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M1917 (1918)

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Sarge View Drop Down
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    Posted: October 23 2019 at 2:06am
Ayup Peeps,

Firstly...it's great to back after such a long absence, and I hope to meet up with old acquaintances on here in the near future. The collection has been steadily growing. There have also been some rather nice, but exceedingly unexpected surprises.

Two weekends ago, I took a call from a fellow collector friend, asking me if I was interested in any M1917 bayonets. Well, within minutes, I was in the car... on my way.

The M1917 is quite a common beast... but stamped as '1918'... that is a rarity, and does not come along readily. Be it rare or not, I have seen many in my decades of collecting, but the last one in reality.... not for several months past. So, I'm quite certain that you can imagine my delight at seeing not one.... but two at the same time.



What made the experience even more unique, was the fact the both the early war Mk.1 and later Mk.2 scabbards were included.



There have been several more surprising finds since them. Updates to follow.

This is MY rifle, there are many like, but this one... is MINE!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 23 2019 at 7:47pm
this was an anomaly - it makes it an interesting find that is not uncommon but worth having in a well rounded collection , they thought to follow the US practice of marking them to date of manufacture but ...the marking was meant as its supposed to be a marking of its model number and it only occurred for a short time , 

yes its limited production makes it a little rarer , but not enough to drive prices through the roof as so many were made , i think it worth purchase if you come upon a nice example , these rifles and bayonets are the one crossover between my once fine , now gone US collection and my favored commonwealth collection , the redheaded stepchild of the US rifle legacy that outproduced the US arsenals , a truly interesting story and moment in history 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sarge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2019 at 12:16am
Thank's 'A square 10', for that rather almost 'waxing lyrical'... poetic imput in a way.   

I did telephone Remington Arms Co; several years ago in reference to the '1918' stamping. I was informed at that time, that they admit a shortfall in the company archives for the Great War period, and that the company has been greatly re-structured since that time. According to their knowledge, someone (identity unknown) took it upon themselves to alter what took to be a year date, and match it to the new year - '1918'. Apparently it was noticed only after what is estimated be in the low hundred thousand's produced, then immediately returned to the Mk stamp of 1917.

Over here in the UK examples are not that common, quite a rarity in fact. To see one is something of an event. To see two at the same time in the same location can be something of a major taking point.

'Q'.. How rare are these beasts in the USA?
This is MY rifle, there are many like, but this one... is MINE!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2019 at 7:07pm
not quite so rare as there , but ive not seen an overabundance of them on the market in my years of buying and selling bayonets , i had one once - went to a bayonet collector that needed it for his collection - i only collected them to go with my rifles and with the rapid exchange of M1917 rifles i had for a period there not every one got one , that collector also got my VN vintage M1917 bayonet - one i somewhat regret selling , it was a nice set , 

you have a nice example -  hold onto it , 

i have still got a nice winchester with my winchester M1817 rifle and a decent remington P1913 with my eddystone P1914 rifle , i would love to have a P1913 rifle and and a vickers P 1913 bayonet to go with it , 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sarge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 25 2019 at 1:25am
It's amazing how certain item's seem to come at a rush after not seeing a single example for quite some time. Since posting this thread, I've sourced another two '1918' examples... both once again being offered together. I'm in the process of negotiating with the seller, so... watch this space.

The P1913 rifle has alway's been at the top of my 'Want's List'.



But as there were only around 1200 produced, and pushed out to various units for trials... I don't think that I will be holding my breath anytime soon. I've seen a few examples during visits to 'The Imperial War Museum', 'National Army Museum', and had the privilege to examine one when I was attached to the 'School Of Infantry', Warminster, England.

An even rarer beast than the 'Vickers' is the 'Enfield Trials P13 Bayonet'.



I do recall this particular item being discussed here several years ago. I think the chap in question mentioned that he had actually found it whilst on deployment. Some people have all the luck!

In reference to the VN M1917... How rare are they (extremely here), and what would be considered a fair price for a decent example. I found an example about two months ago, which incidentally, is still available.



This is MY rifle, there are many like, but this one... is MINE!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote terrylee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 25 2019 at 9:29am

No. 825
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2019 at 8:38pm
im now too old to chase dreams like this but there are a few on my list - the P1913 rifle would be one , the HAC revolver another , and the prichard bayonet the last on my short list , dreams are what life is all about , 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bear43 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 30 2019 at 7:14pm
terrylee, that always makes me shake my head! It is nice to know someone owns one! Sarge, before reading this I didn't even know about the 1918 marked bayonets. I will keep my eye open now.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 30 2019 at 7:47pm
these were not well known , nor much published as these were not the high priority in the us world we concentrated on the 1905 and its aberrations but those of us that also collected commonwealth knew of them , i have one - i hold it with my M1917 along with a winchester to match the rifle , remington made so many the winchester is the one i hold close , 

i have had a lot of these as well as a lot of the rifles , you tend to keep the ones that mean something to your searches , this one does 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sarge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2020 at 5:15am
Ayup Chaps.

Back in my 25th October post, I mentioned that I was in negotiations with a chap who had two M17/18's for sale. Well, he changed his mind several times over the past few months. I gently perused the subject though, and last month he gave in. So, here now... all four together. The newbee's are the cleaner blade examples.











'Bear43'... I'm rather surprised that due to your location, you never knew of the M1917/18 existence. They have been mentioned in several dedicated books since the 60's, albeit as a side note of interest back then. Now, they are being mentioned in more detail. They do tend to turn up for sale here in groups though. I'm tracking several at this moment on various dealerships. The price is steadily rising, but gladly inline with the regular M17 examples. However, as Dan Morrisons book: 'The US Enfield Bayonet' becomes more widely established, I would estimate that the sale value of such bayonets will start to go through the roof.

'A Square 10'... I'm the same with my 1914 made Winchester P14 & P13 Winchester 4/16 + SMLE Enfield 1914 & P07 EFD 5/14




This is MY rifle, there are many like, but this one... is MINE!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2020 at 6:03pm
oh , in answer to your VN era M17 question , i bought mine a long time ago for about  $125 and sold it for just a bit more - but by then it had doubled in value without my knowing it , last one i saw for sale was north or 300 , but thats been a while back now , 

if you have one hang onto it if you get a decent priced chance at one grab it , 

now that im selling my things off im not looking anymore - both my P14 with its P13 bayonet and my M17 with its M17 are now sold , the bayonets shipped last week , rifles are packed to go , 
the only one ive kept is my P13 overmarked M17 that ive always kept with my 1899 winchester pump , i shoot it for cowboy so ill hang onto it for now 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sarge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2020 at 6:19pm
Time to enjoy the accumulated value of your collection now? I can't fault you there. It will be a few years yet before I hang up my collecting hat.

Incidentally, I did look at the dealers site last week where that VNM17 was for sale. It's was still there. Seems to be a good investment.
This is MY rifle, there are many like, but this one... is MINE!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 16 2020 at 6:27pm
i recently retired for the second time and at 70 this is going to be permanent save my part time work at the local gun club , im going to put the funds to expenses at this point , its been a good quarter century with these - time to pass them on to the next holder of history , trying to find good homes for everything where they will be held as dear , so far that is working out well , 
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