Wife and I went in for round 3 at her parents house. I had mentioned before that her dad passed a few years ago and we are just now starting to go through his things.

Today, cleaning out a closet a came across 3 guns that my MIL told me to take and do with what I wanted...

!) Remington 870 Wingmaster 12GA in decent shape - this one I will keep as I have always wanted one.

2) US Model 1917 Eddystone that I assume is/was an old military rifle. My FIL served and trained as a paratrooper in Japan so I am not sure on this story behind this. It is also missing the bolt.

3) Mystery gun - bolt action rifle in an old horse scabbard which I assume was from his days on the farm in mid 1900's. It has a scope on it and when I tried to remove to get info (under it) I found the screw was stripped.

If anyone could lend an eye on the deer rifle and has any input on the 1917 I would appreciate it.

Pictured is a Remington model 30. A rifle based on the P1917.

You might be able to find a bolt for the P 1917 and have a gunsmith headspace it to the rifle.

ARman

quote:

Remington model 30

Thank you

If I remember correctly, a number of Eddystone rifles had faulty receiver hardening (heat treating) and they should be checked for that. If not properly hardened, they are unsafe to fire.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
If I remember correctly, a number of Eddystone rifles had faulty receiver hardening (heat treating) and they should be checked for that. If not properly hardened, they are unsafe to fire.

Interesting, I am doing some reading on both models now and will prob ably seek out a gunsmith to have them looked at.

Early Rock Island and Springfield M1903's had receiver hardening/brittleness issues. M1917 rifles have a reputation (real or imagined) for the receiver ring cracking when they are or were rebarreled.

BTW, while your mystery rifle could be a Remington Model 30, it could also be a sporterized M1917. I see a ton of M1917 sporters for every Model 30 I find. Can you post some more pics of your mystery rifle and your M1917?

quote:

Originally posted by Kevmo:

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
If I remember correctly, a number of Eddystone rifles had faulty receiver hardening (heat treating) and they should be checked for that. If not properly hardened, they are unsafe to fire.

Interesting, I am doing some reading on both models now and will prob ably seek out a gunsmith to have them looked at.

nope,

no heat treat issues on P14's or M1917's,

and if it is a Rem 30, no worries (pic won't load on the work computer)


some Eddystones were known to crack if rebarreled,
apparently the machine torqued them in too hard, but that is not exactly common,

Eddystone was the largest manufacturer of M1917s. They made aprox 1.3 million of the 2.5 million M1917 produced. Uncle Sam paid about $25 per Eddystone as of August 1918. M1917s are a beast. They are my second favorite milsurp (M-1 carbine takes first place, such a fun little rifle).

A good book for info on the 1917 is United States Rifle Model of 1917 by C.S. Ferris. You can find it on Amazon for about $30.

If it is marked Eddystone, it has to be a sporterized M1917. All the Rem model 30s are marked Remington Model 30.

Can you email or post images of the Eddystone?

I have a customer who might be interested even if it's not in the best condition.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
If I remember correctly, a number of Eddystone rifles had faulty receiver hardening (heat treating) and they should be checked for that. If not properly hardened, they are unsafe to fire.

They have an issue when the barrel is replaced. Small chance of receiver ring cracking.

The bolt will probably turn up. Likely took out for safety. Now you just have to think like him and determine where he’d hide it. Best to consult MIL. My guess, sock drawer!

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Originally posted by mjlennon:
The bolt will probably turn up. Likely took out for safety. Now you just have to think like him and determine where he’d hide it. Best to consult MIL. My guess, sock drawer!

MIL had no idea these were even in the house, she thought the .22 and single shot 12ga we pulled out of garage were the only guns he had.

I love a Remington Wingmaster. My opinion is that it's a shotgun that if, it is your only shotgun, it may be all you need.

I gave my Dad's 16 GA Wingmaster to my son on his recent birthday. I liked having it but I think it's now where he would have wanted it.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
. . .some Eddystones were known to crack if rebarreled, apparently the machine torqued them in too hard, but that is not exactly common,

Apologies to the OP for the thread drift. Is the cracking limited to Eddystone receivers or has it been observed with Winchesters as well?

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
. . .some Eddystones were known to crack if rebarreled, apparently the machine torqued them in too hard, but that is not exactly common,

Apologies to the OP for the thread drift. Is the cracking limited to Eddystone receivers or has it been observed with Winchesters as well?

Rebarreled Eddystones only, not a known problem with Winchesters or Remingtons.