Remington 1917 Gun Show Find

[chuckindenver]

if your rifle was still original blue, you wouldnt be able to see the dark ends from being anealed, id bet lunch that your rifle is phoshate finished..nothing wrong with it at all,. 17,s are 3.5% nickle steel and only surface hardened, blue takes real well to them, phosphate will make the annealed ring and tang stand out much more, cant hide the heat..
factory parkerized Eddstone and Remingtons were iron phosphate first then manganese phosphate to cover the well, they were only done for a short time, iron phosphate will give a dark flat black look. by Sept 1918 Remington and Eddystone were using phosphate coatings. you can coogle the Eddystone story and read for yourself.

[Randy A]

us019255,
Greetings neighbor, the band pin is probably more important on the 1917 due to the two piece hand guard. If it should walk forward just a little bit,,,, your rear handguard is left in the dirt somewhere since the last foxhole.

[Ken in Iowa]

Well I'll be. http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/Eddystone The Parkerizing process was in full production at by September 1918, the month my barrel was made.

I can certainly see the flat black look, especially when in different lighting. The handguard ring is a grey/green color which obviously is different from the rest of the finish.

I disassembled the rifle for inspection and cleaning. There are a few small parts that I would like to replace, like both band screws, the rear action screw and perhaps replace the missing stacking swivel and screw. Any recommendations for suppliers of these parts, or should I just check with the usual suspects?

[Randy A]

I'm headed to the ranch this weekend, I believe I have some, will let you know.

[chuckindenver]

band screws are usually staked in place, and not to be removed. the small parts will always look lighter then the action and barrel.. barrel will always be darker,

[us019255]

us019255,
Greetings neighbor, the band pin is probably more important on the 1917 due to the two piece hand guard. If it should walk forward just a little bit,,,, your rear handguard is left in the dirt somewhere since the last foxhole.

Makes sense, I will be sure to take my Garand to the trenches until I get around to making a pin.

Frankly, I like to shoot the M1917 more than my M1903 rifle.

[Sako]

Nice pics! Unusual for the San Antonio Arsenal to leave any blue, but your receiver
is definately blued. The bolt is not. Your weapon is a true WWII rebuild from a WWI
return. The barrel was savageable for the war effort or it would have been replaced
too. At the time these rifles were rebuilt, we were desperate. If I remember right,
the early barrels have six grooves vs. the later two grooves. Better accuracy!
30-06 and have fun. B

Never saw a six groove 1917. Mine are all 5 groove.

[Ken in Iowa]

Some sources like Wikipedia say that the High Standard barrels were 6 groove while others say the HS barrels were 4 groove.

Who is correct?

[Randy A]

I think there is some confusion with the early Smith Corona (High Standard made) six groove barrels. Never heard of a 1917 six groove!