Posts
Everyone forgets the M1917 when talking about US Mauser clones.
It's got a similar genesis as the M1903, "Wow, that 7x57mm Mauser sure was keen! Let's copy it to replace our current rifle. But let's change the cartridge... And the... And the..."
The Brits made a lot more changes than we did when copying the Mauser action, but that's what they were doing when making the Pattern 1913. That became the Pattern 1914 when they decided it wasn't prudent to switch calibers in mid-war (ask Italy and Japan about this and they would agree), but did want more rifles please. NOW, please.
Once their emergency needs were met, we realized that we didn't have near enough of our primary rifle to be in a war as well. So the Pattern 14 gets made in .30-06 and viola! M1917.
It's got controlled feeding:
And it takes stripper clips.
Fun fact: Because the magazine well on the P.14 was made to accept five rounds of rimmed .303 British ammo, it can accept six rounds of .30-06, plus one in the chamber.
I wouldn't mind having one of those myself to see how well it shot. Thanks to collector mania and people buying anything that'll shoot for fear of a gun ban, it's out of the question.
ReplyDeleteIt's our own damn fault for not buying them when they were cheaper than tomato stakes.
DeleteI'm actually pleased with myself for actually having got Mosins when they was cheap!
Every time that sort of thing happens, I'm bucks-down. But guns started getting inordinately expensive when a certain political party which I shall not name other than as the farm team for the CPUSA started howling for "GUN CONTROL, NOWWWW!" Everybody who thought they might want a gun someday started scrambling to buy, for fear of the oncoming ban.
DeleteThe 1917 is also extremely strong,surpassed only by the Arisaka. It was a fovourite for conversion to magnum calibres in the 50's and 60's. Sporterized examples are often available at bargain prices and while not GI are often great shooters.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had purchased a 1917 way back in the 90's when surplus was still reasonable. Have to settle for a FR-8 Spanish Mauser. Pretty cool little carbine, but a bit heavy like most military bolt rifle pattern rifles are. It is patterned after the Mauser '98 as well.
ReplyDeleteP.S. - those stripper clips are the shizzle !
jrg
As a little bonus, the 1917 was considered to be the most accurate rifle ever fielded by the U.S. military up until the M16/M4 was introduced. But they're a little long for these carbine-obsessed kids these days. And a little heavy. And a little thumpy on the shoulder. And . . . But they're fun.
ReplyDelete