In Their Words

M1917 Enfield Rifle

The Model 1917 Enfield rifle was the product of quick thinking and an answer to the needs of American soldiers overseas. Upon the United States’ entry into the war in 1917, only 600,000 M1903 Springfield rifles were available for U.S. troops. To arm the newly created American Expeditionary Force, additonal rifles were needed in great quantity. Fortunately, American companies were already mass producing a rifle for the British military. Originally known as the P14 Enfield rifle, manufacture of the weapon had been contracted out to American companies to meet British military demand. Enfield rifles were chosen to supply American soldiers due their ready supply and the slow speeds at which government plants produced the M1903 Springfield. The P14 rifle design was quickly converted to fire the standard US cartridge and re-designated as the Model of 1917 or M1917.

Originally, the P14 rifle fired the British .303 cartridge. After its conversion by American industry into the M1917, the modified rifle fired the U.S. .30-06 cartridge from a five round internal magazine. Like the M1903 Springfield, the M1917 Enfield weighed in at just over eight pounds. The M1917’s durability and accuracy made it a favored weapon among Doughboys. Due to the shortage of M1903s, the majority of A.E.F. soldiers were equipped with the M1917 Enfield while overseas.

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