M1917 numbers and marks
clifford shelley
recently and realized I don't knopw what they mean. Can anyone help
please?
The Eddystone receiver is marked on top:
U.S.
MODEL...1917
EDDYSTONE
575105
and there's a U.S Ordnance stamp on the side (an old fashion grenade I
think).
On the bolt the number '879' is stamped near the top of the handle and
an 'R' on the underside, and there's another Ordnance stamp.
There are also a few small indistinct stamps too - British component
inspection marks I think.
Do the numbers tell a story, and specifically is the bolt the original
one for the receiver, can the markings tell this, and does it matter?
(Despite being nothing special its a fine gun, seems to cast a spell
on the ammo to place it just where I want it. Makes me look a better
shot than I am.)
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SpiceScoot
#I took a look at the numbers and marks on my M1917 target rifle
#recently and realized I don't knopw what they mean. Can anyone help
#please?
#
#The Eddystone receiver is marked on top:
#
# U.S.
# MODEL...1917
# EDDYSTONE
# 575105
The Enfield was a British design for a very powerful cartridge. When war broke
out the stocks of .303 on hand convinced the powers that be to build the
Enfield in .303. Contracts were let to build them in the US at Eddystone PA.
and at Remington. When the US needed rifles as they were preping to enter the
war the rifle was changed again to fire the .30/06. Your rifle was built at
Eddystone and the serial # will probably tell someone the year and month. I
would guess around early 1917 but someone will set me straight. The Barrel
should have a marking on it right under the front sight. Something like E
5-17. Meaning the Barrel was made at Eddystone in May of 1917. That might
help indicate if the Barrel is original to the rifle. Most of them were
reworked between the wars and since the priming of the time was corrosive most
of them needed to be rebarreled. The markings on the bolt indicate that it is
not original. See above. The rifles were dissasembled and when they were
reassembled a head space gauge was used to make sure the rifle was safe. No
effort was made to make sure that the original bolt was returned to a given
rifle.
#
#and there's a U.S Ordnance stamp on the side (an old fashion grenade I
#think).
That is a US ordinance acceptance stamp. GI's referred to it as "a flaming
piss pot!"
#
#On the bolt the number '879' is stamped near the top of the handle and
#an 'R' on the underside, and there's another Ordnance stamp.
#
#There are also a few small indistinct stamps too - British component
#inspection marks I think.
#
#Do the numbers tell a story, and specifically is the bolt the original
#one for the receiver, can the markings tell this, and does it matter?
#
#(Despite being nothing special its a fine gun, seems to cast a spell
#on the ammo to place it just where I want it. Makes me look a better
#shot than I am.)
Enfields were known to be shooters. The rear sight offered no way to adjust
for windage and "Kentucky" windage was not Army doctrine at the time. I guess
they figured that, in combat, If you fired at an enemy and kicked up dust a
foot to his right you would take the time to adjust sights rather than aim a
foot to his left and take another shot. At the end of WW1 there were more
serviceable Enfields left in stock than there were serviceable Springfields.
For this reason, as well as for tradition, (army rifles came from the
Springfield armory) the Springfield remained the standard and the Enfield was
held in reserve and given to allies at the start of WW11. It was also used for
training American troops. Hope this helps. Larry K.
#
#
#------------------------------------------------------------------
clifford shelley
# #Subject: M1917 numbers and marks
# Hope this helps. Larry K.
Yes - thanks for that - and to the others who emailed me.
So - It started life in May 1918 at the Eddystone Arsenal - maybe
went to France and back. Sometime it received a new Remington bolt but
with Eddystone cocking piece and sleeve. It may then have come over
to England during WWII to give us more than pitchforks to fight with.
Received its number on the bolt and then presumably went into store
again.
Then it got reworked - new barrel and trigger to make it what it is
today.
Amazing really - still doing good work after nearly ninety years -
along with many of its siblings (including one travelling across the
US on hunting trips).