I have been thinking lately on getting an inexpensive mil surp bolt rifle in .308 or .30-06. I'd been looking at/thinking about a .308 Ishapore Enfields, etc. I'd ruled out a 1903 type as too expensive. But today at a gun show I saw something that really caught my eye - a sporterized 1917 that was gorgeous. I have searched the forum archives on "eddystone" and read past posts and some pages I found from googling, so I understand the history and general comments on the gun.
This one has been cut down to 20", and the upper handguard removed and the end of the foregrip mated to the upper band/stacking swivel so it had a lovely Mannlicher-style stock. Gorgeous, perfect work. The muzzle was perfectly crowned and the bore excellent. The wood was all refinished - very smooth and gorgeous. The grip had been turned down thinner and shaped into a nice pistol grip like on a fine shotgun. The original steel butt plate was still there - all the wood was gorgeous - like a fine hunting rifle. The sights had been removed and a windage adjustable aftermarket peep installed on a bridge on the receiver, sort of like an old Parker-Hale type sight. Very fast to acquire. The action had not been drilled for sights.
The gun handled really well, with the cut-down, and the grip re-work, the thing handled like a nice 12 gauge. It was fast and handy. The seller stated it was a Winchester build, but had a Remington bolt in it (I am guessing from an aresenal re-work at some point in it's life). Asking price was $400.
So, my questions are:
1) what do I look for in a 1917 Eddystone action?
2) What do you think it's worth as a sporterized version (albeit a beautiful one on the original stock, not a hatchet job).
3) How do you think that steel butt plate and cut-down 20" barrel is going to feel with a 30-06 barking out the muzzle?
I am a neophyte on mil surp rifles, but this thing just really caught my eye, and I've heard great things about the Eddystone action. I look forward to your comments.
This one has been cut down to 20", and the upper handguard removed and the end of the foregrip mated to the upper band/stacking swivel so it had a lovely Mannlicher-style stock. Gorgeous, perfect work. The muzzle was perfectly crowned and the bore excellent. The wood was all refinished - very smooth and gorgeous. The grip had been turned down thinner and shaped into a nice pistol grip like on a fine shotgun. The original steel butt plate was still there - all the wood was gorgeous - like a fine hunting rifle. The sights had been removed and a windage adjustable aftermarket peep installed on a bridge on the receiver, sort of like an old Parker-Hale type sight. Very fast to acquire. The action had not been drilled for sights.
The gun handled really well, with the cut-down, and the grip re-work, the thing handled like a nice 12 gauge. It was fast and handy. The seller stated it was a Winchester build, but had a Remington bolt in it (I am guessing from an aresenal re-work at some point in it's life). Asking price was $400.
So, my questions are:
1) what do I look for in a 1917 Eddystone action?
2) What do you think it's worth as a sporterized version (albeit a beautiful one on the original stock, not a hatchet job).
3) How do you think that steel butt plate and cut-down 20" barrel is going to feel with a 30-06 barking out the muzzle?
I am a neophyte on mil surp rifles, but this thing just really caught my eye, and I've heard great things about the Eddystone action. I look forward to your comments.