The Great old P-17 Enfield.

[Adam Helmer]

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

[MaIIIa]

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

[Gil Martin]

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

[MaIIIa]

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

[BILLY D.]

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

thanx

[Gil Martin]

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

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by Gil Martin
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

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

[Gil Martin]

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

[hnter]

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

[Adam Helmer]

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

[jmckinley]

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

[Gil Martin]

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

[Adam Helmer]

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

[Downwindtracker2]

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.

[BILLY D.]

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.