View source for M1917 Enfield

{{Distinguish|Lee–Enfield|M1917 light tank}}
{{Infobox weapon
|is_ranged=yes
|image=[[File:M1917 Enfield USA 30-06 Armémuseum noBG.png|300px|]]
|caption=M1917 Enfield rifle from the collections of [[Armémuseum]], Stockholm, Sweden
|name=US Rifle, Model of 1917, Caliber 30
|type=[[Bolt action|Bolt-action rifle]]
|origin=[[United States]]
|design_date=1917
|production_date=1917–1919
|used_by=See [[M1917 Enfield#Users|Users]]
|service=1917–1945 (U.S. Service)<br>1917–present 
|wars=[[World War I]]<br>[[Banana Wars]]<br>[[Spanish Civil War]]<br>[[World War II]]<br>[[First Indochina War]]<br>[[Chinese Civil War]]<br>[[Korean War]]<br>[[Hukbalahap Rebellion]]<br>[[1958 Lebanon crisis]]<br>[[Annexation of Goa]]<br>[[Portuguese Colonial War]]<br>[[Vietnam War]] (limited)<br>[[Laotian Civil War]] (limited)<br>[[Lebanese Civil War]] (limited)<br>[[Soviet–Afghan War]]
|part_length={{convert|26|in|mm|abbr=on}}
|cartridge=[[.30-06 Springfield]] (7.62×63mm)<br>[[7×57mm Mauser]] (Remington Model 1934)<br>[[7.92×57mm Mauser]] (Modified by European arms dealers during the [[Spanish Civil War]])
|feed=6-round magazine<br>5-round stripper clip
|action=Modified Mauser type bolt-action
|velocity= {{convert| 2800|ft/s|m/s|0|abbr=on}} with Cartridge .30 M2 Ball
|range= {{convert|550|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} with [[iron sights]]
| max_range= {{convert|5500|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} with .30 M1 Ball cartridge<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/FM23-61943/page/n43|title=FM 23-6 Basic Field Manual: U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917 |page=41|date=20 October 1943|publisher=War Department|access-date=9 June 2023}}</ref>
|weight= {{convert|9.187|lbs|kg|abbr=on}} (empty)
|length={{convert|46.3|in|mm|abbr=on}}
|variants= [[Remington Model 30]]
|number=2,193,429 total
|manufacturer= [[Winchester Repeating Arms Company]]<br>[[Remington Arms]]<br>[[Eddystone Arsenal]]
|sights= [[Iron sights]]
}}

The '''M1917 Enfield''', the "American Enfield", formally named "'''United States Rifle, cal .30, Model of 1917'''" is an American modification and production of the [[.303 British|.303-inch (7.7 mm)]] [[Pattern 1914 Enfield]] (P14) rifle (listed in British Service as Rifle No. 3), which was developed and manufactured during the period 1917–1918. Numerically, it was the main rifle used by the [[American Expeditionary Forces]] in Europe during [[World War I]]. The Danish [[Sirius Dog Sled Patrol]] in Greenland still use the M1917, which performs reliably in Arctic conditions, as their service weapon.

==History==
[[File:6.5x50mm Japanese with .303 British & .30-06.JPG|thumb|left|Left to right: .303 British, [[6.5×50mmSR Arisaka]], and [[.30-06 Springfield]] [[soft point]] ammunition]]
[[File:276Enfield.jpg|thumb|left|[[.276 Enfield]] (7×60mm) [[Rim (firearms)|rimless]] bottlenecked [[rifle]] [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]] for which the action was originally designed.]]
[[File:30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge.jpg|thumb|left|.30-06 Springfield (7.62×63mm) rifle cartridge for which the M1917 Enfield was adapted.]]

Before World War I, the British had the [[Short Magazine Lee–Enfield]] (SMLE) as their main rifle. Compared to the German Mausers or U.S. 1903 Springfield, the SMLE's .303 rimmed cartridge, originally a black powder cartridge, was ill-suited for feeding in magazine or belt-fed weapons and the SMLE was thought to be less accurate than its competition at longer ranges. The long-range accuracy of the German [[7×57mm]] [[Mauser Model 1895]] in the hands of Boer marksmen during the [[Second Boer War|Boer War]] (1899-1902) made an impression on the British Army, and a more powerful, modern rifle was desired. Thus, even though improved Lee–Enfield variants (the SMLE) and [[.303 British|.303 British Mark VII]] ammunition with pointed (spitzer) projectiles entered service after the Boer War in 1910, a committee was formed to develop an entirely new design of rifle and cartridge. The starting point was to copy many of the features of the Mauser system. The rifle was developed at the [[Royal Small Arms Factory]] at [[Enfield Town|Enfield]] ([[arsenal]]) in the United Kingdom.

This development named the [[Pattern 1913 Enfield]] or P13, included a front locking, dual lug bolt action with Mauser type claw extractor as well as a new, powerful rimless [[.276 Enfield]] cartridge. The design carried over a Lee–Enfield type safety at the rear of the action and a bolt that cocked on closing to ease unlocking of the bolt during rapid fire. An advanced design, for the era, of aperture rear sight and a long sight radius were incorporated to maximize accuracy potential. Ease of manufacture was also an important criterion. However, the onset of World War I came too quickly for the UK to put it into production before the new cartridge could be perfected, as it suffered from overheating in rapid fire and bore fouling.

As it entered World War I, the UK had an urgent need for rifles, and contracts for the new rifle were placed with [[arms industry|arms companies]] in the United States. They decided to ask these companies to produce the new rifle design in the old .303 British chambering for convenience of ammunition logistics. The new rifle was termed the "Pattern 14". In the case of the P14 rifle, [[Winchester Repeating Arms Company|Winchester]] and [[Remington Arms|Remington]] were selected. A third manufacturer, [[Eddystone Arsenal]] – a subsidiary of Remington – was tooled up at the [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] in [[Eddystone, Pennsylvania]]. Thus, three variations of the P14 and M1917 exist, labeled "Winchester," "Remington" or "Eddystone".

===World War I===
When the U.S. entered the war, it had a similar need for rifles. The [[Springfield Armory]] had delivered approximately 843,000 [[M1903 Springfield|M1903 Springfield rifles]], but due to the difficulties in production, rather than re-tool the Pattern 14 factories to produce the standard U.S. rifle, the M1903 Springfield, it was realized that it would be much quicker to adapt the British design. Although it might have been faster to retain chambering for the .303 British military cartridge, the design was modified for the U.S. .30-06 Springfield cartridge to simplify ammunition logistics. The Enfield design was well suited to the .30-06 Springfield; it was a big, strong action and was originally intended to employ a long, powerful, rimless bottlenecked cartridge. Accordingly, Remington Arms Co. altered the design for caliber .30-06 Springfield, under the close supervision of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department, which was formally adopted as the ''U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1917''. In addition to Remington's production at [[Ilion, New York]] and [[Eddystone, Pennsylvania]], Winchester produced the rifle at their [[New Haven, Connecticut]] plant, a combined total more than twice the 1903's production, and was the unofficial service rifle. Eddystone made 1,181,908 rifles – more than the production of Remington (545,541 rifles) and Winchester (465,980 rifles) combined.<ref>Schreier, Philip ''[[American Rifleman]]'' (January 2009) p.80</ref><ref>http://www.guns.com/2012/10/24/remington-m1917-enfield-rifle/ '''Guns.com''' ''The Remington M1917 Enfield Rifle: A forgotten veteran?'' by Chris Eger (10/24/2012)</ref>
Although standardization with interchangeable parts was intended, early Winchester rifles (including the first five-thousand with a simple '''W''' on the receiver rather than Winchester) used slightly differing parts, causing interchangeability issues with the rifles produced by Remington and Eddystone until Winchester corrected the problem in later production.<ref name=bnc>{{cite journal |last=Canfield |first=Bruce N. |year=2018 |title=One of the Great Decisions |journal=[[American Rifleman]] |volume=166 |issue=8 |pages=43–46&70 |publisher=[[National Rifle Association of America]] }}</ref>

Design changes were few; the [[stripper clip]] feed, internal box magazine, bolt face, chamber and rifling dimensions were altered to suit the .30-06 Springfield cartridge and the US pattern 5-round stripper clips, the stock was slightly redesigned, lightening it somewhat, and the volley fire sights on the left side of the weapon were deleted. The markings were changed to reflect the model and caliber change. A 16.5-inch blade bayonet, the [[M1917 bayonet]] was produced for use on the rifle; it was later used on several other small arms including the [[Winchester Model 1897|M97]] and [[Winchester Model 1912|M12]] [[Combat shotgun|trench shotguns]].

The new rifle was used alongside the [[M1903 Springfield]], and quickly surpassed the [[Springfield Armory|Springfield]] design in numbers produced and units issued. By November 11, 1918, about 75% of the [[American Expeditionary Forces|AEF]] in France were armed with M1917s.<ref name="Ferris, p54" >{{cite book|title=United States Rifle Model of 1917|last=Ferris|first=C.S.|pages=54|ref=Ferris}}</ref>

An M1917 Enfield rifle was used by Sergeant [[Alvin C. York]] on October 8, 1918, during the event for which he was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]], as the U.S. [[82nd Airborne Division|82nd Division's]] (which York was a part of) official history states the division had been issued the M1917 (Eddystone), then replaced them with the [[Lee–Enfield#Short Magazine Lee–Enfield Mk III|No 1 Mk III Lee-Enfield]] while training with the British in the north of France, then were reissued M1917 rifles (Eddystone).<ref>http://www.nramuseum.org/the-museum/the-galleries/america-ascending/case-57-world-war-i-allies-the-world-at-war,-1914-1918/us-winchester-model-1917-bolt-action-rifle.aspx {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510182850/http://nramuseum.org/the-museum/the-galleries/america-ascending/case-57-world-war-i-allies-the-world-at-war%2C-1914-1918/us-winchester-model-1917-bolt-action-rifle.aspx |date=2013-05-10 }} | National Firearms Museum "U.S. Army Sergeant Alvin York carried an Enfield in 1917 when he won the Medal of Honor for capturing nearly the whole German army."</ref> According to his diary, Sergeant York also used a [[M1911 pistol|Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol]] on that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.Vignettes/The.Diary.of.Alvin.York.html |title="The Diary of Alvin York" by Alvin C. York |access-date=2010-08-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055456/http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.Vignettes/The.Diary.of.Alvin.York.html |archive-date=2013-09-21 }}</ref><ref>Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation: [http://www.sgtyork.org/sgtyorkdiary.html "Sgt. Alvin C. York's Diary: October 8, 1918"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127225820/http://sgtyork.org/sgtyorkdiary.html |date=November 27, 2010 }}, accessed September 25, 2010</ref> (The film ''[[Sergeant York (film)|Sergeant York]]'' starring [[Gary Cooper]] in the title role, had York using an [[M1903 Springfield]] and a German [[Luger pistol]].)

After the armistice, most M1917 rifles were placed in storage, although Chemical Mortar units continued to be issued them. During the 1920s and 1930s, many M1917 rifles were released for civilian use through the NRA, or were sold as surplus. Many were "[[sporterising|sporterized]]", sometimes including rechambering to more powerful magnum hunting cartridges, such as [[.300 H&H Magnum]] and [[.300 Winchester Magnum]]. It was so popular as a sporting weapon that Remington manufactured about 30,000 new rifles as the [[Remington Model 30|Model 30]] from 1921 to 1940. In 1934, [[Honduras]] procured a version of the rifle chambered for [[7×57mm]] known as '''Model 1934'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The military rifle cartridges of Honduras from Cortez to zelaya. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+military+rifle+cartridges+of+Honduras+from+Cortez+to+zelaya.-a0270283844 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>

===World War II===
At the time of the American entry into [[World War II]], the U.S. Army was still issuing the M1917 to chemical mortarmen. Perhaps due to [[M1 Garand]] (or [[M1903 Springfield|M1903A3]]) shortages at the start of the war, the M1917 was also issued to artillerymen, and both mortarmen and artillerymen carried the M1917 in North Africa. [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Charles E. Peterson (USAR, retired; 1920–2005), a [[Major (rank)|Major]] in the 101st Airborne in the Normandy action, reported seeing some M1917 rifles issued to rear-echelon U.S. troops in France during [[World War II]]. Other M1917 rifles were issued to the [[Philippine Army|Philippine Commonwealth Army]] and [[Philippine Constabulary]].<ref>{{cite book|series=United States Army in World War II|title=The War in the Pacific - The Fall of the Philippines|first=Louis |last=Morton|publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History|Center of Military History]], United States Army|location= Washington D.C.C|lccn=53-63678|year=1953|chapter=U.S. Army Forces, Far East|url=https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/5-2/5-2_Contents.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224161349/http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/5-2/5-2_Contents.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 24, 2007|chapter-url=https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/5-2/5-2_2.htm|id=CMH Pub 5-2|pages=28–29}}</ref> After the fall of the Philippines, M1917 rifles were used by Japanese police forces<ref>{{cite web|title=Philippines pt.2: WWII weapons used 1946–2018|date=November 18, 2018|website=wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com|url=https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2018/11/18/philippines-pt-2-wwii-weapons-used-1946-2018/}}</ref> as well as by U.S. and Filipino soldiers with the local guerrillas before the liberation of the Philippines. These rifles were also used by the [[Hukbalahap]].<ref>{{cite thesis|title=The Filipino Way of War: Irregular Warfare through the Centuries|first1=Fernando M. |last1=Reyeg|first2= Ned B.|last2= Marsh|date=December 2011|type=Master Thesis|publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]]|hdl=10945/10681|pages=79–80, 97}}</ref>

Before and during World War II, stored rifles were reconditioned for use as reserve, training and [[Lend-Lease]] weapons; these rifles are identified by having refinished metal (sandblasted and [[Parkerized]]) and sometimes replacement wood (often [[birch]]). Some of these rifles were reconditioned with new bolts manufactured by the United Shoe Machinery Company that were stamped “USMC,” leading to the mistaken impression these were [[United States Marine Corps]] rifles.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Canfield |first=Bruce N. |year=2004 |title=Marine M1917? Not! |journal=[[American Rifleman]] |volume=152 |issue=5 |page=29 |publisher=[[National Rifle Association of America]] }}</ref> Many were bought by the United Kingdom through the [[British Purchasing Commission]] for use by the [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]]; 615,000 arrived in Britain in the summer of 1940, followed by a further 119,000 in 1941.<ref>Stephen M Cullen, In Search of the Real Dad's Army, Pern & Sword Books Linmited 2011, {{ISBN|978-1-84884-269-4}} (p.132)</ref> These were prominently marked with a red paint stripe around the stock to avoid confusion with the earlier P14 that used the British .303 round. Others were supplied to the [[National Revolutionary Army|Nationalist Chinese forces]], to indigenous forces in the China-Burma-India theater, to Filipino soldiers under the Philippine Army and Constabulary units and the local guerrilla forces and to the Free French Army, which can occasionally be seen in wartime photographs. The M1917 was also issued to the [[Army Reserve (Ireland)#Local Defence Force|Local Defence Force]] of the [[Irish Army]] during World War II, these were part-time soldiers akin to the British Home Guard. In an ironic reversal of names, in Irish service the M1917 was often referred to as the "Springfield"; presumably since an "Enfield" rifle was assumed to be the standard Irish MkIII Short Magazine Lee–Enfield, while "Springfield" was known to be an American military arsenal.

As with all belligerents, Canada entered the Second World War short of small arms to equip its expanding military. 80,000 M1917s, designated “Rifle, Enfield .30/06,” were purchased in July 1940, along with 5,000,000 rounds of .30-06 ammunition. A further 20,000 were purchased in 1941. They were initially allotted to Canadian Army Basic and Advanced Training Centres, the Royal Military College of Canada and Canadian Army (Reserve) units. They would also be issued to the Veterans Guard of Canada, the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The M1917 would fill a critical role in Canada's war effort, freeing .303-calibre weapons for front-line use or to be supplied to the UK after Dunkirk, when Canada provided 75,000 Ross Mark III rifles beginning on 22 May 1940.<ref>Edgecombe, David Walter, 1940- Defending The Dominion: Canadian Military Rifles 1855-1955, ISBN 1-894581-15-6</ref>

The M1917 was supplied to both Denmark and Norway after WWII as an interim weapon prior to the arrival of the [[M1 Garand]].

===Korean War and after===
After [[World War II]], the M1917 went out of front-line duty with the US forces. [[Chinese Communist]] forces used M1917 rifles during the [[Korean War]].<ref name="Korea">{{cite book|title=Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950–1953|first= Gordon L. |last=Rottman|page=199|date=December 2002|publisher=Praeger|isbn=978-0-275-97835-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NpOp2OO1-DAC&pg=PA199}}</ref>  This rifle was also used, unofficially, in small Middle-East and African conflicts as a military-assistance program supplied rifle. Vietcong also modified the M1917 rifle<ref>{{Cite book
  |title=Typical Foreign Unconventional Warfare Weapons
  |id=FSTC 381-4012
  |page=9
  |url=https://www.bulletpicker.com/pdf/FSTC-381-4012.pdf
  |publisher=US Army
}}</ref>

==Contemporary use==
The M1917 is used as a [[Drill Purpose Rifle|ceremonial and drilling rifle]], as with the [[M1903 Springfield|M1903]], [[M1 Garand]], and [[M14 rifle|M14]]. For military purposes, mainly as last resort against aggressive [[polar bears]] and [[muskoxen]], the Danish [[Sirius Dog Sled Patrol]] (''Slædepatruljen Sirius'') still use the M1917, designated as ''Gevær M/53 (17)'' by the Danish, as their service weapon, due to the high reliability of these bolt-action rifles in the harsh conditions of high Arctic Greenland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/735571209851525/photos/pcb.757615690980410/757615300980449/?type=3&theater|title=Hærens Kamp- og Ildstøttecenter|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref>

==Design details==
[[File:P 17 Breech.jpg|thumb|M1917 Enfield breech]]
[[File:P 17 Bolt.jpg|thumb|M1917 Mauser M98 type bolt]]
[[File:M1917 ladder sight Bruce Canfield.jpg|thumb|M1917 ladder aperture sight]]

Due to the original P13 action being designed for a high-powered .276 Enfield round with a larger diameter case than the .30-06 Springfield, the magazine capacity for the smaller diameter .30-06 Springfield was six rounds, although stripper clips held only five cartridges.

Both P14 and M1917 rifles are noted for several design features. The rifle was designed with an [[iron sight]] line consisting of rear receiver aperture battle sight calibrated for {{convert|400|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} with an additional [[ladder sight|ladder aperture sight]] that could be flipped up and was calibrated for {{convert|200|-|900|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} in {{convert|100|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} increments and {{convert|900|-|1600|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} in {{convert|50|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} increments. The ladder aperture sight moves vertically on a slide, and hence was not able to correct for wind drift. The rear sight element was protected by sturdy "ears" and proved to be faster and more accurate than the typical mid-barrel sight offered by Mauser, Enfield or the Buffington battle sight of the M1903 Springfield. Future American rifles, such as the M1903A3 Springfield, [[M1 Garand]] and [[M1 carbine]], would all use similar rear sights. The front sighting element consisted of a wing-protected front post, and was adjusted laterally and locked into position during assembly at the arsenal. The M1917 rear sight element was situated on an elongated receiver bridge, which added weight to the action, as well as lengthening the bolt. The M1917 has a {{convert|31.76|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} sight radius. The battle sight radius is slightly shorter at {{convert|31.69|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.odcmp.org/503/rifle.pdf The U.S. Rifle, caliber .30, M1917 ©2003 By Dick Culver]</ref>
The M1917 action weighs {{convert|58|oz|g|lk=on|0|abbr=on}} versus {{convert|45|oz|g|lk=off|0|abbr=on}} for the M1903 Springfield.

The rifle maintains the British cock-on-closing feature, in which the bolt's mainspring is loaded and the rifle cocked as part of the return stroke of the bolt, which aided rapid fire, especially as the action heated up. Most bolt action designs after the Mauser 98 cocked as part of the opening stroke. The rifle has a characteristic "belly" due to a deeper magazine, allowing the rifle to hold six rounds of the US .30-06 cartridge in the magazine, and one in the chamber. The M1917 Enfield like the Mauser Gewehr 98 had no [[Magazine (firearms)#Clip-fed revolution|magazine cut-off]] mechanism, which when engaged permits the feeding and extraction of single cartridges only while keeping the cartridges in the magazine in reserve. In a manufacturing change from the Mauser 98 and the derivative Springfield, the bolt is not equipped with a third 'safety' lug. Instead, as on the earlier Model 1895 (Chilean) [[Mauser]], the bolt handle recesses into a notch in the receiver, which serves as an emergency locking lug in the event of failure of the frontal locking lugs. This change saved machine time needed on the rifle bolt, cutting costs and improving production rates, and this alteration has since been adopted by many commercial bolt-action rifle designs for the same reasons.
The unusual 'dog-leg' shaped bolt handle is low profile and places the bolt knob just rearwards of the trigger close to the firer's hand, facilitating rapid cycling and fire. Like the Lee–Enfield, P13 and P14, the safety falls under the firer's thumb and can be operated silently.
The M1917 Enfield bolt locking lugs had a 4 degree helical angle with matching angles on the receiver lug seats (the technical term is interrupted  threading). This means that final head space is not achieved until the bolt handle is turned down all the way. The design probably used helical locking lugs to allow for chambering imperfect or dirty ammunition and that the closing cam action is distributed over the entire mating faces of both bolt and receiver lugs. This is one reason the bolt closure feels smooth. The angled lugs had no tendency to unwind with chamber pressure since the "angle of repose" of smooth, lubricated steel surfaces is approximately 8 degrees. One advantage was that when the bolt handle was turned up the lugs cleared each other immediately so full effort was applied to the extraction cam. The trigger had a mechanical interlock to prevent firing unless the bolt was fully locked. The location of the safety on the right rear of the receiver has also been copied by most sporting bolt-action rifles since, as it falls easily under the firer's thumb. The trigger pull is ≥ {{convert|3|lb-f|N|1|lk=on|abbr=on}}. One notable design flaw was the leaf spring that powered the ejector, which could break off and render the ejector inoperable. A combat-expedient repair method was to slip a bit of rubber under the bolt stop spring.<ref>Dunlap, Roy, ''Ordnance Went Up Front'', Samworth Press (1948), p. 301</ref> A redesigned ejector, incorporating a small coil spring in place of the fragile leaf spring, was developed and can be fitted to the M1917 to remedy this issue.

The M1917 was well-suited to the rimless .30-06 Springfield round which came closer in overall length and muzzle energy to the original .276 Enfield high-velocity round for which the rifle had been designed than the rimmed, less powerful .303 British round of the [[Pattern 1914 Enfield|P14]]. The M1917's barrel had a 1 in 10 in (254&nbsp;mm) twist rate and retained the 5-groove left hand twist Enfield-type rifling of the P14, in contrast to the 4-groove right hand twist rifling of the [[M1903 Springfield]] and other US designed arms. The M1917 had a long 26-inch heavyweight barrel compared to the lighter 24-inch barrel of the M1903 Springfield. With the longer sighting plane, the M1917 proved generally more accurate at long distances than the M1903, at the expense of greater weight. The M1917 weighed {{convert|9|lb|3|oz|kg|2|abbr=on}} empty – the M1903 Springfield weighed {{convert|8|lb|11|oz|kg|2|abbr=on}} empty – and a rifle with sling, oiler, and fixed bayonet weighed over {{convert|11|lb|kg|2|abbr=on}}. The M1917's long barrel and issued {{convert|16.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} blade bayonet proved too lengthy and cumbersome for trench fighting, while its weight and overall length made the rifle difficult to use for some smaller-statured soldiers. During World War I the average height of United States soldiers was {{height|ft=5|in=7.5|out=m}}.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140407091443/http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43861419/PDF Trends in Heights and Weights, YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE1959, Miligent L. Hathaway]</ref>

Many M1917 Enfield rifles were refurbished during World War II with newly manufactured High Standard barrels with 4-groove rifling and Johnson Automatics barrels which had 2-groove rifling.<ref name="Culver, p9">{{cite book|pages=9|last=Culver|first=Dick|author-link=Dick Culver|title=The U.S. Rifle, caliber .30, M1917|publisher=Civilian Marksmanship Program|url=http://www.odcmp.org/503/rifle.pdf|year=2003|isbn=<!--none-->|ref=Culver}}</ref>

==Variants==
The M1917 action made from nickel-steel proved very strong, and was used as the basis for a variety of commercial and gunsmith-made sporting rifles in standard and magnum calibers between the world wars and after. Later, Remington Arms redesigned the M1917, removing the "ears" and changing it to cock-on-open, to become the [[Remington Model 30]] series of rifles in the [[interwar period]], which were produced from leftover receivers and barrels.

During the [[Great Depression]] Model 30s were not selling well, and the company decided to develop a M1917 derivative targeted to Central and South American militaries. This found only one buyer in [[Honduras]], where strongman general [[Tiburcio Carías Andino|T. C. Andino]] elected in 1932 started a military modernization program. Remington Model 1934 rifles based on Model 30 actions with M1917 leftover parts, but fitted with a Mauser-type V sight, more familiar for soldiers using Honduran [[Mauser Model 1895]] already in service, were produced in [[7×57mm]] as service rifles for [[Honduras]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gunauction.com/buy/8809122|title = Remington - Model 1934 7x57mm Enfield Honduran Military Contract...C&R Ok}}</ref> In 1934 500 Remington Model 1934 were delivered and in 1935 2,500.

Additional surplus rifles were bought by European arms distributors and converted to [[7.92×57mm Mauser]], then sold for use in the [[Spanish Civil War|civil war in Spain]] during the 1930s.

[[X Force (Chinese Expeditionary Force)|X Force]] was the name given to a portion of the Chinese Army equipped and trained by the US during World War II. One of the weapons given to X Force was the M1917 rifle. These rifles were too big for the small-statured Chinese soldiers so the barrels and stocks were shortened from an overall length of 46 inches for the standard M1917 to a 41-inch rifle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/01/16/m1917-carbine/#sthash.tG6NLybm.dpuf|title=The M1917 Carbine - The Firearm Blog|date=16 January 2015|website=thefirearmblog.com|access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref>

==Users==
* {{flag|Afghanistan}}: Called the "G3" by the [[Afghan Mujahideen]] during the [[Soviet-Afghan War]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society|first1=Michael Vinai|last1=Bhatia |first2=Mark |last2=Sedra|publisher=[[Routledge]]|editor=Small Arms Survey|editor-link=Small Arms Survey|isbn=978-0-415-45308-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P4N9AgAAQBAJ|page=65|date=May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Jalali|first=Ali Ahmad|url=https://archive.org/details/othersidemountainmuj|title=The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War|quote=The US M1917 Springfield Rifle which Springfield Armory produced for the British Army in World War I. The Mujahideen called them the G3 rifle.|page=[https://archive.org/details/othersidemountainmuj/page/250/mode/2up 251]}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Canada}}<ref name="wwiafterwwii">{{cite web|title=M1917 rifle in 21st-century Greenland|date=July 24, 2015|website=wwiiafterwwii.blogspot.com|url=https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/m1917-rifle-in-21st-century-greenland/}}{{self-published source|date=November 2018}}</ref>
* {{flag|Republic of China (1912–1949)|name=Republic of China}}<ref name="AWM"/>
* {{PRC}}<ref name="Korea"/>
* {{flag|Denmark}}: Received after 1945 and known as ''7.62mm G M/53''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Joseph E.|title=Small Arms of the World|url=https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit|url-access=registration|edition =11|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|publisher= The Stackpole Company|year=1969|pages=[https://archive.org/details/smallarmsofworld00smit/page/326 326-327]|isbn=9780811715669}}</ref> Currently in service with the [[Sirius Dog Sled Patrol]] in [[Greenland]].<ref name="wwiafterwwii"/>
*{{flag|Ethiopian Empire}}: received after World War II.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Ethiopian military rifle cartridges: Part 2: from Mauser to Kalashnikov.|last=Scarlata|first= Paul|magazine=Shotgun News|date=Mar 1, 2009|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ethiopian+military+rifle+cartridges%3A+Part+2%3A+from+Mauser+to...-a0195134991}}</ref>
* {{flag|France}}: Known as the ''Fusil à répétition 7 mm 62 (C. 30) M. 17''<ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 1956-03-19|title= Manuel du Grade TTA 116|language= fr|publisher= Berger-Levrault|page= 218}}</ref> (Repeating rifle 7.62mm (calibre .30) model 17)
* {{flag|Haiti}}: Issued to Gendamerie in the 1930s<ref>{{Cite web |title=Military rifle cartridges of Haiti. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Military+rifle+cartridges+of+Haiti.-a0242017608 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>
* {{flag|Honduras}}: Remington Model 1934 variant chambered for [[7×57mm]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The military rifle cartridges of Honduras from Cortez to zelaya. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+military+rifle+cartridges+of+Honduras+from+Cortez+to+zelaya.-a0270283844 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>
* {{flag|Japan}}: Captured during World War II<ref>{{cite magazine|title=From Arisaka to assault rifle: The military rifle cartridges of Japan part 2|first=Paul|last=Scarlata|magazine=[[Shotgun News]]|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/From+Arisaka+to+assault+rifle%3A+in+Part+1+(10%2F1+issue),+Scarlata...-a0349000555|date=November 2013}}</ref>
* {{flag|North Korea}}<ref name="AWM">{{cite web|title=Model 1917 Enfield Rifle|website=awm.gov.au|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C238173|publisher=[[Australian War Memorial]]}}</ref>
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: 20,000 bought by the [[Dutch government-in-exile]] in 1941<ref name="KNIL">{{cite book|title=Royal Netherlands East Indies Army 1936–42|series=Men-at-Arms 521|first=Marc|last= Lohnstein |date=23 Aug 2018|isbn=9781472833754 |pages=22|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U2dkDwAAQBAJ}}</ref>
* {{flag|Norway}}: In 1952 Norway received 24,992 P-17 rifles from Britain in exchange for their inventory of .303 rifles which were acquired during and after WW2.<ref>Karl Egil Hanevik (1998). ''Norske Militærgeværer etter 1867.''Hanevik Våpen. p. 371. {{ISBN|8299314313}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Philippines|1936}}: During [[World War II]], the Philippine Commonwealth Army used the M1917 Enfield, along with the [[M1903 Springfield]] and the [[M1 Garand]].
* {{flag|Portugal}}: Used by Portuguese colonial troops during the [[Annexation of Goa]] and the [[Portuguese Colonial War]].
* {{flag|South Vietnam}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The French Indochina War 1946–54|series=Men-at-Arms 322|first= Martin |last=Windrow|isbn=9781855327894 |date=15 Nov 1998|page=41|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]}}</ref>
* {{flag|Spanish Republic}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Spanish Civil War 1936–39 (2): Republican Forces|series=Men-at-Arms 498|first= Alejandro |last=de Quesada|date=20 Jan 2015|isbn=9781782007852|publisher=Osprey Publishing|page=38}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}<ref name="wwiafterwwii"/>
* {{Flag|United States|1912}}: Used by [[United States Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps]].
* {{flag|Vietnam}}: Used by the [[Việt Minh]], some sold by the Nationalist Chinese.<ref name="Viet Minh">{{cite book|title=French Foreign Légionnaire vs Viet Minh Insurgent: North Vietnam 1948–52|series=Combat 36|first=Martin |last=Windrow|date=20 Sep 2018|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=9781472828910|pages=24–25}}</ref> Also used by the [[Viet Cong]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Model 1917 Enfield Rifle : North Vietnamese Military Forces|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C153794|website=awm.gov.au|publisher=[[Australian War Memorial]]}}</ref>
* {{flag|Laos}}: Used by the [[Lao Issara]], some sold by the Nationalist Chinese and by the [[Pathet Lao]].

==See also==
* [[List of clip-fed firearms]]
* [[List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|M1917 Enfield}}
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM23-6.PDF FM 23-6 Basic Field Manual: U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917, 20 October 1943]
* [http://www.surplusrifle.com/m1917/index.asp SurplusRifle.com – United States Rifle Model 1917]*[http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM23-6.PDF FM 23-6 Basic Field Manual: U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917, 20 October 1943]
* [https://www.facebook.com/735571209851525/photos/pcb.757615690980410/757615300980449/?type=3&theater Slædepatruljen Sirius showing the M1917]
* [http://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_rifle_m1917enfield.php3 Olive-Drab.Com – M-1917 Enfield rifle]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051229070420/http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl19-e.htm Modern Firearms – The M-1917 Enfield rifle]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150512200615/http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/Bolt%20Action%20Rifles/U.S.%20MODEL%201917%20RIFLE/U.S.htm US Rifle M1917 (Enfield 1917)]
* {{YouTube|id=jWrRowbvVio|title=Small Arms of WWI Primer 028: U.S. Rifle Model of 1917}}
* [http://www.vgca.net/education/TheUKPattern13_14USM1917Historyver09_2014-09-17.pdf THE UK PATTERN 1913, PATTERN 1914, and THE US MODEL OF 1917; A Short History of the “American Enfield” By Marc Gorelick Virginia Gun Collector’s Association]

{{Clip-fed firearms}}
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{{WWIIUSInfWeaponsNav}}

[[Category:.30-06 Springfield rifles]]
[[Category:Bolt-action rifles of the United States]]
[[Category:Clip-fed firearms]]
[[Category:World War I infantry weapons of the United States]]
[[Category:World War II firearms of the United States]]
[[Category:Weapons of the Philippine Army]]
[[Category:World War II rifles]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1917]]