manchu57 Posted September 1, 2014 Share #1 Posted September 1, 2014 I bought this Remington Model 1917, pictures were taken before I cleaned it. After cleaning it up it is really nice looking. The rifle is an arsenal rebuilt, can anyone tell me what the RL stands for? I know the OG is for Ogden Arsenal. Could this be a post WWII inspector? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldabewla Posted September 1, 2014 Share #2 Posted September 1, 2014 Of what I know, is that these Model 1917's were all rebuilt during WWII and most of them have the JA barrels on them ( Johnson Automatics) when WWII ended these rifles were all obsolete and surplus off. The RL stamp could be the final inspectors inspection stamp. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchu57 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted September 1, 2014 The barrel on this one is dated 7-18 and the serial number matches to that time frame. It has a few small Eddystone parts, I want to leave it like it is an arsenal rebuilt for WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancer-86 Posted September 1, 2014 Share #4 Posted September 1, 2014 You're right, the OG is Ogden Arsenal. The RL is probably the specific inspector who gave the rifle the final thumbs up. Your 1917 could have initially been an early rearsenal job. I'm not 100%, but I remember reading that immediately after the war all of the rifles were refurbed, and then pulled out of storage and refurbed again around ww2. The rifles in good condition were pretty much left as-is when the ww2 inspectors rolled around, but still stamped with inspection marks. Other rifles with rough bores, metal finish, or stocks got JA barrels, parkerized metal, and packed away for future use/sales. Looks like yours has it's original bluing which is a plus, and of course the original barrel. Nice rifle... How's the bore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldabewla Posted September 1, 2014 Share #5 Posted September 1, 2014 If the barrel matches the receiver then the rifle was nice before it was rebuilt. Some went threw the rebuild and were just parkerized, it looks to be parkerized? it also looks to be some small parts blued? if you look at the very end of the stock their should be a stamp for the maker of the stock. E for Eddy, R Remington and W Winchester. very nice example of a WWII rebuild on a model 1917 Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted September 1, 2014 Share #6 Posted September 1, 2014 I checked 3 books that I have on the M1917, and none contained a reference to the "RL" marking. David Albert [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchu57 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted September 1, 2014 The bore is great; when I got the rifle it had old dried Cosmoline on it. after a good cleaning it came out looking very nice. All the major parts are Remington barrel, receiver, etc. a few small Eddystone parts which would be correct since there were more Eddystone parts around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchu57 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted September 1, 2014 It is not parkerized, it has the blue finish. I will have to take some new pictures now that it is cleaned up. That was just some of the crude on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldabewla Posted September 1, 2014 Share #9 Posted September 1, 2014 David, I'm sure it's the final inspectors initials from OG since the US ordnance didn't inspect it and stamp it with the wheel this is the other way it was done. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldabewla Posted September 1, 2014 Share #10 Posted September 1, 2014 It is not parkerized, it has the blue finish. I will have to take some new pictures now that it is cleaned up. That was just some of the crude on it. That's nice, You don't get to see them in their original WWI finish very often. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancer-86 Posted September 1, 2014 Share #11 Posted September 1, 2014 When you take better pics check the stock in front of the magazine underneath the rifle and behind the trigger guard for the original eagle head inspector marks.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchu57 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted September 1, 2014 After a quick look and pictures, here are the only markings I could see. The barrel has the R flaming bomb and 7-18 There maybe others, but I will have to take a look later, have to many honey-doos today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancer-86 Posted September 1, 2014 Share #13 Posted September 1, 2014 The circle P is a post ww1 firing proof. Are there any markings on the front of the stock below the barrel? Any import markings on the end of the barrel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manchu57 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted September 1, 2014 No import marks, and what looks like E on the stock under the barrel. I have no doubt that is a rebuilt gun. I plan to leave it as is to represent a WWII used Model 1917 rifle. I believe in trying to change all the parts back to Remington would change the historical integerty of the rifle. I have yet to see one that is 100% correct. Almost all of the ones I looked at on line, were rebuilt, parkerized, and like you stated had barrels with an JA or HS. and Eddystone parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancer-86 Posted September 1, 2014 Share #15 Posted September 1, 2014 That's awesome if you like it how it sits, but just know this. The parts would not be hard to track down to make this a 100% ww1 correct gun. The correct "R" marked stock would be the biggest issue. If you replaced those parts the value of your rifle increases greatly as it can be sold as a correct ww1 example, especially with the original wartime barrel and bluing. I know a lot of guys do the same thing with cmp garands. They buy a ton of them and cannibalize them for parts. Either way, it's a great example.. Now go shoot it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted September 1, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 1, 2014 Don't mess with the rifle. Leave it exactly as it is. David Albert [email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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