My New 1917

[jamesmcnatt]

First I'd like to start by saying hello to everyone, and that this is my first rifle that I've bought for it's historical value. From what research I've done, I'm pretty sure I found an amazing deal (I bought it off a coworker) @ $160. The stock has been "sported" but the metal is all intact, minus a few minor pieces. I plan to restore this as best I can. So here's the run down. The barrel is Winchester dated 6-18, all other metal is Eddystone and the serial # is 490833. There is NO rust and it is in firing condition. As far as the parts I need, the biggest is a replacement stock, but I also will need handguards, front ring & swivel, & the screws, and that is really all it's missing. All the sights are entact.

Oddly enough my father (I think) found a 1917 Bayonet at a yard sale this past weekend. I don't have much info on it yet but from what he is describing to me it sounds like a vintage bayonet w/scab in preaty good shape. He's bringing it to me this friday so I'll know for sure then...

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I hope these pics show up. I thank you in advance for any help or comments and I'll post pics of the bayonet this weekend.

-James

Information

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[jmoore]

Looks like a viable project. Odd to find a Winchester barrel on an Eddystone, though. Usually replacement barrels are Johnson Automatics, dating from the WWII era.

[Patrick Chadwick]

As far as the parts I need, the biggest is a replacement stock, but I also will need handguards, front ring & swivel, & the screws,

I go all that for 60 euros over here, from a scrapped rifle. Where you are, parts are more readily available, so for another 100 $ or so you should be able to put it back into original configuration, and will still have a bargain rifle.

[jamesmcnatt]

I thought that also. I'm sure there's a story as to why the rifle parts are miss matched and I wish I could find out more information about it. My thinking was maybe it was replaced during WWI and that the barrel was what they had on hand. I'm hoping that I might find more information when I tear it down to put the replacement stock on it.

---------- Post added at 07:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:38 AM ----------

Yea, all the metal parts that I need are going to run me about $60, but the stock is going to be quite a bit more. I'm also having a hard time finding a vintage Eddystone stock. I don't plan to use a newly manufactured one unless I have to.

[Patrick Chadwick]

My thinking was maybe it was replaced during WWI and that the barrel was what they had on hand.

WWI replacement is statistically unlikely. An Eddystone made in Feb-March 1918 would have reached the troops a month or so later, and the "end user" would hardly have been able to wear out the barrel in what remained of WWI. At that time, the Eddystone plant was still operational and there would have been plenty of replacement Eddystone barrels available.

IMOH, the barrel is probably a "commercial" (i.e. non-arsenal) replacement from anytime since, and could have been made because the original barrel was shot out, bell-mouthed, ringed, or just plain rusty! There's surely no way you can tell now. Unless, of course, you can find an arsenal refurbishment mark somewhere.

[jmoore]

As far as stocks go, the Eddystone ought to be easiest as there were more produced than by either Winchester or Eddystone's owner, Remington.

[jamesmcnatt]

The barrel is not a commercial barrel. All the marks and stamps are on it, just like it's supposed to be. Id have to look again to tell you the location of each stamp but It has the Winchester with June 1918 manufacture date, the ordinance bomb stamp, as well as the eagle head acceptance stamp...

[budmant]

I think when Patrick said "commercial", he meant an outside entity i.e. gunsmith replaced the Eddystone barrel with the Winchester

[jamie5070]

From the pictures it looks like the receiver is parked and the barrel is blued or manganese parked so I would lean towords a post goverment rebuild.
john

[jamesmcnatt]

From the pictures it looks like the receiver is parked and the barrel is blued or manganese parked so I would lean towords a post goverment rebuild.
john

I'm not understanding the reasoning or logic behind this thought process. The barrel is dated 6 - 18 with all the stamps that a Winchester M1917 would have in WWI service. If it was a post war rebuild then why use an old barrel if most used the Johnson Auto barrel... I realize I'll never get the perfect answer as there are no records. No matter how it ended up miss matched, for $160 I'm counting it as a lucky find. I can't wait till friday when my dad brings me the possible 1917 bayonet. I'll have a new history endevore for the weekend.

Thank you for all the comments guys! This rifle has really sucked me into the history...