M17 Remington

[Detroit-1]

I 'm looking at a Rem. with the cutout reciever. Rem. barrel, bolt with matching # to the reciever, floorplate and trigger group. Stock is a unmarked with the Rem. cutout for the bolt and the serial# stamped on the butt. Follower cut to keep the bolt from staying open after last round. Some small parts Edystone. Finish maybe black park. Bore needs cleaning. Import marked. Wants 550.00. What do you think?

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

You want a decent bore at the price. Everything else is OK, but bore condition is very important. Bring a cleaning rod to the deal.

[Iditarodjoe2]

Would you clarify what "the cutout receiver" refers to? Also "the Rem. cutout for the bolt"? I don't believe either Remington nor Winchester is known to have Parkerized any of their rifles during production, so it's been refinished at some point (not uncommon).

[Detroit-1]

The receiver is cutout by either Norway or Denmark. The stock has the oval cut out for the bolt not the square off one like an Eddeystone.

[Iditarodjoe2]

Thanks Detroit. I'd never heard of that. Are there any pictures available of this cutout?

[pickax]

Here is an older thread with pics. The two main schools of thought were either a quick ID in the dark of the '06 cartridge, or machined to accept longer cartridge through strippers.
Quite a few threads debating this if you search the forum using "1917 notched receiver"

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....ght=Pics+M1917

[Seaspriter]

I don't believe either Remington nor Winchester is known to have Parkerized any of their rifles during production, so it's been refinished at some point (not uncommon).

Not sure about all the Model 1917 production plants, but an interesting story of the Eddystone plant (from remingtonsociety.org) stated:
At the Eddystone facility the browning of barrels, receivers, bolts, guards, floor plates, upper and lower bands, front sight carriers, and butt plates were initially unsatisfactory, and this process required a huge outlay of manpower. The browning procedure was replaced by a process developed by the Parker Rust Proof Company. This new process came into full operation at Eddystone by September 1918, resulting in a decrease in manpower from 305 (for the browning process) to only 80 (for the Parkerizing process).

[Detroit-1]

I'm sure it has been rebuilt at some time or another. My question is with the cutout and import marks is this gun worth 550.00? Does the cutout lower the value or raze it?

[Iditarodjoe2]

Thanks for the link, pickax. Most enlightening.

Detroit-1, just my humble opinion but historically I can't think of any case where European modifications to US Lend-Lease firearms have had a positive effect on their value. Think about Danish stock disk cutouts, "European beech" wood, Greek "B" stamps on 1903 floor plates, &c. Conversely, here in the US the premium has typically been on unmolested rifles that never left US hands. Import marked rifles are normally less desirable than those without such marks.

These are factors that primarily affect collectability. As a "shooter grade" rifle, I agree with Calif-Steve; your main concern is likely the condition of the barrel. You can at least visually inspect the bore and muzzle and do a "bullet test" but, sadly, I'm not aware of any readily available gage for checking throat erosion in a 1917. Best option, if possible, might be to take it out and see how it groups.

[Detroit-1]

That's what I was thinking. I do collect WW11 guns and I know inport marks hurt value just wondering how much on a M17. I the bore is good, I do have the guages, I'll try for 400.00.