Meet Eddy Stone

[berkmberk1]

Here is my latest acquisition for my WW1 collection, an Eddystone United States Rifle Model 1917. Per the SN, it was manufactured/delivered in November of 1918. It has the refurbishment code "P" stamped on the wrist, but the only parts I've noticed that were replaced were things like swivels, the handguard ring, follower, extractor, and upper barrel band and upper handguard. The barrel is Eddystone, manufactured in April 1918. I have not checked all the parts as I want to bone up on disassembling the receiver and bolt first, however I matched 28 parts so far. There are a couple of internal parts I can't get to yet. I've ordered parts for three of the mismatches .

Besides the "P" stamp, the stock is marked on the bottom of the wrist with the letter L - Can anyone tell me what that is. There is also a script letter J stamped inside the stock, midway up the barrel channel. On the left side of the stock, in the trigger area is a partial catouche which seems to be the infamous mystery 3 GX-X. One strange thing I noted, there is no stamp on the nose of the stock. There are many scratches and dirt build up, but even using a magnifying glass fails to give even a hint that anything was there. Is that common? I could not find any stampings on the sight base or magazine spring as well. Speaking of the magazine, was the magazine box actually constructed from pieces? The back panel of the box on mine actually has the corner seams brazed and ground! I know the 1917 was a modification of the P14, Did that entail something like this?

This is one of the sweetest deals I've run across in quite a while. Not only did I get a nice rifle, but a new sling, a Remington made bayonet, and a surprise bonus. When I was checking the trap in the butt for manufacturers marks, I found an complete with brush and thong!

Now I just need a French rifle......Berthier?.......Lebel?

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[JER]

I've got one of each manufacturer. The Magazine boxes all look like their riveted together. You are correct, there should be a "W" "E" or "R" on the end of the stock, with "E" being what you would want. Nice heavy-duty rifles. There are several books out about them. "United states Rifle Model of 1917", by C.S. Ferris is pretty good. Charles Stratton's "Pattern 1914 and U.S. Model of 1917", is also a decent reference.

[desdem12]

Sweet

[RazorBurn]

Very nice! I have an Eddystone also. Yours is a very nice example, and I love the fact it came with a bayonet!

That box looks like the older style CMP box they used to use before they started shipping in the CMP hard case.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I have a small collection of it's brothers, these are nice rifles with a lot of great history.

[berkmberk1]

Heavy is just the word. It still amazes me grunts on both sides didn't keel over and die from exhaustion, having to lug all that heavy equipment around while wearing wool uniforms! This thing is a beast! It ranks right there with the M39 weight wise.

I got another surprise this morning when I went to clean up the packing stuff from my little "present" to myself - a complete GI cleaning rod!

[Junk Yard Dog]

They were born to hard work and few luxury's, the Garand is heavier and it was carried in two wars by millions of men all over the world. Weapons of war aren't supposed to be lightweight, that's a modern invention with the plastic fantastic. Turn that weapon over and take a good look at that solid steel buttplate attached to that heavy wood stock, that's for when you close with the other guy, hop into his trench, shoot him six times and then reverse the rifle to finish the job by bashing his head in until the contents leak out no matter if he had a helmet on or not. Try that with the plastic fantastic and see what happens. The M14 is a heavyweight also, that's one weight I don't mind packing along. These used a pull through cleaner in the field, and the brass barracks cleaning rod back in camp, the sectionalized steel cleaning rod was a WW2 innovation for the M1 Garand, or any .30 rifle.

[Longcolt44]

Nice going, presents to yourself are the best presents.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Damn right! I always seem to get the best gear from me.

[qz2026]

[berkmberk1]

I have to buy another "present"........drat! I cleaned up the bayonet that came with the rifle and discovered it is a P13, British issue. Some bozo decided to "subdue" the metal parts that had lost finish. They did it with black gloss enamel and a brush. When I got the stuff off, it not only looked normal, but it also uncovered the inspection marks. Its a nice piece.....very typical, but I like to have the correct bayonet for each rifle in my collection. So now I'm looking for a M1917 with a 2nd Pattern scabbard. Then I think I'll be happy......for a while.....

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[Junk Yard Dog]

You will see a lot of that with these, remember that when they were imported back in the 90's they went for $20-$30 so people played with them, did stupid shit. I remember pulling four or five British P14 and US 1917 bayonets out of a big box full at a local surplus store back in 91-92, fun times.

[Longcolt44]

The other numbers, 4 17 indicates that this bayonet was made in April of 1917. As for the black paint, the Brits used black paint to cover bare metal in stead of using grease or spending precious time taping and spray painting those parts. I have a couple Enfields that have black paint brushed on them in different places..

[berkmberk1]

I guess its one of the fun parts......the search......the discovery......putting together a "grouping" (bayo, ammo pouches, related personal field gear, someimes the work "fixing" whats wrong. I've been working on aCommission 1888/05 for a year now, for instance. It was a mongrel with few matching numbers and a small handful of "Turk" parts. They're all gone now but for the bolt handle which has just part of a moon on the ball. It now has a complete German rear sight, proper sling attachment points, a dust cover on the magazine and regimental marked barrel bands. The searching itself was challenging, enlightening and fun.

[Junk Yard Dog]

The field gear is easy enough to find, it's the same kit as was issued for the M1903, it will not be cheap and reproductions are now old enough to look real if you don't know what you are looking at. If faked by somebody who knows the real thing then even the knowledgeable can be fooled.