Author Topic: old mauser action identification help. (Read 1484 times)

broken arrow · « **on:** November 15, 2003, 09:13:33 AM »

O.K. I bought a rifle for my son. It is an OLD 30.06 Mauser action. I need to know the make. It has partial witing on the top of the receiver that says ****ISTONE I don't know what the first letters are. There are some stamps too. A little bomb with a flame on it, and a screaming eagle head. It was originally blued and has an internal 4 shot magazine. No dates are available on it. Any help greatly appreciated. :?

jhm · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2003, 10:47:48 AM »

Broken Arrow : Is there any chanch that it could say EDDYSTONE if so then you have yourself a 1917 u,s. Enfield without a little more info thats all I can say about it.

JIM

broken arrow · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2003, 12:48:00 PM »

You got it! We looked real close and I guess that's what it is. Thanks!

savageT · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2003, 02:08:47 PM »

Excellent detective work jhm!
Broken Arrow....You've got a real keeper there! That is an U.S. Eddystone Arsonal m17 (not P17) Enfield action (not mauser)as someone corrected in an earlier post. Those were built for U.S. troops when there was a shortage of Springfield 1902 rifles during the first World War. Very strong action and accurate also.

Jim

broken arrow · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2003, 04:03:30 AM »

This perticular rifle is almost is identicle to the p17 which we bought our new stock for the p17. The m17 looked nothing like it, so we'll see once we get the new stock.

savageT · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2003, 04:51:43 AM »

broken arow,
Not to start a flame, but again, there were no P17(Pattern 1917 Enfields....only P14's). These were model M-17 American 30-06 Enfields made in our armories for our troops. Hope this helps explain. Check out this site:
http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/1917enfield/1917.pl?

broken arrow · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2003, 11:46:17 AM »

Thanks for the great replies and all of the info. I am anxious to shoot this one. The friend I bought it from just called it Ol' ugly. It was never a beautiful rifle, but accurate. We are going to try to restore it to it's former glory. Thanks again!

gunnut69 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2003, 05:02:23 AM »

The 1917 Enfield was never built in an amoury. they were built exclusively by commercial arms makers, Remington, Eddystone(a Remington plant) and Winchester. At the time Springfield arsenal was busy trying to make enough 1903 Springfield, they didn't. WWI was really fought, on the US side, mainly with 1917 Enfields. Great rifle by the way. Mine was totally buggered when I bought it in the '70s. Now it's a 300 WinMag with a long throat. Loves the 200 grain Noslers! Deer seasons on full swing, count so far, 1 coyote, 1 deer. This year of game consercation people have removed the limit on does in parts of the state. Hope to eat a lot more deer this year!

broken arrow · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2003, 12:20:00 PM »

Gunnut: thanks for the info. My count thus far is 1 coyote, no deer (sadly)
I hope this enfield turns out to be accurate. We have begun the arduous process of ordering parts, disassemnbling and refinishing it. I think it will end up being a great hunting rifle.