1917 sniper

[ranger]

Good Evening,
I'm new to MILSURP website.....Sure is alot of fun...GREAT
job guys !!!
I've seen P14's in sniper form many times.....
Have never seen a M1917 as a sniper..
Were there any M1917's used for sniping purposes..
( U.S. military ).
Thanks
Richard

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[jmoore]

Nothing official, AFAIK. A few were scoped for test purposes after WWI, but it was mostly scope tests, not rifle tests.

[gunner]

I own an "T" marked Winchester M1917 but without any traces of a mounted scope. Its accuracy is extremly good. Maybe that they have selected some for the use as a sniper rifle and switched than to the 1903´s? Dont know more facts.

Regards

Gunner

[Chuckindenver]

they played with the 17 as a sniper rifle, but used the 1903..
they have a Winchester 17 sniper on display at the Cody Museum.
along with all the other one of and weird rifles from Winchester..

[browningautorifle]

Ian Skennerton has illustrations in his book The US Enfeild. He says the rifle was called the 1917-19 rifle or the Model 1918 Sniper rifle and he thinks the latter to make more sence. Stargauge barrels were fitted to hand select actions. Sporting style stocks and no iron sights. High cheek piece. The Winchester A5 telescope was mounted on some 1917 rifles. Although some testing was done he continues, the contract was cancelled with the armistice and further independant testing was apparently done at Winchester and Frankfurt. There were relativley few produced. The two telescopes he pictures are one thin and straight, one prism like the Warne and Swazie.

HTH Jim

[TRICKSTER]

I seem to remember reading on some board that someone saw a couple of army snipers using M1917 sniper rifles in Vietnam. Has anyone else seen this?

[browningautorifle]

That would be interesting...

[JGaynor]

About 50,000 of these were ordered however the contracts were cancelled at the armistice. Good thing as the design of the scope proved to be defective.

But in many respects it was about 50 years ahead of its time.



Regards,

Jim

[Melanie_Daniels]

This was tested after WWI. The scope is the Winchester A5.

[jmoore]

Yes, all good, but how about actual "field" use? Actual sniping? Panama? Philipines? Anywhere?