On the bolt-handle of my near immaculate M1917 Winchester rifle is a mark which looks like DPB is this a drill purpose rifle? The person I bought the rifle from has shot it and he says it is a deadly shooter(which I have no reason to believe otherwise) I was just wondering if the DPB may be another mark. I should mention it is a very early winchester as it has the star in a circle mark and a 5 digit serial number starting with 12.
DPB mark on my Winchester M1917
- Thread starter davemccarthy707
- Start date
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
Interesting. I have a M1917 Remington which ended up in the hands of the Danish for a time.
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
With a good eye you can shot flies of sh-t at 200 yards. Apparently used by the Danish Rangers in Greenland.
Have you got a pic of that rifle marking?
Thanks ...
Regards,
Doug
I am away from the rifle until Thursday. However it is simply a DPB just like that, on the bolt handle above the knob.
"DP" indicates drill purpose. This mark is not applied to servicable rifles or components and bears further investigation. Is there a "DP" stamped anywhere on the receiver or barrel when you strip it down? Also, you want to check headspace with the bolt stripped. It would be good to check for even bearing of the locking lugs by marking the rear of the lugs and observing the wear pattern after you cycle the bolt a number of times.
I'd also take a close look at the receiver for cracks, especially where the barrel butts up against the front face of the receiver. One way to check for this is to imerse the receiver in a fast evaporating solvent. A crack will retain the solvent and show a line after the solvnent has evaporated from the surface of the metal. Dunk the bolt in solvent while you are at it to check for possible cracks.
Is the bolt marked with a "W" to indicate Winchester? Looks like the stock might be an Eddystone from the shape of the recess for the bolt handle. The safety is an Eddystone for sure.
I'd also take a close look at the receiver for cracks, especially where the barrel butts up against the front face of the receiver. One way to check for this is to imerse the receiver in a fast evaporating solvent. A crack will retain the solvent and show a line after the solvnent has evaporated from the surface of the metal. Dunk the bolt in solvent while you are at it to check for possible cracks.
Is the bolt marked with a "W" to indicate Winchester? Looks like the stock might be an Eddystone from the shape of the recess for the bolt handle. The safety is an Eddystone for sure.
No other DP marks. Also the bolt handle is covered in shellac. On further research it appears that the mark of a 5 sided star in a circle on the receiver is an indication of an early production M-1917.
The stock is a Remington. The Bayonet lug is Winchester. The bolt is Winchester. Also I didn't think the US Military marked their weapons down to DP?
EDIT** I just talked to my gunsmith who told me not to fire this rifle. I just got this rifle from the EE a couple weeks ago and have contacted the seller to see what we can do about it.
The stock is a Remington. The Bayonet lug is Winchester. The bolt is Winchester. Also I didn't think the US Military marked their weapons down to DP?
EDIT** I just talked to my gunsmith who told me not to fire this rifle. I just got this rifle from the EE a couple weeks ago and have contacted the seller to see what we can do about it.
The US didn't use the DP mark; the Brits and us did. Note the crown right beside the DP mark. Many M1917s saw service with England and Canada during WW2 as reserve weapons. Good idea not to fire the rifle until you have checked it out in detail. These rifles passed out of military technical control many moons ago and there have been many opportunities for folk to swap parts and otherwise #### with them over the yrs.
While a lot of parts interchange between P14 and M1917 rifles, there are some subtle differences. For example, the firing pins and springs are different. Last year I got a very nice Eddystone M1917 in original, un-modified condition with all Eddy parts, except that someone had swapped in one of the #### on opening cocking piece assemblies.
While a lot of parts interchange between P14 and M1917 rifles, there are some subtle differences. For example, the firing pins and springs are different. Last year I got a very nice Eddystone M1917 in original, un-modified condition with all Eddy parts, except that someone had swapped in one of the #### on opening cocking piece assemblies.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
Could be a parts gun with the bolt coming from another DP marked action and barrel
Some things to look for on an M1917 Enfield
In addition to the obvious things, like overall metal and wood condition, bore, and headspace, there are some other things to look at when contemplating purchase of an M1917 Enfield and how much should be spent on it.
- M1917s were made by Eddystone, Remington, and Winchester and virtually all bits and pieces are marked with the letters E, R, and W respectively. An original rifle will have all parts coded to the maker. All matching parts plus condition sets a premium price.
- Original metal finish was blued, except for some of the very late Eddystone M1917s which were finished in black parkerizing. Many rifles which saw service as training rifles in WW2 were parkerized. Stocks on US WW2 re-built rifles may also feature various arsenal stamps/ cartouches on the stocks.
-original barrels will be month/date coded in the 1917-1919 timeframe and so marked on top of the barrel behind the front sight. Barrels with WW2 dates are replacements.
-A fair number of ex-Danish M1917s came on the market in the 1990-1992 timeframe. These can be identified by the s/n stamped in the ventral surface of the buttstock (a Danish convention which you also see on most ex-Danish M1 Garands). S/ns were also stamped on the bolt handle(not a US practice). Some, but not all, ex-Danish rifles have a milled cutout at the rear of the receiver ring and some will have a vertical roll pin in place of the normal front sight blade. Parts are also jumbled by maker's code indicating overhaul/repair. These are generally very sound rifles.
-M1917s were also used as second line weapons by the Brits and Cdns in WW2 and may feature a number of distinctive Brit/Cdn markings, incl a red painted band around the forestock, unit/regimental stampings, Brit disposal/sale stamps and the C/Broad arrow stamp. Some of the Danish rifles have the C/broad arrow as well indicating transfer and use post-WW2.
-Back to the original topic of this thread, a "DP" stamping on the metal or stock indicates drill purpose use only. As a rule a "DP" stamped rifle or critical component, like a bolt, should not be used for live fire. There was a reason why the part was inspected and classified as DP in the first place. Folks can do as they choose, but I won't fire a DP marked rifle or bolt component.
In addition to the obvious things, like overall metal and wood condition, bore, and headspace, there are some other things to look at when contemplating purchase of an M1917 Enfield and how much should be spent on it.
- M1917s were made by Eddystone, Remington, and Winchester and virtually all bits and pieces are marked with the letters E, R, and W respectively. An original rifle will have all parts coded to the maker. All matching parts plus condition sets a premium price.
- Original metal finish was blued, except for some of the very late Eddystone M1917s which were finished in black parkerizing. Many rifles which saw service as training rifles in WW2 were parkerized. Stocks on US WW2 re-built rifles may also feature various arsenal stamps/ cartouches on the stocks.
-original barrels will be month/date coded in the 1917-1919 timeframe and so marked on top of the barrel behind the front sight. Barrels with WW2 dates are replacements.
-A fair number of ex-Danish M1917s came on the market in the 1990-1992 timeframe. These can be identified by the s/n stamped in the ventral surface of the buttstock (a Danish convention which you also see on most ex-Danish M1 Garands). S/ns were also stamped on the bolt handle(not a US practice). Some, but not all, ex-Danish rifles have a milled cutout at the rear of the receiver ring and some will have a vertical roll pin in place of the normal front sight blade. Parts are also jumbled by maker's code indicating overhaul/repair. These are generally very sound rifles.
-M1917s were also used as second line weapons by the Brits and Cdns in WW2 and may feature a number of distinctive Brit/Cdn markings, incl a red painted band around the forestock, unit/regimental stampings, Brit disposal/sale stamps and the C/Broad arrow stamp. Some of the Danish rifles have the C/broad arrow as well indicating transfer and use post-WW2.
-Back to the original topic of this thread, a "DP" stamping on the metal or stock indicates drill purpose use only. As a rule a "DP" stamped rifle or critical component, like a bolt, should not be used for live fire. There was a reason why the part was inspected and classified as DP in the first place. Folks can do as they choose, but I won't fire a DP marked rifle or bolt component.
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
He recommended not firing it simply because of the drill purpose mark on the bolt. He did not see the firearm, I called him and he said if I changed the bolt the rifle MAY be okay. However he would have to see it to be sure.
