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Re: Seeking records on Winchester US Model 1917
Jason Atkinson
Apr 8, 2020 3:29 PM
Dear Ms. Brown,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
Military records in our custody do not include the record of assignment and operational activity of individual pieces of equipment. Under normal War Department and Department of the Army records management procedures, such documentation would be destroyed after initial administrative use.
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company may have additional information about the manufacture and initial sale of the firearm, but is unlikely to have information about which soldier or unit was assigned the weapon after it entered military service.
We hope this information is helpful. -
Re: Seeking records on Winchester US Model 1917
1 person found this helpfulThree companies made M1917 rifles, the Winchester company made the fewest with a total production of 465,980. According to the Springfield Research Service Serial Numbers book Volumes 3 and 4: serial number 295360 was issued on 8/21/1918 to Company F, 124th Infantry Regiment, and serial number 295361 was issued on 8/26/1918 to Camp Wheeler, GA. So close to the actual serial number you needed!
So it appears likely your weapon was issued in August 1918 to some Army unit and possibly saw service in WWI.
It would be very difficult to trace it to an individual soldier. If you could get the unit information from the Springfield Research service ( they do provide information for a fee) assuming your serial number was in their files. Then you could try the unit records for that particular unit but most often there would not be a record to an individual soldier, just " 70 rifles issued to Company A, 1st Infantry Regiment on such and such a date"
Lisa Sharik
Deputy Director
Texas Military Forces Museum
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Re: Seeking records on Winchester US Model 1917
Ms. Sharif,
Can you provide similar information for the Winchester 1917 I just got from my grandfather? It’s serial number 71285 with a barrel stamp of 11-17. Any information as to manufacturing date or issue location and/or date and what branch or company it was issued to would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
Eric Cowey
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Re: Seeking records on Winchester US Model 1917
Mr. Cowey:
Unfortunately, I could not find your serial number in the books I have. The closest I could find was 71390 which was part of a large shipment of Winchesters sent to Camp Humphries on October 4, 1918, your weapon was not part of that shipment. The serial number is fairly low so it was likely issued during WWI.
You used to be able to contact the Springfield Research Service to ask them for a search of your serial number : SPRINGFIELD RESEARCH SERVICE but I don't know that they are active any more.
Sorry I could not be of more help.
Lisa Sharik
Deputy Director
Texas Military Forces Museum
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Re: Seeking records on Winchester US Model 1917
Ms. Sharik,
Do you have any records for Ser. #328408?
What resources are you using? Is there online access to these records?
Respectfully,
Walt Roberts
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Re: Seeking records on Winchester US Model 1917
Mr. Roberts:
My source is the Springfield Research Service(SRS) books "Serial Numbers of U.S. Martial Arms" volumes 1-4. These books were published by the SRS in the late 1990s. They are useful, but far from comprehensive list of serial numbers. Only a small percentage of serial numbers are listed.
I assume you are also asking about a M1917? Also a Winchester?
Remington Eddystone made 1,181,908 M 1917 rifles
Remington Ilion made 545,541
Winchester made 465,980
I could not find your specific serial number listed, the closest was 328473 ( a Winchester) which on August 15, 1918 was part of an "Interchange" test of May and June production models. ( A test of weapons to make sure all parts were interchangeable)
Your weapon is not listed as being part of this test, but it does give us a date for its production in May-June of 1918 ( assuming you have a Winchester). So it is possible that it could have been issued and seen service in WWI but nothing I have available can confirm that possibility.
Lisa Sharik
Deputy Director
Texas Military Forces Museum
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