I found an M1917 Enfield (Eddystone) at my "local" gun store. The barrel is a 5 groove with great rifling and the bore is relatively bright, and not dark or pitted. The finish on the receiver has me a bit puzzled though. It looks like this image that I found online. I did some reading but couldn't find much. Sources say they were blued, green parked and parked to almost look black when the were rearsenaled. This looks more like a paint than a park job though. Can anyone chime in on this?
>>30367829
Looks like pretty usual wear and tear. if I'm not mistaken it has a light plum tinge to it right?
>>30367850
I want to say yes, but I'm unsure. The parts with wear (that would be "in the white" have a yellow look, which I'm guessing is stained from cosmoline or some sort of oil/grease preservative. I was just curious because it doesn't look like a park or blue job. It looks almost like paint. Again, heres another image I found that's comparable.
>>30367897
On that specific picture everything in the flash looks like someone tried to refinish it with paint or if/when these things were rearesenaled coated again
>>30367829
In those pictures it does look like its been painted over.
Idk if thats something they did when refinishing them but it shouldnt affect the shootablity of it.
I have 2 Eddystones and really like them, they are a good rifle that doesnt get enough love.
If its cheap enough I say get it.
>>30368006
Heres mine.
The sportized one can be changed back with just switching the stock.
I still need to get the hand gaurds for the stock military one.
>>30367928
>>30368006
That's kinda what I was thinking, though if it was painted it was done a long time ago. I just thought it was odd that I found these images online of a finish that looks almost exactly like the one Im looking which made me think it might not have been a bubba paint job. I also forgot to mention it has a "K" bolt which I think makes it a WWII rearsenal. I may still pick it up since it's been impossible for me to find a 1917 with a bore as good as this one's...
>>30368049
Nice! The stock on the one Im looking at has more of a red hue like some of the 1903's and M1's had. That's what actually cause my eye when I first saw it.
>>30368067
That is a bit odd to find a match online but lends credit to it being an arsenal job, instead of a basement gunsmith.
You will be hard to find one thats all matching so if the bore is good and lock up is tight might as well get it. The fact the bolt doesnt match is realky a non issue to most people.
>>30368124
Heres a shot of the 2 different stocks I have. The top is discribed as simply hardwood most places.
The bottom is walnut with out a doubt.
>>30368205
Could you upload a couple shots of the muzzle? Im not sure how these should look. My M1 has a flat muzzle with the standard slightly recessed crown. Do the 1917's sport a rounded muzzle with no pronounced crown like a lot of old rifles?
>>30368471
When I return home I will be sure to upload some. Im not sure it will help since mine have been rebarreled with Johnson Automatic 2 groove barrels.
I believe they have the standard flat crown like you discribed.
>>30368566
Thanks, anon!
>>30368566
These have the standard flat crown.
>>30368908
But they were rebarreled with Johnson Automatic 2 groove barrels so idk what the 5 groove one should be.
They also rebarreled them with a 4 groove left hand twist but sadly I didnt get to save one of those.
>>30368932
The stocks also have markings that Im unsure of.
Both say S.A.S.S. On the left side and both have a P on the grip area. Only the top one has the AAX
>>30368908
Those are Johnson Automatic barrels, right?
>>30368984
Yes, posted a picture of the markings here >>30368932
>>30368970
Also fucked up. It clearly says ssaa and I couldnt type..
OP here. Just got back from my LGS and looked it over again. The receiver is marked Eddystone and the barrel has an "E" with the flaming bomb and a date of "9-18". Looks like an original barrel. I'm still at a loss when is comes to the receiver finish, though. Oh well.
>>30370772
Its called shit
>>30370772
You gunna buy it? I need to get an M1917 as well, nice find
>>30371123
I didn't know that was used as a finish for firearms.
>>30371215
I'm leaning toward "yes" just cause the barrel looks so good for being a 5 groove. They're asking $700 though...
>>30371249
Damn thats high, Are you in like the SF Bay Area or something? Because thats the only place that would make sense
>>30371310
LA County...
>>30371480
Yeah thats probably the going price there too. Sucks, You might want to see if they will take 600
>>30371497
I'll give it a shot. Prices here seem all over the board.
>>30371532
In my neck of the woods that is
>>30371532
>>30371549
Normally 1917s are like 500 bucks, and around 1000 for one of the ones given to the Canadians or British. But the Bay and LA are fucking retarded with prices
>>30367829
Eddystone? Didn't the brits do a lot of paint-over-park? Maybe that's what it is.
>>30367829
I own an Eddystone that is bright nickel plated for parade use. 5 groove, perfect crown, bore and headspace. It has a zebra printed sling for extra pimp.
Op here. I was just thinking, can that yellowish color be removed from the bolt or is it usually something you just love with?
>>30372161
Pics please!
>>30372728
Gun's in the safe, I'm at work. No baby pictures of it on my phone. I took it out for my CMP shoot just to rustle their jimmies.
>>30370772
The receiver looks like it has been coated with suncorite paint, there is a good chance the rifle was loaned to the limeys during the big one and the refinished it.
>>30372709
It looks like there is a wear mark running down the middle that isnt yellow. Which means if you remove the top layer of metal you could get rid of it. Of course dont remove any metal from the bolt lugs or the face of it for safety reason.
It will probably look worse then it does now though and might take it out of spec but try some very fine steel wool or like 320+ grit sand paper and see what happens.
