M1917 finger grooves

[Promo]

Hi there,

I've been reading here for quite some time now and I must admit it's one of the best internet platforms for surplus rifles. Well, and at least until now I had nothing to add here - until some picture comparison made me wondering about the P17 finger grooves. I continued doing some research, but didn't find an answer.

Can anyone tell me the if there were two different types of finger grooves on the M1917 and for what reason? I've had until now 7 of those rifles and noticed differences.
You might take a look on my Eddystone (upper in picture) and Winchester (lower in picture) P17. They're both not refinished, good visible stock markings and far too much wood around magazine and butt plate for being sanded or reproductions
Attachment 10371

Doing research on the internet (auctions etc.) also gave both finger grooves as a result and the book by Charles R. Stratton didn't answer my question.

As far as I remember both stocks are E marked, so this might not be depending on where they were made?

Regards,

Georg

Information

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[jmoore]

Generally, the more tapered grooves in the foreend are of Eddystone mfg. Round are Remington and Winchester, but they aren't alogether the same. No real reason for the differences except that the tooling was a bit different from plant to plant.

[Dan Wilson]

Wow, those really look odd.
I dont think I have seen factory finger grooves that were that shallow and pointed before.
Would it be possible that its a Eddystone P-14 stock that had the groove added and fitted to the M1917?

Generally the Eddystone groove are the most tapered but not by that much.

Dan

[jmoore]

I've seen some pretty darn "pointy" groove ends on Eddystones. That one wasn't noteworthy at all to me...

[Promo]

Hi Dan,

Sorry - forgot about this thread.

I looked up once again those rifles, the Eddystone has an E marked stock, the Winchester is marked with a R. Both have eagle marks on it, so I don't believe it's a modified P14 stock.

So it might just be as jmoore said - just a bit different from plant to plant.

Regards,

Georg

[Calif-Steve]

The Eddystone stocks are a direct copy of Springfield and RIA stocks. Woodworkers tell me it is a very difficult inlet cut as well. Very correctly done by Eddystone. Anybody know WHY the stocks have finger grooves in the first place?

[Aragorn243]

The Eddystone stocks are a direct copy of Springfield and RIA stocks. Woodworkers tell me it is a very difficult inlet cut as well. Very correctly done by Eddystone. Anybody know WHY the stocks have finger grooves in the first place?

Sounds like a trick question but I'll bite. I would assume they are so the shooter can get a better grip on the rifle. May have something to do with wearing chemical gear on the hands.

[Calif-Steve]

Better grip on the rifle for bayonet use. Alows for finger control of rifle in bayonet fighting. WWI taught everyone that the age of the bayonet was over.