[ARCHIVED THREAD] - M1917 (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 7/17/2017 8:53:05 PM EDT
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I am an unapologetic fanboy of the rifle and it's history. I think it's better than the 1903. But we couldn't keep the M1917 after WW1, because of "not an American designed rifle!" folks.
I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? |
They are better than the M1903, if for no other reason, because of the sights. The 1903A3 corrected that, but still. IIRC, more of them saw use in WW1 than the M1903. My Dad has one that has, unfortunately, been butchered in to a .458. 
You can find them all over gunbroker. |
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I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? But don't hold your breath. Patience, luck and $$$ should get you a nice example. I will struggle by with my 03-A3. |
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Quoted:
I am an unapologetic fanboy of the rifle and it's history. I think it's better than the 1903. But we couldn't keep the M1917 after WW1, because of "not an American designed rifle!" folks. I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? |
| I have a sporterized one my dad bought in the early 60s. I've just started buying parts to build it back to factory, the wood is going to be the toughest part to acquire. I've been thinking of leaving it alone though, and trying to find a decent complete rifle, which might not be any easier. |
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I see them at gun shows on a regular basis. Anywhere from $750 to $850.
I got a barreled action a few years ago (5 or 6) for $150 and then got the rest of the metal parts off e-bay and Numrich. Got the stock/handguards from Sarco. When I looked down the barrel it was the cleanest, prettiest original barrel I'd ever seen. The guy said he got it when he was paid to clean out an old shed. It was just hanging on the wall. Wasn't even rusted, inside or out. |
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When we were in the Philippines in 1941-42, during the Japanese invasion, our troops were primarily using the 1917. Supposedly they were unreliable due to broken extractors. Do not know the truth or how widespread that was. |
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I recently bought one in immaculate condition. Immaculate except for the sewer piped barrel that is. I am stuck between leaving it alone and not shooting it or rebarreling it and ruining its originality. It's a perfect key holer. http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38/rccox/Guns/5C3CF5EB-A8C0-4015-BB7D-EA64277E9242.jpg http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38/rccox/Guns/1A60CF81-F195-4EEF-AB0F-BC80F4678ABE.jpg |
| Before re-barreling one of these think twice. The accepted method to remove the old one is to make a relief cut on the barrel before trying to unscrew it. They are on TIGHT! Trust me I know. I have a decent Eddystone but I just traded a well used but still original one for a vintage pompier ladder. |
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Quoted:
I am an unapologetic fanboy of the rifle and it's history. I think it's better than the 1903. But we couldn't keep the M1917 after WW1, because of "not an American designed rifle!" folks. I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? Inheritance or estate sale. My dad had one, built at the Eddystone arsenal, it was the one rifle he would bring when we went shooting. Heavy SOB (especially compared to his Springfield 03A3) but it shot really well. |
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Quoted: They are better than the M1903, if for no other reason, because of the sights. The 1903A3 corrected that, but still. IIRC, more of them saw use in WW1 than the M1903. My Dad has one that has, unfortunately, been butchered in to a .458.
You can find them all over gunbroker. |
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Quoted:
When we were in the Philippines in 1941-42, during the Japanese invasion, our troops were primarily using the 1917. Supposedly they were unreliable due to broken extractors. Do not know the truth or how widespread that was. |
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If you handload you could try some flatbase .311 bullets....that may fix your issue.... Quoted:
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I recently bought one in immaculate condition. Immaculate except for the sewer piped barrel that is. I am stuck between leaving it alone and not shooting it or rebarreling it and ruining its originality. It's a perfect key holer. http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38/rccox/Guns/5C3CF5EB-A8C0-4015-BB7D-EA64277E9242.jpg http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38/rccox/Guns/1A60CF81-F195-4EEF-AB0F-BC80F4678ABE.jpg |
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Quoted:
I am an unapologetic fanboy of the rifle and it's history. I think it's better than the 1903. But we couldn't keep the M1917 after WW1, because of "not an American designed rifle!" folks. I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? The ironic part is that the 03 wasn't an American designed rifle either. Stole that bitch straight from the Germans. |
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Quoted:
I am an unapologetic fanboy of the rifle and it's history. I think it's better than the 1903. But we couldn't keep the M1917 after WW1, because of "not an American designed rifle!" folks. I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? I sold a beautiful one a few months ago. Perfect bore, VG finish, great wood. |
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I do handload but nothing is fixing this issue. If you look at the picture I was aiming at the spot marked "point of aim" it was keyholing shots way to the left at only 25 yards. The rifling in the barrel is gone. |
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They aren't difficult to find. I've got both a Winchester M1917 and a Remington Pattern '14. I saw several M1917s at a recent gunshow. http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx116/MVolkJ1975/Milsurps/M1917_zps65fc4c64.jpg http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx116/MVolkJ1975/Milsurps/Pattern%201914/Pattern14_zps3er0h4fc.jpg Be aware that prices on the M1917s are up lately. $750-800 is pretty much the base level nowadays. It used to be that nobody really wanted them (story of the M1917/P14s entire existence, really) and you could get them for less than $500, but those days are gone. They were one of the better rifles of WWI, thanks to their good sights. They're a little heavy for the capacity, and they weren't the SMLE's equal, but that goes without saying. |
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Is the P14 generally cheaper than the M1917? |
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Quoted: Yep, IIRC we were paying the Germans for the design while we were fighting them with it. |
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These days, yes; unless the P'14 still has its volley sights, then they're about the same ($800). The rub with the P'14 is that many of them are in bad shape - the British did not have a large amount of spares for these rifles and they were neglected towards the end of their service life. It can be quite difficult to find one with a good bore. Three rifles in 303 would be too much for me with the cost of ammo. |
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Last year at a local podunk WWI airshow there was a mini WWI camp setup. The guy had an M1917 lend/lease rifle. I about shit when I saw the red stripe. He said he ALMOST cleaned it off until he found out what it was.
If my wife weren't there, I would have thrown cash at him 
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Quoted:
Last year at a local podunk WWI airshow there was a mini WWI camp setup. The guy had an M1917 lend/lease rifle. I about shit when I saw the red stripe. He said he ALMOST cleaned it off until he found out what it was. If my wife weren't there, I would have thrown cash at him |
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While better rifles in WW1, the issue wasn't "not designed here" but the fact that the tooling was commercial and not government. The Army wanted a rifle they controlled, to ensure a reliable level of availability and quality. The M1917 had availability that depended on commercial companies.
The 1903 became the M1917's better as soon as they added the M1917 sights, anyway. After that they were effectively the same, but the M1903 was lighter. |
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Quoted:
I am an unapologetic fanboy of the rifle and it's history. I think it's better than the 1903. But we couldn't keep the M1917 after WW1, because of "not an American designed rifle!" folks. I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? As a start, post a WTB ad at the CMP marketplace forum and gunboards.com (Tuco's) |
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While better rifles in WW1, the issue wasn't "not designed here" but the fact that the tooling was commercial and not government. The Army wanted a rifle they controlled, to ensure a reliable level of availability and quality. The M1917 had availability that depended on commercial companies. The 1903 became the M1917's better as soon as they added the M1917 sights, anyway. After that they were effectively the same, but the M1903 was lighter. |
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Quoted:
I think it's better than the 1903. But we couldn't keep the M1917 after WW1, because of "not an American designed rifle!" folks. I really want one, but it's not like you can pick them up at CMP. LOL. How does some acquire the rifle in 2017? Luck? I got lucky with mine. $250 at a pawn shop, but Bubba got to it a long time ago. Needs a few things to be restored to it's former glory.[/color] |
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Quoted:
I recently bought one in immaculate condition. Immaculate except for the sewer piped barrel that is. I am stuck between leaving it alone and not shooting it or rebarreling it and ruining its originality. It's a perfect key holer. http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38/rccox/Guns/5C3CF5EB-A8C0-4015-BB7D-EA64277E9242.jpg http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38/rccox/Guns/1A60CF81-F195-4EEF-AB0F-BC80F4678ABE.jpg |