Florida Shooters Network

Dad had an M1917 but sold it off a few years ago. I'd always been intrigued by the cock on bolt closing, and have kept my eye out for one to replace it. A guy that I work with kept four of his rifles in the vault at work, and one day I noticed one of them was an Eddystone 1917, with bayonet. I told him that if he decides to sell it, let me know. Well, he let me know the other day.

The other three guns he had were a Chilean and a Turkish Mauser, and what we thought was an 1898 Krag rifle (not carbine). Krag is in beautiful shape, appears original (though the stock has been covered in varnish, but thankfully not sanded), but has a sewer pipe as a bore. We spent 1/2 hour trying to clean it, but didn't make much headway until I tried a .38/9mm brush. Cleaned quite a bit of gunk out, but it still has a dark spot beyond the chamber. Someone suggested a stainless brush and a drill...don't know if that's a good idea or not. Anyway, while we were looking at the Krag, I mentioned to my coworker that my grandfather had killed a black bear in the late '40s using a Krag with a single headshot. Bear was close to 1k pounds, and took 8 men to get it out of the woods. We still have the article from the local paper, and the bear skin rug, but the Krag was a loaner, so it's long gone. Dad always wanted to get one, but never did. My coworker said "Well, if you think he'd like it, give him this one." My dad just about shit a brick when I brought it home for him. He also tossed in an Arisaka bayonet that he had no use for. When I peel the Krag out of dad's hands, I'll take some pictures of it. Serial number on that one is in the 80k range, and it appears to be an 1896, not a 98.

Needless to say, my coworker is all aces. Believe it or not, it's my first military bolt action rifle, and only my second bolt action rifle period.




















Guess I better place another ammo order from CMP!

stainless brush and drill HELL NO
steel or bronze wool through the bore with pentrating oil kroil pb blaster liquid wrench break free

Very nice. I am still on the look-out for a quality 1903 and it's derivatives. If only these old pigs could talk

that's purty

Nice, and you will love the way it shoots. I prefer mine to either the 03 or the 03A3.

I love my Eddystone! Too bad it looks like someone sanded all the "character" out of your stock along with the cartouches. They are a great shooting battle rifle. Get yourself some great milspec ammo for it by joining the CMP although your rifle is tough enough for hotter commercial hunting ammo. A great rifle relegated to "secondary" status too soon by the armies it served.

WHEN are we going to the range?

The Eddystone is my favorite bolt action 30-06 rifle.
Did u ever get the trench broom?
If so how about a pic with the 1917 bayonet mounted?

Very nice rifle...didnt really know much about until this thread. You bastard, thats another added to my want list!

They're really cool, and underappreciated. I had really only been looking for the bayonet, but couldn't pass up the package deal. I haven't decided what to do with the stock yet, I think I'm gonna strip it and refinish it in a military finish instead of the honey color. I hate to do that, since it's really pretty, but it IS a military piece. Shame all the cartouches were sanded down.

And of course, the bayonet fits OTHER things...

I f you want to refinish the stock back to a more military finish I have some fairtrimmers Military Ox oil that Ive used on my wood guns and they come out real nice! You are welcome to some, doesnt take much for a stock about 1/2 tablesloon.

Finally shot it today...what a riot. It was sighted in already, and from 50 yards did a nice grouping a couple inches around. I had a tough time getting the rounds off the clip, I didn't know whether to just put more oomph into it, or if the clips may have light corrosion, therefore creating a bit extra friction to be overcome.

If you switch the ammo over to the stainless steel Swedish strippers Samco in Miami sells for the Swedish Mauser,[ $14 a box of 40 ] they come right off and load easily. I always had trouble with the GI strippers too. I think i gave some to Quest when i sold him my '03. You can buy a conversion that changes it to cock-on-open if it is too annoying to you. [ i think Sarco has it ] Good shooting! jim

One of the things I like about it is that it cocks on locking. Good idea on the stainless stripper clips...gonna have to get some of those. Maybe you can throw some in when you sell me that Garand?

i already called dibs on that garand you jerk

Quest wrote:i already called dibs on that garand you jerk

Hey!..... no fighting..... i have 2 HRA's now

he already has three garands anyway, he's just being greedy

Quest wrote:he already has three garands anyway, he's just being greedy

But no US 1917 yet.

I have my eye on an eddystone that has been cut (in the wood) for a sporter. Does anyone know where I can get a military stock w/ metal w/o paying my soul?? I have hit Numrich and done a little fishing on the net, but nothin strikes me as a great deal. Either really beat up, not inletted or not available seems to be the three catagories. I don't need a perfect perfect buy any stretch, but something that looks like I did not just pull it out of a wood pile would be nice. Thanks!!

frigate gunner wrote:I have my eye on an eddystone that has been cut (in the wood) for a sporter. Does anyone know where I can get a military stock w/ metal w/o paying my soul?? I have hit Numrich and done a little fishing on the net, but nothin strikes me as a great deal. Either really beat up, not inletted or not available seems to be the three catagories. I don't need a perfect perfect buy any stretch, but something that looks like I did not just pull it out of a wood pile would be nice. Thanks!!

Have you tried Springfield Sporters? Boyd's has them as a backorder item right now but they will be available when they make a run of them. You will just need to find the stock hardware then. http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/Replaceme ... 7-s/49.htm