Price check

[Merc]

The point of having gauges with you when looking for an antique military rifle is to find one that's not worn beyond being fired accurately and safely. It's much better to know in advance that the rifle you're considering won't require the additional expense of repairs in order to be a shooter. It's been my experience that gun show vendors generally won't tell you the condition of the rifles they're selling and leave it up to the buyer to determine that. I personally wouldn't buy a rifle if I knew in advance that it has a headspace, or any other issue, but that's JMHO.

[p246]

I just sold an M1917 lend lease with remaining red paint for $750.00. Bore was good. Stock was not beat up but dark. No sling went with it, it was a Remington, hope this helps. Five years ago I bought a Eddystone lend lease with red paint. Dam fine shooter. I paid $500.00 for it,wife can sell it when I'm dead cuz I'm keeping that one.

[PhillipM]

The point of having gauges with you when looking for an antique military rifle is to find one that's not worn beyond being fired accurately and safely. It's much better to know in advance that the rifle you're considering won't require the additional expense of repairs in order to be a shooter. It's been my experience that gun show vendors generally won't tell you the condition of the rifles they're selling and leave it up to the buyer to determine that. I personally wouldn't buy a rifle if I knew in advance that it has a headspace, or any other issue, but that's JMHO.

I'm finicky. I don't own a field gauge, if it closes on my no go, I don't want it.

[Merc]

I'm finicky. I don't own a field gauge, if it closes on my no go, I don't want it.

I give it a bit more space and use the field gauge. The Eddystone bolt on my early M1917 Winchester closed easily on a no-go gauge but only about 80% on a field gauge. I bought a Winchester bolt on eBay and it closed completely on the field gauge so I returned it to the vendor. I'd like to find a NOS Winchester bolt but even the worn ones are really scarce. The Eddystone bolt that's on the rifle seems OK and hasn't caused any problems so far. I admire how well the M1917 is built. It's probably my best shooter with open sights.

[PhillipM]

I give it a bit more space and use the field gauge. The Eddystone bolt on my early M1917 Winchester closed easily on a no-go gauge but only about 80% on a field gauge. I bought a Winchester bolt on eBay and it closed completely on the field gauge so I returned it to the vendor. I'd like to find a NOS Winchester bolt but even the worn ones are really scarce. The Eddystone bolt that's on the rifle seems OK and hasn't caused any problems so far. I admire how well the M1917 is built. It's probably my best shooter with open sights.

I don't know if they exist for a 1917, but I have a 1903 aromer's test bolt.

[fjruple]

Hi Philip--

The Model of 1917 Enfield did not have an armorer's test bolt from what I have been able to ascertain. They had have a test fixture which tested the bolt. The fixture comprised of a spare receiver with a tool (Tool engineering drawing 412234) and dial indicator screwed into the receiver in place of the barrel. The bolt to be tested would be placed into the receiver with the dial indicator set at 0. If the dial indicator read more than .001 the bolt would be rejected. I hope this was helpful. The information came from the Base Shop Data manual for the 1917 Enfield dated 2-11-1943.

--fjruple

[PhillipM]

Thank you!