The Great old P-17 Enfield.
 

Most folks know the P-17 was made by Remington, Winchester and Eddystone for WWI. I have an example of each and like the Eddystone best. Yes, it was the most numerous of the P-17s, but among my three, it shoots the best.

I handload a 125 "TNT" hollow point and a 150 jacketed soft point, both fueled by IMR 4895, and both are happily on point of aim at 100 yards in the old Eddystone using the Battle Sight. In the Remington or Winchester, the point of impact would be a foot high at 100 yards.

My Old Eddystone has both US Ordnance and British proofs. It also has on the left receiver: "Not English Build" in very small letters. I often wonder where my old P-17 Eddystone has been as I sit on a lonely PA woods deer stand each Fall. I also wonder who will be the next person to hold my old P-17?

Adam

I have a nice Enfield - looks good and shoots well. It has “US Model 1917 Eddystone” on receiver and “3 6 M – K” in a small rectangular on the stock just above the trigger. Can anyone enlighten me as to what that means? Since it does not have “Not English Built” would it be safe to assume that it IS?

MaIIIa

Malla
 

Your U.S. 1917 Enfield was almost certainly made in the U.S.A. Are there any other markings on the rifle to indicate it was made by Eddystone, Remington or Winchester? All the best...
Gil

My Enfield has some small markings. Three very tiny E’s – one on the sight and two on the receiver. In two places there are small (a little over half a centimeter) symbols which are a circle next to a half circle. One of these has two short parallel lines connecting the circle and half circle. One of these is on the bolt and the other on the left side of the receiver.

I assume that the E’s mean Eddystone. I’d be interested in what the little circle symbols relate to. And the “3 6 M – K” mark.

MaIIIa

a question. which action did remington use for the model 30 express? i heard? it was an enfield, true or not?

thanx

BILLY D.
 

I was in a gun shop today and looked at an original Remington Model 30S and it is a U.S. 1917 action in a sporter stock with sporter sights. All the best...
Gil

Re: BILLY D.
 

hummmm. where did i get the hairbrained idea it was an enfield action sporterized.

BILLY D.
 

The U.S. Model of 1917 started out as the P-13 British Enfield (.276 experimental round) and later became the P-14 British Enfield (.303 caliber). We made the same rifle in .30-06 and it is commonly referred to as a 1917 Enfield. It can get confusing. All the best...
Gil

Mod 30 Rem
 

It is a commercially made version of the P-14/17 military action. It is in no way a "sporterized" military action.

The P-14/17 Eddystone action is essentially a Mauser copy, in fact, the US govt paid eventally Mauser a royalty payment for the use of Mausers design. The P-17 Cal 30Govt US was the primary rifle carried by us troops during WWI and some saw service again in WW II being carried by US Marines.

Hnter

Hnter,

Actually it was the M1903 Springfield that got Mauser upset about patent infrimgments. If you look at the M1903, notice the "winged" safety that is exactly like the Mauser. The US government paid a royalty of $1.25 per Springfield made and that payment ended on April 6, 1917, when we declared war on Germany.

The P-17 was a redo of an earlier P-13/P-14 British design. Notice the "Rocket-type" thumb safety on the right of the P-17 receiver. It is far different from the Mauser safety.

Many M1903 rifles were used early in WWII by US combat forces. The P-17, over a million went out as Lend-Lease, was relegated mostly to basic training in the states. Many P-17s saw combat early in the war, particularily in the Phillipines.

Adam

This is my first post on the site. I will be picking up a Eddystone that has been made into a sporter after school today and will use it as my primary Elk rifle. It need a trigger as badly as I need two new knees. Which trigger would you suggest? It weighs a ton but I know they are built like a tank. I love the old rifles better than most new ones so i'll be looking for another Enfield to add to my hunting guns. Jess

Welcome to the Forum
 

jmckinley,

Good choice on the Eddystone 1917. I have a number of 1917s, some military and some that were sporterized by others. My trigger replacement preference for the 1917 Enfield (and for the Kar98k Mauser, and 1903 and 1903-A3 Springfield) is a Timney. They have a website at www.timneytriggers.com. These triggers are best fitted by a competent gunsmith to ensure that the sear engagement and safety work properly and safely. I have fitted Timney triggers and on some rifles there were no problems, while some others needed professional attention. All the best...
Gil

Jess,

Welcome to the Forum; you came to the right place. Fortunately, my P-17s have very good triggers "as issued." The best trigger is on my P-17 Eddystone. From time-to-time I see ads in our local paper advertising military guns for sale. It seems many old collectors have moved on and some fine arms are surfacing. I put an ad in our weekly "Penny Saver" paper asking for old militaries and ended up with some nice iron from private collections. Hope this helps you find another Enfield.

Adam

'17
 

To add a litle history on my favourite. The first cartridge didn't work out,British powder wasn't up to it and 1913 wasn't a good time to work the bugs out.But they had a well designed magnum action,so when the war broke out,they needed rifles and had them built in the US,they converted Pattern of 1912? to 303.I have late contract Winchester.When the war came to the US,they needed rifles and the factories were set up for the P-14.The 30-06 worked even better in the Enfield than the 303. My Eddystone ' 17 sporter(18-10) is very accurate.Canada purchased some during WWII,mine was one of them so no primer damage.

gil and adam

the reason i asked about the model 30s was because i bought one here at a gun show a while back. i paid 3 and a 1/4 for it. it is in like new condition, bore is like new, and it has the most beautiful blue job i've ever seen. it also has the old lyman peep on it and has never been drilled and tapped for a scope.

one little problem though. the stock was trashed. so i did some searching and a friend told me a remmy model 720 stock would fit it..........with some fitting. uh huh. some fitting is right. so far i've removed about two trees out of it. but it's getting really close to fitting. another couple of days of fiddleing around and it should fit pretty good. i got a stock from another guy on another forum for $65. it has a ebony forend so it should look good and fit the period of the 30s for esthetic purposes.

i just hope she shoots. the action is as smooth as greased ball bearings on glass.

M-30
 

Remington did make the M-30,M-30S and M-720 on the "Enfield" action,but they weren't sporterized military rifles.I am not saying some left over military parts didn't find their way in. They made them from after WWI to WWII. I got to handle a unfired,Pachmeyer stocked M-720 at a gunshow.A very fine rifle,they added a bolt guide on the 720 and a better cock-on-opening.They wanted $1500CDN,about $1100US at the time.

Sporterized 1917 Eddystone
 

I've just aquired a sporterized 1917 Eddy and would like to add a rear peep sight. The rifle has been drilled and tapped for a rear peep.
My problem is I don't know which sights would fit the 1917.

The ears have been cut off along with other modifications.

My best guess is that the Lyman 48RS would fit.

Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated. http://webpages.charter.net/marse70301/1917a.jpg

davemarse,

Welcome to this site; I see this is your first post.

You say you have a sporterized P-17. What is your barrel length and was the front sight replaced? You also say the arm has been drilled and tapped for a rear sight. I suggest you contact the former owner and ask them what rear sight they drilled and tapped for. Sporterized arms are set up for certain sight systems and we need to determine why the drilling and tapping was done.

Adam

Barrel Lenght is 22 inches.
Ramp sight intalled.

Contacting the original owner would be a no brainer however I have no idea who it was.
Concerning the mystery peep sight that I'm trying to find:

Measurements between the mounting screws is .610 or 5/8", which seems to be somewhat standard.

Educated guesses as to what "type" could be narrowed to a few standards... Redfield, Lyman etc. Taking that thinking further, I could then match model numbers that only fit the 1917 or Rem. 30.

That brings me to the Lyman Model 48RS. I haven't figured out the other models, such as Redfield, etc.

How does that sound... I appreciate all comments.

It depends
 

davemarse,
Welcome to the Forum! You are correct, asking the former owner what the sight holes are for would be a waste of time. Even if you could find him it is likely that he would not know the answer. Various peep sights are on the sporterized U.S. 1917 Enfields in my gun safe. Pacific, Lyman, Willams and Redfield peep sights were used. My recommendation would be to visit a competent gunsmith or a gun shop and try to match up what is available. Take care...
Joe

Joe,
Would you know the model numbers of those sights on your guns?

Joe Boleo,

I disagree that asking a former gun owner why reciver holes were drilled are "A waste of time." It is a logical first step and could render a good answer. IF we cannot locate the former gun owner (the driller) then we should go to a gunsmith and try to match up the holes with rear sight bases.

I have seen military receivers with 6, 7 or 8 holes drilled because the logical steps were not followed.

Adam

Adam
 

I agree with Joe in this case. davemarse indicated that he did not know the former owner of the rifle, so who would he ask regarding the sight holes? If the holes were drilled for an obsolete peep sight, then Joe is right on in recommending a visit to a gunsmith or gun shop. No one suggested drilling more holes in the receiver. Joe outlined what appear to be logical steps. All the best...
Gil

davemarse
 

Your best bet might be to do as Joe suggested and visit a gunsmith or gun shop. They may have something available that would work. The Pacific aperture sights are long out of production. The website below is from Lyman and lists some current offerings.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/index.htm

It might be more helpful to check out Brownell's website or give them a call for assistance.

http://www.brownells.com/Default.aspx

All the best...
Gil

davenarse
 

I looked at some sporterized U.S. 1917 Enfields with aperture sights. One has a Redfield, but there were no numbers showing on the sight. Same story with the Pacific. The folks at Brownell's may have information on a Lyman Model 48 or 57. I have not checked the Williams website, but they may have something, too. Hope this helps. All the best...
Gil

Re: davenarse
 

Gil

My model 30 uses Lyman 57WJS, the holes are .5965 center to center. Hope this helps.

Now do not bother me again until the Buckeyes have sealed the victory or you will be scourged. :p