Educational
Zone #71 - Great Firearms - The M-1917 Enfield
- Page 1
The
M-1917 Enfield, also called The American Enfield,
is a great firearm.
In 1914, the British wanted more battle rifles
in a very bad way. They had designed a fine
rifle called the Pattern 1914 Enfield, caliber
.303 British, but needed foreign contractors
to build it for them.
They contracted with American companies, mostly
Winchester, Remington, and Eddystone to produce
these rifles for them. More than one and one-quarter
million were eventually produced for them.
However
in 1917, the United States found itself going
to war and found a need for more rifles. A
decision was made to convert the design of
the Pattern 1914 from .303 British, to .30-06
Springfield and make these fine old rifles
for US troops.
Originally intended to supplement the 1903
Springfield, the M-1917 eventually surpassed
the Springfield in numbers. By 1918, over
75% of the American Expeditionary Force was
armed with the 1917 Enfield.
These old rifles were mostly stored after
WWI, and then either re-issued to some American
troops in WWII, or used as secondary rifles
until M-1 Garands were available.
Many of these rifles would be arsenal re-worked
before being issued.
No
discussion of the 1917 Enfield would be complete
without mentioning that Sgt. Alvin York's
Regiment was issued Enfields when they got
to Europe.
There is still some controversy about
whether Sgt. York used an M-1917 Enfield,
or his personal favorite, the 1903 Springfield
when he won the Medal of Honor.
I have a copy of his autobiography, and he
simply does not say which rifle he was using.
We may never know for sure. But both of those
rifles were great battle rifles.
I have a fine example of an M-1917 Enfield.
Here it is.
When
talking about the M-1917, the word "robust"
seems to be well-suited.
Look at the front sight of the rifle.
Those wings could be used to drive nails without
any damage.
The
rear sight assembly is just as tough.
The
rear sights are very well made and easy to
use.
The
sight has an adjustable ladder for long range
shooting, with (optimistic )
markings up to 1,500 yards.
)
markings up to 1,500 yards.
