Just bought this 1917 Eddystone

[Promo]

I assume the "2U" was a typo, it was meant to say "U2" and was a pre-dedication prior to their birth to the band U2 ......

[pickax]

Now to just get Bono and the band to autograph the stock

[oldfoneguy]

The Eddystone stock that my P14 came in has a 9C in that location. I'm guessing it's an inspector's mark or some type of assemblers code.

My Winchester Model 1917 was made 12/18 as the government contract had them being produced until the end of the year.
My stock is definitely walnut and is only slightly darker than yours. Why?

Winchester and Remington both continued to build these rifles into early 1919 gambling on the possibility the Army would adopt the 1917 over the 1903 but it didn't happen.
Since yours may have not been issued as I know mine wasn't it's likely your rifle like mine were among the thousands of unissued rifles sold off in the 1920's through the NRA.
It probably has been privately owned for the last 90 years and thank goodness it was never sporterized.

The issued rifles were kept in inventory greased up and put in storage until WWII where they were used for training, rear echelon troops and lend lease give-aways. - Bill

[Todd2]

Thanks fellas. Bill, I did read that the 2U was the initial inspector and the Eagle was final inspection. I really love this rifle it's a keeper for me. Bill I've seen the 1917s in a lot of shades. My other stock is dark brown which seems the most common. Here's a thread on a nice one hope it's ok to put links.

Unissued Original 1917 Eddystone, outside known Serial range

[oldfoneguy]

That rifle is a beauty but if you check the barrel date it tells the tale. It's dated 12/18 just like mine.
These rifles were made post war just in case the Germans found a way to rise up again.
That is why the government had the manufacturers keep building them into December.
Eddystone stopped all production at the end of December so there aren't too many of their post war rifles around.
Remington continued production into February or March, Winchester continued production well into April.
That's why there were so many more of their post war rifles around. - Bill