U.S. model of 1917 information please......

elKrusto

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Hey milsurp nutz, I have a few questions about my U.S. model of 1917 and am hoping some of you can help out.
I realize a picture is worth a thousand words, but I don't know how to post them so here is my best description.

It is a Remington that is in its original military configuration, except at some point someone varnished the stock. It appears to not have been sanded, just varnished over, as the edges are not rounded over and the c broad arrow on the right side of the rear is still intact. The bluing is 60% or better and has never been altered.

The barrel has the R, the flaming bomb and 11 17 on it, the top of the left rail on the action has two eagle head acceptance stampings on it, the left side of the action has a flaming bomb and the bolt handle does as well.

The serial number of the rifle is in the low 900 range and the bolt handle is also stamped with the same three digit serial number. Under the serial number on the receiver, there is a c broad arrow stamp.

The wood has no major dings in it and the bore shines like a mirror, making me think it never saw any action.

I have asked as many milsurp guys as i could, and then exhausted my internet search and have learned that it is most likely a PCMR issued rifle, but thats about it. The internet has volumes of information about the winchester PCMR model 94's, but very little on the model of 1917.

I am wondering:
1. Would it be accurate to surmise that a low 900 numbered rifle could be the first day of production?
2. Some say it should have a red line painted on the stock, others say not.....any ideas?
3. The original rear sight had the peep cut into a U shape, so i replaced it with another R stamped sight, but it is 6.2cm long, and the original was 5.6cm long. The new sight sits over the stripper clip cut out now. Did they change the dimensions later in production?

Any information on this rifle, or any sources to find out more information is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Elkrusto
 
The M1917 is an awesome rifle, good score elKrusto.

The replacement rear sight you found likely is one for the P14, your rifle's older sister, which is graduated for 303. Still works, until you can find the correct one for your M1917!

Lou
 
Excellent strong action. Many were converted to 2.5" magnum family. I have two such, a 264, and a 338. My other using this action is a 416 rigby.

Yours is not sounding like a candidate for conversion. Doing so would of course destroy what sounds like a collectable.

Contact Hacs....historic arms collector society. A man named Ron is involved with them, has two tables at every show. Parts for firearms i have never heard of, so perhaps a source for your rear sight.
 
I believe you purchased that rifle at the Kamloops gun show.

If it's the same rifle, that stock has been sanded before it was varnished. The cartouche on the butt isn't sharp. PCMR? Maybe? A lot of P17s came into Canada and were stamped with the broad arrow C.

There should be a red band around the front wood on the rifle with 30-06 painted through a stencil in black letters.

You got that rifle for a good price but there was a reason you did.
 
Yes I did get it last weekend at the kamloops show. You must have been one of the guys i showed it to asking information about it. My problem is that I showed it to as many milsurp guys as i could and got several different opinions. The varnish is chipped in a tiny spot right at the c broad arrow and the stamping is very sharp.
A couple of guys said its definitely a PCMR, some said it should have red paint, some said not. The photos online of the PCMR model 1917's do not have the red paint....
It seems that everyone has a different opinion of what it is, how it should look, and what its worth. As far as what it is worth, yeah of course i am curious, but again, opinions said under $500 to above $1600, with the average being $800-850. As far as price goes, i don't care about that right now as it is for my collection and not resale.
The research is half the fun, but can be very frustrating when every source has different opinions. I will follow every lead provided, so thanks in advance everybody.
 
Regarding that cartouche on the butt - I have one here with very clear marking - it is RCAF. Apparently the M1917's were commonly issued to RCAF base guards, so saw next to no fighting use.
 
The M1917 were used by many Canadians domestically during WW2. eg ARP, PCMR

I would offer that generally they were painted with the red band and ammo designation although there seems to been have some variance in exactly how this was applied likely despite the headsheds best intentions.

Check the stock for unit markings. I have one marked to the Kent Rgeiment which was part of 6th Div in BC during the war. The rifle may have been pushed out to the PCMR once they were replaced with the Lee-Enfield

Below a couple of PCMR press photos...

mDL8KkP.jpg

oq4WNGK.jpg
 
3. The original rear sight had the peep cut into a U shape, so i replaced it with another R stamped sight, but it is 6.2cm long, and the original was 5.6cm long. The new sight sits over the stripper clip cut out now. Did they change the dimensions later in production?

I would guess you have acquired a .303 one.
 
M1917 in Canada was issued to:
RCN
RCAF
Unmobilised Militia
Training Centres
RMC
PCMR
and generally to anybody else with the exception of the Active Army

The term P17 was commonly used by vets.
The official Canadin Army designation for the M17 was "Rifles Enfield .30-06".
 
I'm baby-sitting one for a friend who needed a place to store it while he moved.

He's been gone a year now and hasn't come for it or his other rifle. Says his sons want it but neither of them despite promising to do so for 10 years has got their PAL yet.

Anyway, it also seems to have had very little use. The bolt face and bore are in excellent condition. The stock still has the original finish, it feels waxy to the touch. It has the red paint, but to be honest, I haven't seen a C-Broad Arrow stamp on it.

It came from the Queen Charlotte Islands but no one knows how it got there, possibly RCAF or PCMR? Sad thing is that it was stored in damp conditions and the metal is freckled with light rust.
 
My uncle was in RCAF during WW2. Spent a good part of his service time as a fitter on 135 (F) Squadron at Terrace BC. He mentioned shooting an Enfield rifle cal 3006. 135 was equipped with P-40's at that time. Uncle Gordon was very proud of his RCAF service and carried Air Force flag in at least a hundred Legion parades.
 
Thanks louthepou & mk vII, you are correct, further research, and inspection of the rear sight shows that the 303 sight is calibrated from 200 to 1650 yards while the 30-06 is 200-1600 yards. (interesting as the 30-06 would be flatter shooting).

Amazing also to see that these rifles are still in service with the Danish Sirius Patrol, and the lee enfield was in service with the Canadian Rangers until around 2016..... A good rifle is a good rifle!
 
Thanks louthepou & mk vII, you are correct, further research, and inspection of the rear sight shows that the 303 sight is calibrated from 200 to 1650 yards while the 30-06 is 200-1600 yards. (interesting as the 30-06 would be flatter shooting).

Amazing also to see that these rifles are still in service with the Danish Sirius Patrol, and the lee enfield was in service with the Canadian Rangers until around 2016..... A good rifle is a good rifle!




I have a Danish one, very accurate.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/573595-Enfield-Model-1917-(P-17)-experts-needed

https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/m1917-rifle-in-21st-century-greenland/

found this article which is interesting
 
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Well, I stripped the varnish using a gel stripper, and found several more stampings that were hidden under the thick old coating.
Behind the trigger guard there appears to be a faint c broad arrow.
Infront of the magazine there is a crisp eagles head and 3 digit number.
In the cutout for the bolt there is a capitol letter F.
Just before the front barrel band there is a crisp D7H stamping.
Obviously never been sanded, just couldn't be seen under fifty year old varnish.
I have applied three coats of boiled linseed oil so far, (following the instructions on the bottle), and it seems to have stopped absorbing the oil now. I am wondering what you guys have experienced with boiled linseed oil?
 
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