I have a nice old Canadian P17. It is a lend/lease rifle issued to Canadian Home Guard units (corrections on my terminology are welcome). The question I have is in regard to the red paint on the furniture. These rifles had a band of red paint to denote 30-06 and not .303 British. This rifle has the red paint but only in the area between the upper and and lower guards, near the front, and couple of spots in the dings up there. I want to re-paint that red stripe and bring it back to its Canadian glory. Should I do it or will that lead to dating dating my sister and saying hello to uncle dad (becoming Bubba if you don't get my humour)
Red paint on a Canadian p17
- Thread starter rattus
- Start date
Greenfields
CGN Regular
- Location
- Lower mainland BC
Leave 'er be.
The red band is only about 4 in long and has 30-06 stenciled painted over in black.
Many fellows removed the red paint after they came up for sale in Canada. AT one gun shop I cam across in BC, the proprietor had removed the paint on all of the rifles he had on the shelf.
Once that paint is gone, it will be very hard to replace properly. A spray bomb just won't cut it. Then, you will also need a stencil cut out to the proper size.
Many fellows removed the red paint after they came up for sale in Canada. AT one gun shop I cam across in BC, the proprietor had removed the paint on all of the rifles he had on the shelf.
Once that paint is gone, it will be very hard to replace properly. A spray bomb just won't cut it. Then, you will also need a stencil cut out to the proper size.
Forty4Forty
Regular
- Location
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Ditto, unless it babba leave it alone.
I have a Lend Lease M1 Garand, manufactured in December of 1941, in original configuration. It too has the red band and .30 stenciled in the stock. This was sent to Britain for Home Guard use. I beleive the value of such rifles is in their history, and to alter it at all in this instance would do a disservice to it, and you when you sell.
Just my thoughts, sounds like a nice rifle.
Just my thoughts, sounds like a nice rifle.
From what I could see of the original post, the rifle has already been stripped of the red paint and the owner is wondering whether or not he should reapply it along with the 30-06 black stencil. one each side.
I agree, if the paint and marking are already there, leave it alone. Most of those rifles were cut up for sporters, there just aren't that many left. The same thing happened with the 03 Springfield, Garands and other lend lease rifles. There were many other rifles etc and calibres issued to Home Guard and other groups as well as to non essential service personnel at home.
I agree, if the paint and marking are already there, leave it alone. Most of those rifles were cut up for sporters, there just aren't that many left. The same thing happened with the 03 Springfield, Garands and other lend lease rifles. There were many other rifles etc and calibres issued to Home Guard and other groups as well as to non essential service personnel at home.
Albayo, mine has a red band with 30-06 stenciled in black on it.
There is some confusion as to the CIL "red stripe" ammunition and its connotations.
The cartridge collectors that I have talked to say that it is "regulated" for aircraft machine guns.
I assumed as you stated that they were for easy identification so as to avoid confusion.
There is some confusion as to the CIL "red stripe" ammunition and its connotations.
The cartridge collectors that I have talked to say that it is "regulated" for aircraft machine guns.
I assumed as you stated that they were for easy identification so as to avoid confusion.
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes
80,000 of these rifles were sent to Canada just after June 1940. In Canada they were used by units like the Pacific Coast militia Rangers. The best book I have read on this rifle and one that I highly recommend to any owner is "United States Rifle Model of 1917" written by CS Ferris. Additional information on this rifle can be found by "Googling" for it. I've found PDF files on both the WW1 manual and the WW2 manuals.
Here is whats left of the red band on mine:
Ammo box:
British Home Guard photo with M17 rifles (looks like maybe a white band, further back)
When you see the red band on the rifle and the ammo box, it's pretty hard to believe they signify anything other than matching ammo for the rifle.
Ammo box:
British Home Guard photo with M17 rifles (looks like maybe a white band, further back)
When you see the red band on the rifle and the ammo box, it's pretty hard to believe they signify anything other than matching ammo for the rifle.
Nice pics of the red band. Mine is literally just a couple of flecks left in the joint between upper and lower hand guards and a couple of depressions/dings. I know the poll is going against the paint job but I wonder why considering it would be minor restoration to a historically accurate and significant time. We repaint historical aircraft all the time, why nor a rifle - if it is accurate?
The value isn't important to me, I bought it for $200 and I'm more interested in having something representing that time period than maintaining its entire history including the "cleaning" some previous owner did.
The value isn't important to me, I bought it for $200 and I'm more interested in having something representing that time period than maintaining its entire history including the "cleaning" some previous owner did.
Hi Guy's
The M1917 was not lend lease they were bought from the US. The reason for the red band was to show they were 30-06 not .303. In Canada home guard was called Veterans Guard of Canada and they used a lot of wpns most were .303. M1917 were used for training the Army and the RCAF we had very few Lee Enfields in1940.
Cheers
The M1917 was not lend lease they were bought from the US. The reason for the red band was to show they were 30-06 not .303. In Canada home guard was called Veterans Guard of Canada and they used a lot of wpns most were .303. M1917 were used for training the Army and the RCAF we had very few Lee Enfields in1940.
Cheers
That's good info to have, thanks. So Canada bought rifles and the Russians got them for free! And Veterans Guard of Canada - will have to Google that.
- Location
- Smithers, B.C.
We also don't generally re-sell aircraft
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Myenfield, on a black and white photo, that red band will look white.
If the rifle actualy had a white band, it would be a DP.
If the rifle actualy had a white band, it would be a DP.
