Riddle me this...figure this out and blow my mind! - SOLVED!

sphen

sphen

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So I'm talking with a friend's dad about buying a bunch of his rifles. None are too fancy, mostly bolt and lever action hunting rifles. Not super old, but not new either. He's almost in his 80s and hasn't done much shooting in the past 10 years. He's starting to loose it upstairs and has finally decided it would be best if he got rid of his guns. He's old school, no internet, no cell etc... so getting information from him has been challenging.

Anyways, going through the list with him over the phone (camera is too complicated for him) I was able to figure out most of what he's got, but two guns have us stumped. He can't find any markings other than "717" on the guns, no caliber and no other significant markings he can find. One has a bayonet and the other is missing the bayonet. He describes them as older military guns, but other than that I got nothing from him.

The closest I can find is a Varberger, but that doesn't really match the "military" look or the bayonet.....anyone else have any ideas? He's a solid 6 hour drive so getting up there to get photos or make an offer is a long way to turn back around because we can't strike a deal or I have no idea what to offer him as I can't ID the gun.
 
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Any chance a local cgn nut would be allowed to pay a visit and take a couple of pics? It would be tough for some seniors in the best of times, probably an impossibility in the midst of a pandemic.
 
Sounds more like a Pattern 1917 Enfield. If it's cut down, $300 in VG to EXC condition. If it's full wood and not drilled and tapped, which sounds like it may be the case, The stock would be worth $300.

It sounds like a sportered M1917 Enfield to me.

Not cut down, stock or barrel and complete VG $700, Exc $1000 Fair $400 Good $500
 
Could the mystery rifles be P17 or M1917 ? Old eyes and small markings?

Edit: looks like bearhunter is faster on the keyboard than I am...lol.
 
Who's selling the rest of the guns for him? If it's him he could likely get discouraged or ripped off, especially if he's having this kind of trouble selling them to you. If you're up to it, discuss the possibility of selling them on his behalf. If he and your friend are cool with it you get some time to research the guns and make him a fair offer on the ones you want, you also get to make sure a friends ailing father gets what their worth.
 
They are unlikely to be M1917 rifles as those rifles were very well marked, and there is practically no way that those numbers would be legible and nothing else would be. They’re likely old Mausers of some description.
 
Only offering more questions but...

Where is this '717' located? On the receiver (left side, right, or top), barrel, stock (maybe even a painted rack number)?

Old eyes; possible he is mistaking Eastern Arab numerals for our Western Arabic? That could make it '616' on some kind of Persian Mauser or Hakim or something? Anybody recognise it as that?
 
IronCanadian said:
Who's selling the rest of the guns for him? If it's him he could likely get discouraged or ripped off, especially if he's having this kind of trouble selling them to you. If you're up to it, discuss the possibility of selling them on his behalf. If he and your friend are cool with it you get some time to research the guns and make him a fair offer on the ones you want, you also get to make sure a friends ailing father gets what their worth.
Click to expand...

If he's reasonable with his pricing I'll be picking up the whole lot. He just wants them gone, and I'm worried strangers would rip him off. Most of his other guns I was able to figure out. A few older 870s, a few single shot bolt 22s and a bunch of revolvers, some nicer ones. I've done a few estate sales in the past, even if I don't make much I enjoy handling guns I've never had a chance to try in the past.

red_bailey said:
Only offering more questions but...

Where is this '717' located? On the receiver (left side, right, or top), barrel, stock (maybe even a painted rack number)?

Old eyes; possible he is mistaking Eastern Arab numerals for our Western Arabic? That could make it '616' on some kind of Persian Mauser or Hakim or something? Anybody recognise it as that?
Click to expand...

I don't know, he's a tough old bear and his memory is shot. Every time I call him about 85% of our conversation is just reminding him who I am and assuring him I'm a stand up guy. His long term memory is good but his short term memory is gone. It looks like I'm going to head up Sat/Sun and take a look at the whole batch, get some photos and get some fishing in while up there.

I'll check back in with the photos!
 
Bad news, turns out they were just SKSs. He wasn't familiar with the design and knowing they were both the same gun he only looked at the number on one. That was the "717", the most discernable part of the serial number. So he assumed they were both "717"s. Bah, ah well. Poor guy offered be both for $100. I'm glad he didn't just go into to a shop or something, he would have gotten ripped off on almost all his firearms.
 
Lol, I wasn't looking at it from a financial stand point. He's the father of a friend so I'm offering him fair prices. Ended up picking up 19 of his guns and paid him $1500 over his asking price because he didn't know what some of them were worth, like the SKSs. I was just very curious to see what these "717"s could be. I was intrigued and sort of looking forward to solving the puzzle. However, it took all of 3 seconds to see they were both SKSs. It also doesn't help that I already have an SKS, so no need for another.
 
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