1917 Winchester Mystery

[savannahjoe]

I just purchased a mystery 1917 winchester and thought you guys might help answer some questions.
This 1917 has the rear sight guts removed and has a 1903 springfield rear sight installed on the barrel(with a professionally modified hand guard) and 1903 front sight.
Anybody have a clue how it came to be??
I would appreciate any info.

thanks,
SavannahJoe

Information

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[jamie5070]

Questions: Has the barrel been shortened? If not, What are the makers of the barrel and receiver? What is the approximate receiver serial number and barrel date? Some time ago there was a rifle on one of the auction sites that was made of parts from different types of rifles. Bannerman special?
It's always interesting what you can find out there.
john

[savannahjoe]

Serial # is 176440.
Barrel is not shortened.
The whole gun is all Winchester , except for the sights.
barrel date is 2-18

[Dan Wilson]

OUCH!
Why would anybody in their right mind put one of those idiotic 03 leaf sights on a 1917?

Dan

[Calif-Steve]

Bannerman Rifle. He had crates and crates of '03 and '17 parts after WWI. So, he put together drill guns and even sold some off a real guns. Lots of his '03's had '17 bolts.

[Match223]

The Bannerman rifles used a welded on Kraig rear sight, you are correct about the cut down 1917 bolt.
My guess is they wanted a windage adjustable rear sight and liked the 1903 rear sight.
Here are pic's of my Bannerman Model 37

[snell]

Match223,

What an interesting Franken-chester you have there... 03 rifle, Krag sights and 1917 bolt.. Is it fully functional and if so how does it shoot? It sure would get the tongues wagging at a CMP shoot LOL

Art

[Dan Wilson]

Man that is one funky looking beasty

Do you shoot it or is it just kept for shock value?

Dan

[Chuckindenver]

Bannermans..
suprising.
it has a early Rod Bayonet sight base, and maybe rear sight, SHT 1903 receiver, 03 safety sleeveand a 1903 barrel.
stock, trigger guard, and bolt are from a 1917.

DONT SHOOT THIS RIFLE.
Sedgly and Bannermans advertise that they reheat treated low number Springfields...

not a good idea, likely very unsafe to shoot.
and may have a pin through the chamber for Drill use..

[Chuckindenver]

hate to say, nothing about that rifle is a Winchester, other then maybe the bolt and trigger guard.