17 vs M03 , i agree and i think its because of the enfield style stock