I ran across one at a local pawn shop and today and I'm really considering it. It is a 5 digit serial number Winchester with a barrel date stamp of 10-17. it's a shame it is not original. The stock is a walnut after market monte carlo one that is pretty plain but very functional and feels good. I have a couple of questions though. The trigger is terrible, i thought it was broke first time I went to dry fire it. lots of creep then it stacks up really heavy then it finally breaks. So an after market trigger would be in order. also the bore doesn't look great but it is filthy so it could just be dirt, dust, etc. it has a cheap bushnel scope on it. they are asking $240 but said they would drop to $215 + tax. What say yall? yes or no?
sporterized M1917
- Thread starter fgr39
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HoosierQ
Member
That's a lot of gun for $215. Are the sights intact? Or is it tapped?
I passed on the same sort of thing, late model Springfield for $175. Hated myself since.
I passed on the same sort of thing, late model Springfield for $175. Hated myself since.
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Not sure what might be up with that trigger. The one on my 1917 is very nice and crisp in its original form. That would be a negative to me.
The rest of the value would depend on whether the sporterization was well done and pleasing or rough and ugly. If the gun looks decent, it is probably worth the $215, if you need a utility hunting rifle.
The rest of the value would depend on whether the sporterization was well done and pleasing or rough and ugly. If the gun looks decent, it is probably worth the $215, if you need a utility hunting rifle.
HoosierQ
Member
The one I passed on had a bore like a mirror and had the later peep sights. All they had done was cut down the stock and took off the handguard. Very nice utility rifle that I really should have purchased...but didn't.
Here you got a scope of unknown quality and may have to do some work to get it to hit. That trigger stuff would scare me. If you're a gunsmith (or know a good one) that'd be different. Neither is the case for me.
Hard to say at that price point what to do.
Here you got a scope of unknown quality and may have to do some work to get it to hit. That trigger stuff would scare me. If you're a gunsmith (or know a good one) that'd be different. Neither is the case for me.
Hard to say at that price point what to do.
madcratebuilder
Member
The trigger is a two stage, parts are available. You should see about 4lbs on the first stage and a 7lb+/- break. Being it's a sporter I bet Bubba messed with it.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
If the gun is really not so great, but the receiver is still in salvageable condition, it would make a nice base for a master gunsmith to build a very nice classic big-bore sporter/dangerous game rifle off of.
The 1917 actions are incredibly strong and very classic. Could be the beginning of a real heirloom rifle.
The 1917 actions are incredibly strong and very classic. Could be the beginning of a real heirloom rifle.
If the barrel is as dirty as you make it sound then the trigger may also be dirty and gunky with a touch of rust 
. You may just be looking at a very dirty rifle that wants to go home with you and get a heavy cleaning and a taste of ammo.
For $215 I would suggest that is what you should do. With a rifle like that I always wonder what stories it knows.
. You may just be looking at a very dirty rifle that wants to go home with you and get a heavy cleaning and a taste of ammo.For $215 I would suggest that is what you should do. With a rifle like that I always wonder what stories it knows.
My primary deer rifle is a 1917 that my great-grandfather sporterized in the '20s. She's a Winchester built in September of 1918 that will shoot MOA if I decide to be worth my salt that day.
He did a beautiful job and I would not hesitate to pay $215 for a rifle in the condition I received.
The trigger on mine is excellent, as it has been on nearly every pawn-shop/gunstore 1917 I have tried. I'm not sure what to make of the one you tried; are you sure it's the original trigger? I might be cautious if it's as bad as you describe.
Having it already drilled & tapped will save you some money in the long haul if you do decide to purchase it.
I consider a good sporter job to be a stock that doesn't look like someone just made a few random passes with a bandsaw, a good crown (if the barrel was cut down), and the "ears" where the rear sight protectors used to be not sloppily ground down.
If it's a good job, that price isn't bad. If it's not a good sporter job, I'd be leery of paying that, especially since you can buy a pretty decent "budget" rifle from Marlin, Savage, Vanguard, etc. for not too much more money that will shoot in stock form as well as you can make it.
Ask if they will run a few patches down the barrel for you; I suspect that trigger also may just need a bit of cleaning.
He did a beautiful job and I would not hesitate to pay $215 for a rifle in the condition I received.
The trigger on mine is excellent, as it has been on nearly every pawn-shop/gunstore 1917 I have tried. I'm not sure what to make of the one you tried; are you sure it's the original trigger? I might be cautious if it's as bad as you describe.
Having it already drilled & tapped will save you some money in the long haul if you do decide to purchase it.
I consider a good sporter job to be a stock that doesn't look like someone just made a few random passes with a bandsaw, a good crown (if the barrel was cut down), and the "ears" where the rear sight protectors used to be not sloppily ground down.
If it's a good job, that price isn't bad. If it's not a good sporter job, I'd be leery of paying that, especially since you can buy a pretty decent "budget" rifle from Marlin, Savage, Vanguard, etc. for not too much more money that will shoot in stock form as well as you can make it.
Ask if they will run a few patches down the barrel for you; I suspect that trigger also may just need a bit of cleaning.
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velocette
Member
fgr39;
The standard GI trigger is easily and inexpensively replaced with a Timney or a Dayton Traister trigger. ( http://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?k=1917+Enfield+Trigger&ksubmit=y )
I used the Dayton Traister trigger with their cock on opening kit on my '17 Enfield (correctly a US rifle of 1917) It's fully adjustable and yields a clean crisp pull of whatever weight you desire.
The '17 Enfield is a very strong long action rifle that can be rechambered in virtually any magnum cartridge of your choice. The original GI barrels if in good shape are also very good. My sporterized rifle with its original GI barrel shoots just over 1 moa with no load development.
The asking price is cheap enough to take a chance on getting yourself a fine
rifle at a bargain price.
The standard GI trigger is easily and inexpensively replaced with a Timney or a Dayton Traister trigger. ( http://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?k=1917+Enfield+Trigger&ksubmit=y )
I used the Dayton Traister trigger with their cock on opening kit on my '17 Enfield (correctly a US rifle of 1917) It's fully adjustable and yields a clean crisp pull of whatever weight you desire.
The '17 Enfield is a very strong long action rifle that can be rechambered in virtually any magnum cartridge of your choice. The original GI barrels if in good shape are also very good. My sporterized rifle with its original GI barrel shoots just over 1 moa with no load development.
The asking price is cheap enough to take a chance on getting yourself a fine
rifle at a bargain price.
Archie
Member
There are currently three rifles in my stable which started life as a "U. S. Rifle of 1917".
One is fairly original and shoots quite well.
The other two have been 'sporterized'. The chamberings are .35 Whelen and .30 Scott's Improved. Both have appropriate aftermarket stocks and both shoot quite well.
The 1917 action is one of the strongest bolt actions ever made. Since they were originally military actions, they are also reliable and robust.
$215 for a solid, dependable .30-06 rifle which can be modified to suit? I'd buy it.
One is fairly original and shoots quite well.
The other two have been 'sporterized'. The chamberings are .35 Whelen and .30 Scott's Improved. Both have appropriate aftermarket stocks and both shoot quite well.
The 1917 action is one of the strongest bolt actions ever made. Since they were originally military actions, they are also reliable and robust.
$215 for a solid, dependable .30-06 rifle which can be modified to suit? I'd buy it.
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