Originally Posted by
opos
I've been a fan of the 1917 Enfield rifles since I was a teen in Colorado..I am not a military collector and am a big fan of nicely done milsurp sporter conversions...no I'd not cut up anything now a days but in the 50's I worked in a gun store and Enfields and Springfields were the guns everyone had stuffed in a box or barrel in the corner..lots of folks cut the stocks down to save weight and many were converted to other calibers..
I'd suggest a stop at a local gunsmith and have he headspace checked out (and also a visual for any flaws like cracks, etc)..these are old guns and many have been "used and abused" over the years..not to fear them but headspace should only run a few bucks to have checked if they even charge you to do it..and then you can be pretty sure it can be a decent shooter..
I currently have 3 "sporterized" 1917's ... A 30-06 in a beautiful Fagen stock...A 25-06 again in a custom Fagen stock and a 30-06 Ackley improved in a Bishop Stock from the 50's...all shoot way better than I can...all are scoped with Nikon Buckmaster 3x9 scopes...I hand load for them but they shoot factory ammo just great...Enjoy whatever you do but do get a quick once over by a smith..then it's off to the range.
Good luck on the knee...just passed 10 years on a total knee on the right side..best decision I ever made...do the exercises, do the exercises, do the exercises....it's a pain in the rear but in the long run it makes things so much better.