someguy2800
Member
For WW1 era guns I think the Enfield was the finest service rifle of its day followed very closely by the M1917.
Which service rifle do you prefer?
- Thread starter Jessesky
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Alaskan Ironworker
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My 96 swedish mauser is the favorite of all my guns. I have a 94 also that was made under contract in germany for sweden. Both were sporterized long ago. They are just a slick smooth action compared to any 98s ive tried. The 98 would be my next choice though.
entropy
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Random 8
Member
Forgot about my favorite of all, the Greek M1903 Mannlicher Schoenaur. Probably not the greatest service rifle for rugged service, the magazine was sensitive to dirt and rough handling, but the magazine and action were a work of art when operating properly. Spawned a legendary sporting cartridge and rifle action still widely used and revered on the continent, and the rifles were so well made it's hard to believe they were a military contract.
ontarget
Member
Love me a M1917. My Winchester model is an excellent shooter. Great sights and built like a tank. What's not to love?
CapnMac
Member
Ross Mk III (which does have the fix to the bolt).
Famously, in the early days of Forgotten Weapons, Ian had a "junker" Ross that they set up with the bolt assembled wrong on purpose. They then fired this from a rest at a distance. The bolt failed to explode, leap out of the gun or force dogs & cats into un-natural cohabitation.
Famously, in the early days of Forgotten Weapons, Ian had a "junker" Ross that they set up with the bolt assembled wrong on purpose. They then fired this from a rest at a distance. The bolt failed to explode, leap out of the gun or force dogs & cats into un-natural cohabitation.
CapnMac
Member
The Pattern 1913, which in .30-06 became the US M-1917 has a gorilla-strong action. But, the P-13 was meant for the mosnters .280 Enfield, which was like 7 x 69 (I think, I remember the spec being close to 7magnum).
Risky buisness
Member
1917 is my choice. I like the 6 round thing plenty. Its stout accuriate and when I want, it can get a lot bigger cartridge. Easy to maintain, and its a real crowd pleaser at any rifle range where younger shooters have never seen a real historic battle rifle
Agreed! The Sweeds are the best of the bunch! 6.5x55 is the best cartridge of the period. Soft shooting, hardly any kick but plenty powerful for a battle rifle.
I love all my old battle rifles, but the Sweeds are my favorite! The M1917 is a great rifle with a massive action... but I wouldn't want to lug it around all day... too heavy!
I always thought an Arisaka belonged in any military rifle collection... some day I will pick one up.
JeffG
Member
1917 for me, I've owned two; one I turned one (action only) into a 300 H&H, the other was a 90%original. It was a friend"s grail gun, and he gave me $50 over what I paid for it. Love the cock on closing...
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Jessesky
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That was an issue with the 1910 Ross but not the 1905.
FL-NC
Member
WW1? P-17.
Officers'Wife
Member
The two great loves of my life are my husband and my Lee Enfield.
Speedo66
Member
Interesting that two nations who sat out WWI (and WWII) had, in my opinion, a couple of the best rifles from that period, the Swiss and the Swedes.
Although I never had a straight pull Swiss, I was fortunate enough to have a Swedish ‘96 Mauser. Great workmanship, extremely accurate, moderate recoil, what’s not to like?
Later versions of both rifles, the Swiss K-31 and the Swedish M38, might have been some of the best bolt actions of the WWII era.
Although I never had a straight pull Swiss, I was fortunate enough to have a Swedish ‘96 Mauser. Great workmanship, extremely accurate, moderate recoil, what’s not to like?
Later versions of both rifles, the Swiss K-31 and the Swedish M38, might have been some of the best bolt actions of the WWII era.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
M1 Garand. Hands down. I have each of almost everything listed. I will take the Garand.
GunnyUSMC
Member
How about a Remington manufactured Mle 1907-15 French Brethier.
Speedo66
Member
You may have misread the original post, his question referred to WWI rifles.
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Jessesky
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That’s in fantastic condition
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
Sorry Speedo. I agree that the Enfield was the best rifle of WWI. Move it forward a bit and it changes. The 1917 and 1914 were too heavy. Mauser type actions certainly had their advantages.
Nice collection of shootable firearms. A T38 Arisaka, especially the long rifle, are pretty nice to have and darn near bomb proof. WWI Carcanos are similarly decent but get a whole rifle as stocks have dried up, even handguards. There are P14's around for a decent price but original barrels are unobtanium. The weight of the rifle plus the mild .303 round makes this pleasant to fire.
A fair amount of these P14's now on the market are former drill rifles with a hole nicely through the chamber of a pristine barrel. I understand that Criterion is making or has made P14 replacements as a limited run. A swede mauser is nice to have with stocks available in the m96 version. The best way to pick up a WWI Mosin would be either getting one of the Finn variant early versions--mine still has the Romanoff crest on the receiver hex ring, or a Remington/Westinghouse Mosin which are around.
A Lebel will probably need to be purchased whole as sporters of this rifle are rare, stocks are non-existent, and even parts are very hard to come by now. One of my restorations of a Lebel has been going on about two years because I do so on the cheap--Lebel stocks are available overseas from a guy in Poland . A wwI era French Berthier is an easier go of it and you can find these sporterized quite often and stocks do come about every now and then.
One thing that is missing is a Steyr (Austria-Hungary) m95 or the Dutch version which was the primary weapon of the Austrians and Bulgarians. If possible, get one for the original issued cartridge 8x50 (handloading for this only by cutting 8x56 brass) as the WWII alteration involved chopping the barrel and stock and the lack of weight plus the upscaled 8x56 cartridge are unpleasant to fire. Most of the Mannlicher Schonauers that I have seen are either bare receivers/actions or have already been sporterized. Pricey if that has been done and military stocks are pretty much unobtanium.
Quite a few Ross 1905's around in sporterized condition including ex military but the Ross m10 was the issued rifle for the Canadian Expeditionary forces in WWI. I have a complete unbarrelled action for restoration right now waiting for an adequate barrel. The major issue is that uncut stocks are usually on existing rifles and only one guy in Canada supposedly makes repro stocks for it when he feels like it. Depending on your woodworking skills, it is possible to stretch a stock via adding a forend stock piece which originally came off from some other rifle--see GunnyUSMC for that one. It is also documented that the m1905's were sent to the U.S. for training purposes due to the serious lack of rifles for the U.S. upon entry into WWI.
A fair amount of these P14's now on the market are former drill rifles with a hole nicely through the chamber of a pristine barrel. I understand that Criterion is making or has made P14 replacements as a limited run. A swede mauser is nice to have with stocks available in the m96 version. The best way to pick up a WWI Mosin would be either getting one of the Finn variant early versions--mine still has the Romanoff crest on the receiver hex ring, or a Remington/Westinghouse Mosin which are around.
A Lebel will probably need to be purchased whole as sporters of this rifle are rare, stocks are non-existent, and even parts are very hard to come by now. One of my restorations of a Lebel has been going on about two years because I do so on the cheap--Lebel stocks are available overseas from a guy in Poland . A wwI era French Berthier is an easier go of it and you can find these sporterized quite often and stocks do come about every now and then.
One thing that is missing is a Steyr (Austria-Hungary) m95 or the Dutch version which was the primary weapon of the Austrians and Bulgarians. If possible, get one for the original issued cartridge 8x50 (handloading for this only by cutting 8x56 brass) as the WWII alteration involved chopping the barrel and stock and the lack of weight plus the upscaled 8x56 cartridge are unpleasant to fire. Most of the Mannlicher Schonauers that I have seen are either bare receivers/actions or have already been sporterized. Pricey if that has been done and military stocks are pretty much unobtanium.
Quite a few Ross 1905's around in sporterized condition including ex military but the Ross m10 was the issued rifle for the Canadian Expeditionary forces in WWI. I have a complete unbarrelled action for restoration right now waiting for an adequate barrel. The major issue is that uncut stocks are usually on existing rifles and only one guy in Canada supposedly makes repro stocks for it when he feels like it. Depending on your woodworking skills, it is possible to stretch a stock via adding a forend stock piece which originally came off from some other rifle--see GunnyUSMC for that one. It is also documented that the m1905's were sent to the U.S. for training purposes due to the serious lack of rifles for the U.S. upon entry into WWI.
No1 MkIII or MkIII*
shoobe01
Member
Sorry, I wrote that confusingly. I meant my second choice was the No.4 rifle (though sadly I have ended up with a III* as the only one in my safe now)...
But also, that the No 5 is very cool. Though, discounted as the real ones were not really much issued until say the Malayan Emergency, all I have shot are "fake," so disqualified.
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