When A Vintage Build Is More Than Just A Project

Thanks again for all your help with my Eddystone 1917 project. I was able to use it to harvest a 4x4 this year. Here’s the pics and the story:

-Ruben

I want to share with you the large significance this little guy holds for me:

My Great Uncle John Bottomley was a retired navy man, competitive pistol shooter, and firearm enthusiast who was living in California. He dreamed of going big game hunting in places like 'Outer Mongolia' (Montana) I came to call home. Talking to him growing up, there was never a conversation less than 45 minutes long and always about cars, firearm history and merits of different firearm styles. In his age, he had to decrease the calibers he would shoot since he became less and less tolerant of recoil. Sadly, this made it impossible for him to shoot his favorite .30 cal. cartridges. A few years ago, he passed away and left me some of his firearms, such as this one. Since many of his guns were old military guns that were 'sporterized', there was no standard way of making them. This made it extremely difficult to find mounts and gunsmiths to help me put this together. This year, I took Uncle Johnnie hunting with me and using his Eddystone Model of 1917 (America Enfield) made in 1918, we harvested this buck. I know he's no monster, but he makes up in significance what he lacks in antlers. This one’s for you Uncle Johnnie!!!