1917 Enfield short stocks.

[jaysouth]

Yesterday I found two 1917 Enfields at a local pawn shop. Both had been hopelessly "sportizered". but both had the original stocks, cut down and butchered, but the buttstocks appeared unaltered.

However one was 1.25 inches shorter than the other. Both had the original issue metal buttplates with the distinctive curve.

Any thoughts? I remember that we cut down buttstocks on M-1 Garands shipped to Vietnam.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Yesterday I found two 1917 Enfields at a local pawn shop. Both had been hopelessly "sportizered". but both had the original stocks, cut down and butchered, but the buttstocks appeared unaltered.

However one was 1.25 inches shorter than the other. Both had the original issue metal buttplates with the distinctive curve.

Any thoughts? I remember that we cut down buttstocks on M-1 Garands shipped to Vietnam.

M1917s were supplied to both China in WW2 and South Vietnam, so they could very well have been part of the same " asianizing" program.

 

[boom boom]

Yesterday I found two 1917 Enfields at a local pawn shop. Both had been hopelessly "sportizered". but both had the original stocks, cut down and butchered, but the buttstocks appeared unaltered.

However one was 1.25 inches shorter than the other. Both had the original issue metal buttplates with the distinctive curve.

Any thoughts? I remember that we cut down buttstocks on M-1 Garands shipped to Vietnam.

Not sure if you are referring to a 1917 Lee-Enfield or the m1917 rifle (aka American Enfield). The m1917 is a one piece stock while the Lee-Enfield used two pieces-a buttstock and a forend piece (disregarding handguards) that held the action.

You used to be able to get military replica stocks from Boyds, but haven't seen them there recently. Just checked their website and all they have are sporter types apparently. On the cutdown stocks--it is possible that someone altered a P14 Brit Stock or that someone with access to a bandsaw, simply cut the stock down and inlet for the buttplate--the 1917 stocks had quite a bit of meat on it. If it was a Lee-Enfield No. 1 rifle, they had a variety of buttstock lengths that could be fitted to an action.

FWIW, Genuine military m1917 stocks have gone crazy in prices recently--saw sales for ones over $300 recently in good condition with cartouches. Lee-Enfield No. 1 stock sets have also climbed in the stratosphere too. Good opportunity for someone to get into the military replica stock business. At least Criterion makes barrels which keeps prices down on original barrels.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

http://candrsenal.com/briefly-chinese-modified-model-1917/ Here's some more info on these:

 

[jaysouth]

Thanks for your responses. I was merely curious, both rifles had been so mangled that they were worthless to me. Both had stupid pawn shop prices on them $500-600. The one with the shorter butt did have a shorter barrel, but I assumed that this was done by the gunsmith that installed a ramp front sight and milled the protective ears and stripper clip off the receiver.

It would be interesting to learn how the 'carbine' got back to the US. It could have been a GI bringback from VN or even earlier. I once saw a regular size M1917 that was found in a cache of weapons belonging to a local VC militia.

Nightlord, thanks for the link.

 

[GBExpat]

... However one was 1.25 inches shorter than the other. Both had the original issue metal buttplates with the distinctive curve. ...

WOW! 1¼"! That is a lot.

The next to last of my five M1917s I got from The CMP in late Summer'06. It is a re-arsed Eddystone that was part of the first VFW Accumulation that they sold-off.

The first time that I shouldered it I knew that it was short. I compared it with my others and found that it was ½" shorter.

I imagine that 1¼" would be downright uncomfortable for me.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have been pricing them of late. I really want one, but the prices have become astronomical. I did see some listed at SARCO and another in an add on "Firearms News" (Formally Shotgun News). I see them all the time on gun broker all butchered up with high prices.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I have been pricing them of late. I really want one, but the prices have become astronomical. I did see some listed at SARCO and another in an add on "Firearms News" (Formally Shotgun News). I see them all the time on gun broker all butchered up with high prices.

Yep, I dropped a grand on an unadulterated, 100% E-marked Eddystone recently-and I felt lucky to get it at that price!