Unissued Original 1917 Eddystone, outside known Serial range

[cplnorton]

I'm not going to claim to be an expert on a Eddystone but I'm pretty sure this is a unissued Eddystone, and I don't know if they proof fired these or not. But it sure almost looks like it is unfired or it sure wasn't fired after proofing. It also has to be one of the last serial numbers out there, if not the last one. From what I can tell the serial range was up to 1,355,000. This one is 1,356,395. So about 1400 outside the range. It has a 12/18 Eddystone barrel, E marked stock with Eagle head cartouche. All E marked parts, with the original finishes. There are no rebuild marks. It has a staked trigger housing. There are no signs it has ever had a bayonet on it, nor ever had a sling on it.

I hated to even remove the bolt to look inside it. The bolt release lever was almost welded shut from dried cosmoline so it was really hard to move. But there is very little evidence on the end of the bolt of it being fired, and the inside of the receiver and follower show no real evidence of the bolt being cycled more than a few times. The inside is also full of cosmoline as well as all the protected areas.

I didn't want to wipe any of the grease off, so in some of the pics it's greasy. The whole bolt and inside of the action is coated with it.

What do you guys think? I've never seen one like this before.

[cplnorton]

[cplnorton]

[cplnorton]

[cplnorton]

[4F4Nam]

Wow! That is almost pristine.

Ed

[SMOKEY]

Don't know anything about them but dang that is a beauty. The 17 is the only rifle that I would like to have next. If they shoot anything like the No. 4 and 5 Enfields they are fine.

[dave]

Very nice rifle. I would tend to call it '98-99% new' rather then 'unissued', you really have no idea if issued or not. Like 'unfired' its a subjective term. It has been apart or the guy who stacked the TG screws was drunk that day. I would give it a 'like new' rating, maybe. It certainly has been handled a lot but I doubt one better will be found soon! Its a keeper!

[kcw]

Very nice rifle. I would tend to call it '98-99% new' rather then 'unissued', you really have no idea if issued or not. Like 'unfired' its a subjective term. It has been apart or the guy who stacked the TG screws was drunk that day. I would give it a 'like new' rating, maybe. It certainly has been handled a lot but I doubt one better will be found soon! Its a keeper!

I was looking the trigger guard stake marks too. Assuming the bore to be in excellent condition, I'm inclined to give it an overall rating of "excellent".

[joem]

Where in the world did you find that? It's magnificent example for sure.

[bruce]

Beautiful rifle. Very fortunate to own it. Sincerely. bruce.

[cplnorton]

It just came from a estate. From what they said it was a man who passed and his widow sold it. I asked him to try to find out more info on it from her. I would love to know how he got it. I don't know if any were sold surplus after WWI, but that would be my best guess. And maybe since it was so late it just never was used.

I did take some more pics tonight. The stock on it roughly cut. They just didn't spent time on it finishing it.

Does anyone know if this is the last Eddystone serial found so far?

[cplnorton]

[cplnorton]

[kcw]

When WWI ended there were more than one million brand spanking new 1917's either in U.S. or manufacturer's inventory. The DCM, through the NRA, did offer 1917's for civilian sale. Unfortunately the price on them was considered too high for many people, especially when a 1903 could be had for ten dollars less @ $29 and Krag's @ $10, and then Trapdoors for even less. And of course for many people in the early 1930's, a $39 rifle, new or not, represented a couple week's wages.