505 Gibbs

[Hunter-Habib]

I have a 1917 action laying in my gun safe, and every once in a while I consider a 505 Gibbs build on this action. The only thing that stops me is the other build(s) that I have already in the works.

Enfield Model 1917 is a good choice of action for the .505 Gibbs. But the Pattern 14 Enfield action is slightly easier to work with when building a rifle in .505 Gibbs.

 

[skydiver386]

Enfield Model 1917 is a good choice of action for the .505 Gibbs. But the Pattern 14 Enfield action is slightly easier to work with when building a rifle in .505 Gibbs.

Yes, I believe the bolt face and extractor require less work, but both a in fairly short supply these days.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Yes, I believe the bolt face and extractor require less work, but both a in fairly short supply these days.

When I had first gone to Australia in 1977, there were DOZENS of military surplus Pattern 14 Enfield rifles lying around in the second hand racks of local gun stores. In my most recent trip to Australia in 2021, I did not see a single Pattern 14 Enfield rifle at the local gun stores anymore. Very unfortunate.

I wonder if they've all been bought up, by now.

Perhaps @PCC600 or @Tintin or @Bob Nelson 35Whelen can shed some light in this topic.

 

[PCC600]

When I had first gone to Australia in 1977, there were DOZENS of military surplus Pattern 14 Enfield rifles lying around in the second hand racks of local gun stores. In my most recent trip to Australia in 2021, I did not see a single Pattern 14 Enfield rifle at the local gun stores anymore. Very unfortunate.

I wonder if they've all been bought up, by now.

Perhaps @PCC600 or @Tintin or @Bob Nelson 35Whelen can shed some light in this topic.

Sorry but I don’t know where they have gone .

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

When I had first gone to Australia in 1977, there were DOZENS of military surplus Pattern 14 Enfield rifles lying around in the second hand racks of local gun stores. In my most recent trip to Australia in 2021, I did not see a single Pattern 14 Enfield rifle at the local gun stores anymore. Very unfortunate.

I wonder if they've all been bought up, by now.

Perhaps @PCC600 or @Tintin or @Bob Nelson 35Whelen can shed some light in this topic.

@Hunter-Habib
P14s and M17s were common back then and sold cheap to make sporting rifles and generally cut up to sporterise them. They were regarded as big clunky actions that needed to much work to make them look any good.
The Mauser 98 was held in higher regard hence the cheaper prices for the Enfield.
Finding an original Enfield now is hard and expensive if you want one in good condition. Even average ones command good money.
Finding a P14 or M17 action is doable but expect to pay up to six hundred dollars for one now.
Fortunately I have 2 custom Enfield rifles.
Bob

 

[Jeff505]

As my hunting friend @Doug3006 described my 505 “The gun that kills on one end and maims on the other”.