Model 30 or sporterized U.S. Model of 1917

[Bobtoo]

I am looking for help in indentifying exactly what type of rifle I have. It is marked U.S. Model of 1917 Remington 643XX. It has a 22" barrel and has a stock that looks much like a model 30 without checkering. There are markings on the barrel which I am not familiar with. Please excuse my description... By the breach there is an f 12 and f 13 stamp with what looks like flames above them. There is a stamp of either 9N or N6 a few inches down the barrel. There is also what looks like v4 stamped on the right side of the barrel with a double circle and flames stamp. The safety and bolt have an E stamp (i'm assuming Eddystone). The safety also has 57 with flames stamped. The bolt has what looks like a crosword puzzle stamp and a double circle with flame stamp in addition to the E. The Stock does not have any markings. It does have a pistol grip cap. The buttplate is marked WIN-A-MER Co. It has a Reading rear sight and what is marked as a marble no. 2 front sight. There are no markings I can find on the stock. I appreciate any information or documents about this type of rifle anyone has.

[Wulfman]

I'm not sure what more you need to know.....sounds like you've got it all.

Looks and sounds like a sporterized 1917 Enfield to me.

Since Remington was a manufacturer of the Enfields during WWI, after the war, they used leftover actions to make the Model 30. Hence the resemblance. However, if it was a Model 30, it would probably be pretty evident.

There's tons of information out on the Internet if you just use Google.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1917_Enfield

http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl19-e.htm

http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/dbrifle.htm

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread ... 220/page/1

http://www.odcmp.org/503/rifle.pdf

http://www.scott-duff.com/Eddystone.htm

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=7839


Den

[Bobtoo]

Den,
Thanks for the links and info. The barrel is marked as an Enfield which must have been shortened to 22'" and the forward sight replaced. The stock is almost identical to the stocks of Model 30s I've seen. What I'm trying to determine is whether this is a Model 30 clone or just a sporting rifle utilizing surplus Enfield parts. I'm also wondering why there is no caliber designation anywhere on the rifle (.30-06 obviously) and what if anything the markings on the rifle mean. All info is appreciated, including information on the care and disassembly of this type of configuration. I believe the barrel was manufactured in 1918.
Thanks,
Bob

[Wulfman]

Den,
Thanks for the links and info. The barrel is marked as an Enfield which must have been shortened to 22'" and the forward sight replaced. The stock is almost identical to the stocks of Model 30s I've seen. What I'm trying to determine is whether this is a Model 30 clone or just a sporting rifle utilizing surplus Enfield parts. I'm also wondering why there is no caliber designation anywhere on the rifle (.30-06 obviously) and what if anything the markings on the rifle mean. All info is appreciated, including information on the care and disassembly of this type of configuration. I believe the barrel was manufactured in 1918.
Thanks,
Bob

If you absolutely can't tell what caliber it is, you could try doing a chamber casting. It's possible that even though it's still a .30 caliber, it could have been re-chambered for some 30 mag variation. (I have a Remington 721 that was re-chambered for a .308 Norma Mag. many years before I got it) However, if it's been re-chambered, it SHOULD have been stamped on the side of the barrel.

From your description I'd put money on the probability that it's a sporterized Enfield and not a re-done Model 30. This statement tells me that: "It is marked U.S. Model of 1917"

Every gunsmith has different ideas about building or sporterizing rifles. I have two sporterized Springfields that are proof of that.


Den

[chopper007]

It's a Remington Model 30 with a custom aftermarket stock.

[Recoil Rob]

To me it sounds more like a modified 1917 barreled action possibly in a M30 stock. If the action isn't marked Model 30 it isn't one.