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1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 9:15 pm
by Noahbody
Anybody know much about this 1917 Enfield experimental match sight?

http://s143.photobucket.com/user/Noahbo ... Winchester

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:30 am
by ovenpaa
I have not seen one before, it seems to be a logical progression from the fine vernier sight. Is this one on your rifle?

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 12:28 pm
by Noahbody
It is on my rifle smile2

I recently purchased this rifle.

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 4:09 pm
by Noahbody
Replies from another forum:

The DCM made up a number for a trial basis circa 1918-1920 to produce a match version of the M1917 the 1903 Lobby kinda crushed it.
and

The USMC had a few target sights made for the M1917 , they preferred it to the M1903 for long range match shooting.
Some Winchester P-14 rifles were fitted with a fine elevation adjustment sight for use by sharpshooters/snipers.

A fine elevation and windage adjustable sight developed for the BAR, from a sight first used on the Browning 1917 Machine gun (that sight itself being a development of the P-14 rear sight) , has been mounted on a few M1917 rifles for match shooting.

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 4:23 pm
by ovenpaa
I just had a hunt for information on the sight and seems to be very unusual, certainly there are not many around these days. I like the look of it as it is very battle sight orientated but with finer adjustment and I am tempted to build one for my P14 if I can find some details and dimensions. I would be inclined to build it from stainless steel so there is no doubting its age, apart from that it would be nice to get close to the original design.

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:49 pm
by Noahbody
I like the way it looks as well. Since seeing a picture of one 2 years ago, my search was on! And lucky for me, I saw the auction for this rifle and sight. I had to have it, even though I already have 3 1917 Enfields.

I noticed when this Enfield is lined up in my gun cabinet, this Winchester is a little shorter (barrel length) than the rest.

The ladder is stamped "W", "K", and it appears "11". Two of the parts are stamped with "46". There is also stamped "PAT." on the base. However, not taking it all apart, do not see the patent number?

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:15 pm
by Noahbody
Disregard about it being shorter.. it is not. My other Enfields in the gun cabinet were sitting on a lip, making them higher than the Winchester.

Is there a DCM serial number lookup to find out more about my rifle?

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:22 pm
by ovenpaa
I scaled off an existing P14 sight and photographs I could find and have got this far however there are a few parts I am unsure of, at least it is a start and I do like the idea of such a sight. It would certainly be fun to build one.
Experimental sight.PNG

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:25 pm
by Noahbody
Ovenpaa

If I can assist in any way as far as measuring or providing detailed pictures of my sight, please let me know.

Email works best.

Jeff

Re: 1917 Enfield Winchester - experimental match sight

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:26 pm
by Noahbody
More pictures added to my Photobucket link.