Thoughts on possible stock split - US Model of 1917 Eddystone

[22SqnRAE]

G'Day Fellow US Enfield enthusiasts,

I would like to know if anyone has come across a similar type of damage to their US Enfield stock as I have encountered. I bought this rifle a few months ago, apparently a safe queen from a prominent collector, as the story goes, and noticed the split on the RHS of the stock, above the magazine well.

I'm at a loss how this lateral split has occurred, as it appears to be a tension fracture of the outer timber fibres, suggesting radial bending from the LHS of the stock to the right.

Attachment 81523Attachment 81524

A possible way this could happen is if some one disassembled the rifle, supported the stock at the end of the butt and the extreme fore end, with the LHS uppermost, then stood on it, midspan. Silly suggestion, but the fracture pattern seems to support that type of failure. I am struggling to see how the fracture could occur if the barreled action was seated firmly in the stock.

I am planning to epoxy the split, then screw pin it with brass stock repair wire.

Rather than speculating on this confusing damage, thought that I might ask the wider community what experience of knowledge you folks may have to offer on possible causes. If I am aware of the cause, I may be better prepared to prevent further such damage, should it be a likely recurrance.

Thank you for your interest in reading and in anticipation of your thoughts and suggestions.

Information

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[oldfoneguy]

This is apparently a very common location for splits on both P14 and Model 1917 stocks. Here you can see an arsenal repair in the same location on my P14 stock. The repair which is very old was made with 2 dowels driven in from the top with no type of glue or resin present. The repair is very strong perhaps much stronger than the wood ever was on it's own. I believe the damage happens to that spot from outside the rifle rather than inside as you surmised. A solid bump to a fairly weak area is all it takes. That is my theory with no proof to the contrary so who knows? Bill

[browningautorifle]

I believe the damage happens to that spot from outside the rifle

I think that's right too, a fall or some such would likely do it. You should be able to make good again though, whether dowel or brass screw rod.

[22SqnRAE]

This is apparently a very common location for splits on both P14 and Model 1917 stocks. Here you can see an arsenal repair in the same location on my P14 stock. The repair which is very old was made with 2 dowels driven in from the top with no type of glue or resin present. The repair is very strong perhaps much stronger than the wood ever was on it's own. I believe the damage happens to that spot from outside the rifle rather than inside as you surmised. A solid bump to a fairly weak area is all it takes. That is my theory with no proof to the contrary so who knows? Bill

Thanks oldfoneguy,

Interesting that it is common. I note from all the M1917's I've seen, there is a transverse brass reinforcing rod through the stock around about center of that damage area. It can be seen (just in my photos. These seem to have been original installations at the time of manufacture, or very early on in service life.

Appreciate your thoughts.

---------- Post added at 08:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 AM ----------

I think that's right too, a fall or some such would likely do it. You should be able to make good again though, whether dowel or brass screw rod.

Thanks Jim,

My proposed methodology is pretty simple and should do the trick quite well. A little epoxy injected as deep as I can in the fracture, clamp, dry then several brass pins to secure the edges of the fractured surface, some light sanding to blend the brass rods and refinish the oiled timber.

That both oldfoneguy and you have concluded external damage seems ot be supported by the damage to the timber around the magazine well. The rifle has had an impact at some stage, which probably lead to the split.

Thank you.

[Doco overboard]

Maybe its because there is some end grain there and when the mortise was made the wood split out because it just became unsupported. Age, vibration, humidity change and things like that.

[22SqnRAE]

Maybe its because there is some end grain there and when the mortise was made the wood split out because it just became unsupported. Age, vibration, humidity change and things like that.

Possibly a contributing factor, DO, but unlikley to be the prime cause. I could think of hundreds of No 1 Mk III*'s that should be split across the ledgers if that was a common issue with age but are not. I'm comfortable with the idea of external impact (dropping, being dropped on in storage that has resulted in this damage.

Nothing that can't be repaired!

[Doco overboard]

Sorry, didn't understand being dropped was thinking more about twisting, In that case I would say its from from being bumped into the ejector box of the rifle it was drug off of from a stack or pile or being pulled off a rack quickly.