30, Model of 1917” was an American modification and production of the British. The M1917 Enfield, “P17 Enfield”, “American Enfield”, formally named “United States Rifle, cal. Additional surplus rifles were bought by European arms distributors and converted to 8x57 mauser, then sold for use in the civil war in Spain during the 1930's.U.S. Some (approximately 3000) M1917 rifles were produced in 7 mm () and sold to Honduras around 1930.
1917 ENFIELD EDDYSTONE 30 06 SERIES
The action was used as the basis for a variety of commercial and gunsmith-made sporting rifles between the world wars and after surplus receivers and tooling were used by Remington to produce their Model 30 () series of rifles in the interwar period (). Due to the use of rimmed cartridges in the P14, the magazine capacity for the smaller diameter 30-06 was 6 rounds, although stripper clips held only five cartridges. The M1917 was actually a development of the Mauser () 98 rifle. Both were developed at the Royal Small Arms Factory () at Enfield () (arsenal ()) in the United Kingdom (). 1890-1955, the Lee-Enfield () (such as the SMLE () version). While developed at the same arsenal, the M1917 is not a version of the. York had him using an M1903 and a German Luger pistol ().) (The film starring Gary Cooper () as Sgt.
York used a Springfield, the weapon issued to him was an M1917. While York's son has made mention that Sgt. Alvin York () during his famous action against the Germans in WWI.
1917 ENFIELD EDDYSTONE 30 06 FREE
Others were supplied to the Nationalist Chinese forces and to the Free French, both of which can occasionally be seen in photographs being used in action.Ī continuing source of debate among historians concerns what rifle was used by Sgt. These were prominently marked with red paint to avoid confusion with the earlier P14 that used different ammunition. Many were sent to Britain for use by the British Home Guard (). Otherwise, before and during World War II (), stored rifles were reconditioned for use issue as reserve, training, and Lend-Lease () weapons these rifles are identified by having refinished metal (sandblasted and Parkerized ()) and sometimes replacement wood (often birch ()). Perhaps due to rifle shortages at the start of the war, the M1917 was also issued to artillerymen early in the war, and both mortarmen and artillerymen carried the M1917 in North Africa. After the armistice, M1917 rifles were disposed of as surplus or placed in storage for the most part, although Chemical Mortar units continued to be issued the M1917.Īt the time of the American entry in to World War II (), the American Army was still issuing the M1917 to Chemical Mortarmen. By Novemabout 75% of the AEF () were armed with M1917s. The new rifle was used alongside the M1903 Springfield rifle () and quickly surpassed the Springfield () design in numbers produced and units issued. The M1917 Bayonet () was also produced and used on several other small arms. Winchester produced the rifle at their New Haven, Connecticut () plant and Remington at their main facility at Ilion, New York () and at another plant in Eddystone, Pennsylvania (). Rather than re-tool completely, the factories, under the close supervision of the US Army Ordnance Department, altered the design for caliber. entered the war, it had a similar extreme need for rifles. In the case of the P14 rifle, Winchester () and Remington () were selected. When the British Empire entered World War I (), it had an urgent need for rifles and contracts were placed with companies in the United States. 303 caliber () P14 () rifle () developed and manufactured during the period 1917-1918. 30, Model of 1917" was an American () modification and production of the British.
The M1917 Enfield, the "American Enfield" (frequently misidentified or mislabeled as the "P17", "P1917", or "Pattern 1917"), formally named "United States Rifle, cal. :biggthumpup: ol' Sgt York used one, ya can't keep a good rifle down, Ron