M1917 Enfield
United States Government (Winchester, Remington, Eddystone) · Rifle · Discontinued · 1917
Also known as: U.S. Model of 1917, American Enfield, P17, Pattern 1917, Eddystone
Overview
The M1917 Enfield is an American bolt-action service rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield. Adapted from the British Pattern 1914 Enfield (P14) when the United States entered World War I and faced a critical shortage of M1903 Springfield rifles, it was produced by Winchester, Remington, and Eddystone using existing tooling. Featuring a modified Mauser-type action with cock-on-closing, a sturdy rear aperture sight protected by ears, and a five-groove left-hand-twist barrel, it became the most widely carried rifle of the American Expeditionary Forces, equipping roughly three-quarters of U.S. infantry in France.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4167 g (147.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1175 mm (46.26") |
| Barrel Length | 660 mm (25.98") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 823 m/s (2700 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 4515 J (3330 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 5029 m (5500 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Left Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as 30-06, .30-06 Sprg, 7.62x63mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Rear Aperture Sight, Protected Ears Sight, Cock On Closing, Stripper Clip Loading, Bent Bolt Handle
Service history
Operators
- American Expeditionary Forces · adopted 1917 · as U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1917
- United States Army · adopted 1917 · as M1917
- British Home Guard · adopted 1940
Conflicts
- World War I (1917-1918)
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 2,422,529 · Production years: 1917-1919
Approximately 2.4 million produced across Winchester, Remington, and Eddystone; Eddystone produced more than the other two combined. About 1.1 million shipped to France before the Armistice.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Enfield (Pattern 1914), U.S. Ordnance Department
Discontinued: 1919
Notes
Unlike the M1903 Springfield, the M1917 lacked a magazine cut-off and used a larger, heavier receiver. Its protected rear aperture sight was widely regarded as faster and more accurate than the mid-barrel sights of contemporary rifles. Sergeant Alvin York famously used an M1917 (not a M1903 as often depicted) during his Medal of Honor action in 1918.
Background
Adopted as an expedient when the U.S. could not produce enough M1903 Springfields for the war effort, the M1917 ended up arming the majority of American doughboys in World War I, making it the true workhorse rifle of the AEF despite the M1903's greater fame.