Winchester made 1917 Enfield in .303

[Toller]

Was at the range tonight and a good buddy asks "What's a 1917 Enfield worth?"

Since I know nothing about milsurps other than my uncle's super bubba Lee Enfield truck gun I told him I didn't have a clue but I knew some folks who could probably give him a ball park figure.

He got it in a multi gun deal. Near as he can tell it is an original unmodified 1917 Enfield in .303 British made by Winchester. Decent walnut stock, he says the blueing is very good considering it's age (maybe reblued?). He has original rear sight, currently has a scope mount that attaches in place of the rear sight. No additional holes drilled.

The reason he is asking is someone wanted to trade him a pre '64 Winchester 30-30 straight up for the Enfield and Ron didn't want to take advantage of the guy as he didn't figure the Enfield was worth much, although it is in nice shape and shoots well.

Can anybody give me (him) a rough idea of it's worth or point us at a website that can give him some additional information on these rifles? Ron is a bit of a history buff and is frustrated in that he can't find much information on them.

Thanks!

 

[Hitzy]

It's a P14 if it's .303, M1917's are 30'06.
P14's run cheaper then 1917's, worth about $225-$275 in EX condition. They were originally issued with long range volley sights, front sight being on the left hand side of the stock, and the rear aperture attached behind the ejector housing. Most were stripped of these sights during refurb. If it has them, it would be worth a little bit more.
This is a P14, notice the stock is different from the 1917 below.

1917

 

[cantom]

Hitzy- did all P14's have volley sights? I bought one recently for $220 that is like new...no sign of volleys, meaning...it may have been refurbed?

Note the forend having been joined- I was told by a collector at the gun show that that was a duffle bag gun...someone cut it down to fit into their duffle bag...ever heard that one before?

 

[Calum]

I would be interesting to source the war records with the serial numbers to find out who was issued the rifle...their relatives might still be alive, and know the full story of this rifle.

 

[Hitzy]

If you look at the 1917 stock, it has long finger grooves cut into it that P14 stocks do not have. I can't see the side of your stock in the pics to tell what it is. I've bought a few P14's that were stuck in 1917 stocks. The 1917 action is a little longer but stocks work fine on P14's. There will be a little bit of a gap in front of the trigger housing when a P14 is stuck in a 1917 stock.
I bought this one for $275, all matching 4 digit ERA with PH5B rear sight and PH front globe target sight. The stock however is a 1917 unfortunately.

 

[tiriaq]

Who knows why the stock was cut? Looks like different wood was added. If a rifle was cut to go into a bag, it would make more sense to cut it under the band - the stock would be shorter to pack, and the splice would disappear. I have never heard of any surviving documents listing which rifle was issued to whom, although it would certainly be interesting to know. All P14s were made with the long range sights, and "fat boy" stocks. Many were refurbished during WW2, the sights removed and the stocks reshaped.

 

[cantom]

Who knows why the stock was cut? Looks like different wood was added. If a rifle was cut to go into a bag, it would make more sense to cut it under the band - the stock would be shorter to pack, and the splice would disappear. I have never heard of any surviving documents listing which rifle was issued to whom, although it would certainly be interesting to know. All P14s were made with the long range sights, and "fat boy" stocks. Many were refurbished during WW2, the sights removed and the stocks reshaped.

Before I get criticized, I bought the rifle because it was in such mint shape, not because of the spliced forend story...I had already bought it before hearing that. There was a guy who said he'd owned several like that. This cost me $220.

So, if all P14's had volleys mine's been refurbed then...they didn't stamp them FTR or anything?

 

[Toller]

Thanks for all the information. Will pass it along to my buddy.