1917 Enfield "SCRAP" and "DRILL GUN"

[ejohne]

I have a beautiful blued all-Remington 1917 Enfield serial number 20653X barrel date 2-18 with the letters spelling "SCRAP" individually punched into the receiver below the serial number and "DRILL GUN" faintly visible on the right side of the buttstock(I added the yellow lettering in the actual location). My dealer first tried to tell me that SCRAP was the name of the army company, but after I noted DRILL GUN he offered to fire it with a tire and a string. However, I think it is too beautiful to fire (and possibly risk damaging the gun also). Is anyone familiar with these markings? Thanks!
http://www.msnusers.com/ejohne/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=80
http://www.msnusers.com/ejohne/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=81
http://www.msnusers.com/ejohne/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=82

 

[El Tejon]

Name of the company??? Oh, man, gentlemen, we have another one for FFL of the decade.

 

[dfariswheel]

The government wasn't in the habit of taking perfectly good rifles and marking them as drill rifles.
They used rifles that were defective, and unsafe to fire.

They stamped the "Drill" and "Scrap" marks so nobody could possibly mistake these for a shootable rifle.

I've been asked a fair number of times over the years if I thought it would be Ok to "fix one up, and shoot it"?

The answer is not just "no", but "HELL NO".

As for your dealer: FIND ANOTHER DEALER. This one isn't safe to be around.

 

[Badger Arms]

Agreed, I'd suggest you steer clear of this guy. Anybody who would lie like that about something that could cost your life needs to be avoided.

PRETTY GUN THOUGH!!!

 

[Blackcloud6]

Usually a military drill gun is demilled by having the barrel plugged and the action welded shut.