Remington M1917A4

[Promo]

I hope the title attracted enough interest to read this thread - especially since it basically is, what the title already promises!

Being asked on a M1917 sniper by a friend of mine if I knew anything about a scoped M1917 rifle I told him about various prototypes. However, I've never before heard of the rifle he mentioned and later sent pictures of what he had aquired.

The history was soon cleared as it turned out that for whatever reason the Austrian Army somewhen after 1960 had decided to set up two Remington M1917 rifles with the scope mount and scope of the Remington M1903A4 sniper - a sniper of which the Austrian Army anyway had 460 rifles which they were given by the US as a post WWII aid, and therefore probably some spare mounts and scopes too!

For the rifle to accept the Redfield mount quite some work was required. Even when considering that the rear sight base is milled off, you still have the same problem as with the M1903A4 that the model designation had to be split to not be covered by the sight base. And that was what they professionally reapplied, see the pictures! And of course they removed the front sight too, since it was no longer needed.

With only two rifles ever being built and the purpose of this experiment still so far unknown, I'm glad to be the owner of one of the two, with the other one still being in the possession of the Austrian Army. And I definately plan to bring this rifle to the firing range and see how it performs!


Edit 18.06.2023: re-uploaded pictures that were lost in forum crash.

[JGaynor]

Interesting piece Georg! You have done it again

Jim

[Mikesm44]

A great share! Thank you for giving us all a chance to take a look at it.

[Lee Enfield]

I hope the title attracted enough interest to read this thread - especially since it basically is, what the title already promises!

Being asked on a M1917 sniper by a friend of mine if I knew anything about a scoped M1917 rifle I told him about various prototypes. However, I've never before heard of the rifle he mentioned and later sent pictures of what he had aquired.

The history was soon cleared as it turned out that for whatever reason the Austrian Army somewhen after 1960 had decided to set up two Remington M1917 rifles with the scope mount and scope of the Remington M1903A4 sniper - a sniper of which the Austrian Army anyway had 460 rifles which they were given by the US as a post WWII aid, and therefore probably some spare mounts and scopes too!

For the rifle to accept the Redfield mount quite some work was required. Even when considering that the rear sight base is milled off, you still have the same problem as with the M1903A4 that the model designation had to be split to not be covered by the sight base. And that was what they professionally reapplied, see the pictures! And of course they removed the front sight too, since it was no longer needed.

With only two rifles ever being built and the purpose of this experiment still so far unknown, I'm glad to be the owner of one of the two, with the other one still being in the possession of the Austrian Army. And I definately plan to bring this rifle to the firing range and see how it performs!

https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....9&d=1487160184

when did Canada surplus the m.1917's?

[browningautorifle]

Very nice rifle. The C broad arrow makes it even more so, I'd expect to have found that in possession of the PCMR during the war. My father-in-law told me he was issued one during WW2 as a driver posted to Fredricton NB. He only used it on weekends when they went out Saturday afternoons to play soldier in the field across the road. Interesting if they went back to the US, then LL to Austria. Then of course this...

[CINDERS]

Very nice looking piece of kit please keep us updated on how it performs on the range thanks for sharing.

[Promo]

when did Canada surplus the m.1917's?

Canada in fact gave quite a lot of M1917 rifles both to Norway and Denmark after WWII.

And to the question how and when it came to Austria: after WWII Austria was split into four occupation zones: French, British, US and Russian. Nearly all of those four left lots of their weapons with the new Austrian "B-Gendarmerie", the first Army of Austria post WWII. A friend of mine did his Military service in Austria with a Russian M44 Carbine - and the police in Kärnten (English "Carinthia") was equipped with Enfield No. 1 Mk.III rifles (remember the "ÖSTERR. GENDARMERIE" marked Enfields!). Therefore the origin of the two M1917 rifles which were converted might not be easy to answer, but for sure lies within the supply and leftover items post WWII.

Another funny mention would be a different rifle of the Austrian Army: they were also supplied Springfield M1922M1I, M2 and M1922M2 rifles (and also Remington 513T rifles). They did not knew what to do with those, therefore they gave it to Biathletes to have something to train with. Therefore they turn up from time to time in Austria.

[M1903Guy]

Nice score. How does she shoot?

[browningautorifle]

Canada in fact gave quite a lot of M1917 rifles both to Norway and Denmark after WWII.

That would make prefect sense, probably instead of returning LL to originator. You can see traces of our paint band.