Need your advice on a gun

[missouri dave]

This is my first post and I'm not sure if this belongs here or on the custom guns but here goes. I have a 1917 eddystone that someone gave me and I would like to turn it into one of Colonel Cooper's scout rifles. It's already had the stock cut down before it came to me. I would like to shorten the barrel to about 18", remount the front site, drill and tap for a scout scope forward of the action. Also I'd like to convert it to .35 Whelan or .35 AI while I'm at it. I don't reload yet, is .35 AI commercially available or should I stick with the .35 Whelan. What's you guy's advice and what gunsmith's can do the work?

[revolverman]

Dave, those old 1917's are getting really hard to come by.  I'd restock it and keep it as the piece of history that it is.  Also, It will only go up in value in original condition (1917's have skyrocketed).  If you customize it you may never get  your money back out of it.  My advice to you is to buy a contemporary bolt gun or better yet a mauser to customize--you'll find a lot more aftermarket parts for these anyway.

[Jack Crevalle]

Good advice from revolerman, by the time you make all those mods you could have bought a good commercial rifle. Sell it on a auction site and take the proceeds and put them toward what you really want. You'll make two people happy, you and the guy who wants to restore that 1917.

[Robert]

But if it is already sporterized Yes.  I just had a 1917 rebarreled to 35 Whelen Improved.  It is excellent, but only for a re-loader.  Also...the AI brass is not nearly as fast to chamber and the dies are really expensive.  But then ANY 35 Whelen Factory ammo is gonna be REALLY expensive too if you do not re-load.  Look around and price the stuff compared to 30-06.
  I had mine done by E.R.Shaw, and they did a beautiful job.  I took TWO years to make the decision, I really had a hard time doing that to a gun that would throw lead so accurate out past 400 yds.  But I have/had  two of them in Remington.  Now I have one in 30-06 AND 35 Whelen Ackley.  I love them both.

[CzaRon]

I agree that the gun should be restored if possible. On turning it into a Cooper "scout concept" rifle, one of Colonel Cooper's main requirements is light weight, and that rules out the P17 unless you are a power lifter. I bought a P17 barreled action and stocked it with a Fajen's classic in english walnut . Looks good , shoots great , but usually stays home during deer season.By the way my barreled action was beyond restoration when I bought it from a local " gunsmith".

[Jack Crevalle]

But if it is already sporterized Yes.  

It didn't sound as if anything had been touched other than the stock.

[missouri dave]

Only the stock has been touched. I think I'll reconsider and just use another rifle. I can always have this one restocked to original. Thanks for the advice.