M1917 Bubba Sights Mystery

[Squaregrouper]

Trying to figure this out. An M1917 had the rear sight protectors ground off and it was drilled and tapped (D&T) for what I'm guessing was a peep sight. The peep sight isn't there and the D&T holes are oddly slightly offset.
I attached a few pictures with a micrometer for a reference point.
Does this even vaguely sound familiar to anyone?
.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Bubba had use of a milling machine. You'd think he'd use the same machine to put both holes on centerline.

 

[Squaregrouper]

Trying to figure this out. An M1917 had the rear sight protectors ground off and it was drilled and tapped (D&T) for what I'm guessing was a peep sight. The peep sight isn't there and the D&T holes are oddly slightly offset.
I attached a few pictures with a micrometer for a reference point.
Does this even vaguely sound familiar to anyone?
.
View attachment 489852

I have a feeling @John from MD might have seen one of these.

 

[Clovis]

In looking at some drawings in Stratton's book on the Enfields I think it looks like the front hole was made with the rifle (I think to hold the screw for part of the rear sight). This looks like someone was working to try to install scope rings...are there any holes drilled in the front part of the receiver where the bolt lugs will lock? Again pictures in Stratton's book show a ring where the rear sight is and a ring on the front over where the bolt lugs lock.

 

[Squaregrouper]

In looking at some drawings in Stratton's book on the Enfields I think it looks like the front hole was made with the rifle (I think to hold the screw for part of the rear sight). This looks like someone was working to try to install scope rings...are there any holes drilled in the front part of the receiver where the bolt lugs will lock? Again pictures in Stratton's book show a ring where the rear sight is and a ring on the front over where the bolt lugs lock.

The only holes are the two pictured. Bubba clearly ground off the rear sight protectors and milled the rear sight base area. Why, is what I'm stumped over.
I have no idea how to add a rear sight to this rifle.

 

[Clovis]

The only holes are the two pictured. Bubba clearly ground off the rear sight protectors and milled the rear sight base area. Why, is what I'm stumped over.
I have no idea how to add a rear sight to this rifle.

Sorry to go down a useless path for you. Looking at your pics a little closer it does look like Mr. Bubba took the ears completely off and removed the cross holes for the screw to hold the rear sight. What you can do to replace it with a sight I'm not sure. A mount for a scope may be the only choice, but I wouldn't want to do it either.

 

[John from MD]

I have a feeling @John from MD might have seen one of these.

Yep, someone did a cheap mill and drill job for a sight base of some sort. Back in the day, Brownells had all the mount spacing for Weaver and Redfield who were the big names in sights at the time.

 

[Clovis]

https://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/2252570bed3f371cf118127839de32a1696c1e7.JPG

This has been bugging me a little so I'll add to the confusion. The rear sight base is not been milled any more than what was done at the factory originally as far as I can tell. The flat rectangular spring was fitted into the squared slot of the base and held in place by the screw in the front hole. The spring would keep the rear sight in the raised or lowered position.
It looks like bubba only removed the rear sight protector ears and drilled a poorly centered hole in the base. For what purpose who knows. Now more questions...Has the rifle been bubbaed elsewhere or is it original overall? And the worst question knowing the rear sight was gone and the rifle bubbaed this much why would you have bought it? Sorry had to ask...
Oh and the image above is of a 1914 enfield basically the same rifle but in .303 not .30-06, as the '14 would have the peep on the side for the longer range dial sight on the side of the fore end.

 

[Squaregrouper]

https://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/2252570bed3f371cf118127839de32a1696c1e7.JPG

This has been bugging me a little so I'll add to the confusion. The rear sight base is not been milled any more than what was done at the factory originally as far as I can tell. The flat rectangular spring was fitted into the squared slot of the base and held in place by the screw in the front hole. The spring would keep the rear sight in the raised or lowered position.
It looks like bubba only removed the rear sight protector ears and drilled a poorly centered hole in the base. For what purpose who knows. Now more questions...Has the rifle been bubbaed elsewhere or is it original overall? And the worst question knowing the rear sight was gone and the rifle bubbaed this much why would you have bought it? Sorry had to ask...
Oh and the image above is of a 1914 enfield basically the same rifle but in .303 not .30-06, as the '14 would have the peep on the side for the longer range dial sight on the side of the fore end.

It was also missing some wood, rear barrel band and the handguard ring.
It cost me $0.00 from a deceased relative and I am finally trying to figure out how to make it shootable.

 

[Clovis]

Now I understand more about what you're involved with here, makes more sense. I would guess back in the day these rifles and other military stuff was available cheap compared to new made sporting rifles which I am sure you know already and it was common to buy these military rifles and sporterize these by removing part of the stock and perhaps changing out the sights. I would suppose this was the plan but when the hole got put off center the bubba or whomever got frustrated and set it aside until they could figure out what to do about it and it got put to the back of the line and left there.
I almost think I would try to visit a local gunsmith for help with this project unless you are set on a DIY project. I do think a aftermarket rear peep sight could be fitted to this to help make it shootable. Wish I could offer more help.

 

[Squaregrouper]

Now I understand more about what you're involved with here, makes more sense. I would guess back in the day these rifles and other military stuff was available cheap compared to new made sporting rifles which I am sure you know already and it was common to buy these military rifles and sporterize these by removing part of the stock and perhaps changing out the sights. I would suppose this was the plan but when the hole got put off center the bubba or whomever got frustrated and set it aside until they could figure out what to do about it and it got put to the back of the line and left there.
I almost think I would try to visit a local gunsmith for help with this project unless you are set on a DIY project. I do think a aftermarket rear peep sight could be fitted to this to help make it shootable. Wish I could offer more help.

Yup. Government surplus rifles that are "old" have been sporterized/Bubba-ed into deer rifles for over a hundred years.
It was just 20yrs ago that Mosins went for $70 and Swiss straight pulls were $150. In the early-mid 1990's SKS's, Lee Enfields, etc could be bought in cosmoline for $75-$85.
The same thing happened with Krags, 03A3s, M1917s, etc- just a lot longer ago.
It was before my shooting days, but in 1986 there were guys registering DIAS with the ATF. It was a $30 piece of metal plus a $200 tax stamp. Everyone thought they were insane. Those are currently fetching north of $20,000 each.