What should I expect to pay for a Enfield M1917?

MuthaFunk

MuthaFunk

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I have a line on a nice original wood looking M1917. I wanted something to shoot 30-06 but given remembrance day is around the corner I thought I'd take the opportunity to own this piece of WWI history and satisfy my 30-06 itch.

This particular one is an Eddystone made unit with an odd finish that looks like it was part of a refurb at some point. Looks bead blasted and painted... Anyway the barrel is excellent lookin inside and the original wood looks great accept a small crack along the top of the handguard. The trigger is really quite nice. I'm excited to shoot it. It looks complete from the pics I've seen online. No bayonet or sling.

There seems to be a mixed bag on trying to pick out a value on a piece like this from what I can find on the EE here.

Any ideas?
 
The M1917 Enfield has always been somewhat undervalued in relation to its' better known brother, the M1903 Springfield.The M1917 is a fine military rifle and was an expedient war product which equipped the majority of US troops in WW1.

I've been a lifelong fan of the M1903, but would choose the M1917 as a superior fighting rifle on the basis of its sights, #### on closing feature and overall robustness. That said, I really like the M1903 on the range and have owned many more M1903s than M1917s.

It seems that M1917 prices trail M1903 prices by about one third, all things being equal.
 
enefgee said:
I held one in my hands yesterday that was "unissued" in new condition - 100% finish, bright shiny bore, no wear to the follower, and perfect furniture. The ask was $1K.
Click to expand...

You really need to be careful with "unissued" rifles. Especially as you don't know what to look for. Boyd's is making new stocks for the P17 and NIB parts are still available.

I don't have an issue with a military replacement stock, which still show up as New Old Stock every once in a while or even a take off stock that's been sitting in a decent, dry spot for years being put onto a restored sporter. That's something that could happen while in military service when parts were swapped by unit armorers to keep serviceable rifles on the line.

There should be stamped cartouches present on the stock of some sort.

I saw a P14 in Victoria, that was a walk in, with a Boyd's after market stock. I will admit, it was gorgeous but the asking price was in the range of the rifle you describe. Way to high because of that Boyd's stock and IF IT WASN'T properly set up, the accuracy might not be acceptable and that may be the reason for sale. The rifle you were looking at, may even be the same rifle????

John, I'm under the impression people prefer the 1903 Springfield because of all the hype and movies it was part of. The other reason people prefer the 1903 is its sleeker appearance.

That bulged belly for the magazine gives it an awkward appearance and makes it look heavier than it really is.

Personally, I prefer the P14/P17 rifles to the Springfield as far as field conditions go, for the same reasons you do with one exception. You're taller than I am and the Springfield would likely be more ergonomically correct for your build. I find the Enfields ergonomics make it easier to carry and handle as the weight is between my hands in many shooting positions and the stock comb is straighter, making recoil gentler.

Accuracy wise, if both types are bedded properly and have excellent bores they will both likely be better shooters than many can hold.

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Gerald, look at the length of pull on the straight grip M1903 stock; it looks like it was issued for a race of dwarfs.:eek: That said, its fine for shooting off the bench. Old M1903 shooters learned to put their thumb along the side of the grip, instead of over it, otherwise they'd get a thumb knuckle in the snout.

Both the M1903 and M1917 are essentially the same for bedding and tweaking for accuracy.

My relationship with the M1903 started off many moons ago. My dad had one that he got from our hired man, a US Army WW1 vet. Dad used it to shoot one of the first whitetails seen in our part of the country back in the 1930s. The native deer were all mulies. He later gave it to an uncle and it was lost from the family; too bad.

I guess my compensation was to inherit a M1892 Win SRC in .44-40 that my great uncle bought when he returned from WW1. It's mfr date is 1919. I used to cast black powder loads for that one and shot a lot of rabbits in the winter and bullfrogs in the spring with it. A bullfrog can really jump if you shoot below it in the water. :eek: I shot a deer with it once and watched it leak to death; not much shock power there compared to a .30-06.
 
John, they are both basically Mauser Actions. One a bit more modified than the other, so bedding is very similar but that doesn't mean it's been done properly. Especially when it's metal on wood.

Boyd's makes very nice looking stocks but the inletting is almost always to big. That's what I was referring to.

You may find the length of pull, 13 inches, on the Springfield short. For me, it's just about right. I seem to remember reading the length of pull was set purposely short. There were several reasons for this. Stature of the troops at the time and because the shooting positions most encountered in the field back then was prone or from a supported position behind cover.

The Enfield has a 13 1/4 inch trigger pull, which is just about perfect for me and the length I set on my custom rifles or on stocks I've shortened for my own use.

The Enfield is usually a bit heavier as well and maybe that helps the balance.

I must say, I do like the lines of the Springfield and with the 03a3 rear sights, if may even have an edge over the Enfield.

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A "matching" Eddystone M1917 will have parts marked "E". Some are a jumble of various makers parts as a result of parts swapping in or after service. The "E" stamp will be prominent on the forend tip of the stock, the barrel and a lot of visible parts.

Value depends on condition and originality of parts and finish. Bore condition ia a factor as well. You could give a run down on parts markings, markings on the barrel to the rear of the front sight and some pics if you want a realistic idea of value.
 
So it looks like it’s all matching?? I see a lot of E’s on everything. The barrel says 9-18 so would that make it an original from Sept 1918? Does this look like it’s been refurbed at some point?
 
The rifle appears to be in original condition and looks correct. Late production Eddystone M1917s were parkerized while earlier ones were blued. I'd probably value it in the $800 range in today's market.
 
Sorry to hijack the thread, but is there any trick to removing the front sight on a P14? I'm restoring a Remington but I can't seem to get the pin out to install the handguard ring and upper and lower bands.
 
The front sight carrier pin can be driven out from either side with a punch. After the pin is removed the front sight carrier can be driven forward and off the barrel using a brass drift. You might try irrigating the keyway slot at the rear of the carrier with some Kroil or other penetrating oil. Those parts have been together for 100 years so they are a tad tight.
 
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