This weeks purchase: M1917 sporter

[Alkali]

This is a very nicely done conversion: far above most of the kitchen table handiwork efforts. It reminds me of Remington's factory sporter version, the 30S "Express", which was (is) easily the equal of Winchester's model 54 of the same period.

[harry mac]

I have considered a speed-lock/cock-on open kit, but I've just never gotten around to it.

I still enjoy shjooting it.

Don't do the cock on opening conversion. Don't you know Germany only lost the war because their Mausers cocked on opening?

[Alfred]

I figure one day on finding a few bubba'ed rifles of various types and finishing them out as they should have been.
Theres plenty of still solid shooters out there which are beyond restoration, at least at any reasonable out lay. Completing them as custom sporters mwould be a good excercise of skills, and improve on what would otherwise remain an eyesore.

PS
In some jurisdictions owners of former military rifles had to have the capability of mounting a bayonet removed. You'll occasionally see such rifles with only a few inches of the fore end cut back. Plugging cleaning rod channels was also a common practice with otherwise unaltered rifles. When the pull through was introduced use of cleaning rods by troops was discouraged to avoid damage to rifling, and it was found that vibration from cleaning rods in their channels affected accuracy.

[Chuckindenver]

Don't do the cock on opening conversion. Don't you know Germany only lost the war because their Mausers cocked on opening?

hmmm, 1903,s cock on opening, didnt the US win that one??

[emmagee1917]

The M1 Garand and carbines , the M1911s and A1s ,the M1941 and 1944 Johnson rifles and LMGs , and the M1903 and 1908 pocket pistols . Chris

[harry mac]

hmmm, 1903,s cock on opening, didnt the US win that one??

Only because the majority of the rifles you used in France were M1917; and you had British help.
Jeez the only people you've ever beat without our help is....... us

[Surpmil]

Only because the majority of the rifles you used in France were M1917; and you had British help.
Jeez the only people you've ever beat without our help is....... us

Actually without "your" help they didnt stand a chance.

The Ferguson Rifle

Before the American Revolution ended in 1783, the progress of Britain's war effort, including what led to King's Mountain, raised questions, some of them by General Washington. The common denominator among them was: General Sir William Howe and his political associates.

As early as 1781, a prominent Englishman, Joseph Galloway, accused Howe of "losing the war on purpose." He charged that Howe, a member of Britain's Whig Party, had been an American sympathizer for years. When Howe had stood for Parliament in Nottingham in 1775, he said he would never fight against the Americans. But when the King ordered him to Boston, Howe could not refuse.

For years Americans had wondered why every time Howe had the Continental army nearly beaten, he refused victory. Squandered opportunities included: Long Island, where he had to issue repeatedly his order to halt his troops, preventing them from storming Brooklyn Heights; White Plains; Chatterton's Hill; Brandywine, where he could have followed up and destroyed Washington's army; and Valley Forge, when the Americans were sick, nearly helpless, and low on rations and ammunition. After Long Island, American General Israel Putnam said, "General Howe is either our friend or no general."

And his brother commanded the Royal Navy in the American 'theatre'.

Similar things happened in 1812 at the siege of Plattsburg for example...

[mdoerner]

Only because the majority of the rifles you used in France were M1917; and you had British help.
Jeez the only people you've ever beat without our help is....... us

Except the Mexicans (1848) and Spaniards (1898), but I guess we're omitting the 19th century from this discussion? I'll keep the "peace keeping" missions in Central America from the early 20th century out of the discussion as well, seeing they were bone-fide wars per-se....

Mike D

[three0three]

I bet with some good handloads that is one hell of a target rifle. good find(even though its been sported)