U.S. Rifle .30 Model 1917

Lost Skeleton

Lost Skeleton

Well-known member
Following on the heels of the outstanding rifles posted by Mike and new member, dobk, this will seem run of the mill. However, unaltered or non-arsenal upgraded examples are quite scarce.

The following background is quoted from the Handbook by Ian Skennerton (ISBN 0 949749 51 6).

in 1912, Carnegie and Reavill of the Enfield R.S.A.F. designed a new high velocity .276-in. Mauser-type action for British service, designated the Pattern 1913. A total of 1,251 Pattern 1913 troop trials rifles were made at Enfield but the project was shelved when the Great War broke out.

To offset wartime SMLE rifle shortages, the Pattern 1913 was modified for the service .303 round and manufactured on British contracts in the United States by Winchester, Remington and Eddystone as the .303 Pattern 1914 rifle.

The British Patt. '14 rifle was produced in the U.S.A. from early in 1916; the British contracts finished in 1917. With the U.S. entry into the war on April 6th 1917, there was a shortage of Model 1903 Springfields, so the P'14 was modified for the U.S. .30 caliber cartridge and made at the three same factories. The 'new' Model 1917 rifle production commenced in August 1917.

This example features a Kerr "Nobuckl" web sling and a canvas breech cover made by Rosenwasser Bros. The bayonet is Winchester manufacture.

Eddystone.jpg


2M1917.jpg


3M1917.jpg


Chas.
 
Hey Chas,
A very nice example of a very important US firearm. More US troops carried this rifle than the 1903 Springfield, and it was a better design due to the placement of the rear sight, giving it nearly twice the sight radius, thus doubling the accuracy of the rifle over the 1903, leading to the 1903-A3. The SMLE and the P1914 were the only other standard issue rifle with the correct rear sight placement that I can think of offhand.
Best wihses
Gus
 
Hello Gus and Mark:

Thank you for the kind comments. With respect to the "Smellie," the rear sight was actually mounted on the rear hand guard (before the receiver).

The caliber is .30 of 1906, or 30-06.

Due to its accuracy, the P '14/M1917 made an excellent sniping rifle, and I believe it was the weapon carried by Corporal Alvin York on October 8, 1918.

http://www.worldwar1.com/heritage/sgtayork.htm

Chas.
 
Dooh!
Yes you are right, it is the volley sight that is attached to the receiver on the smelly.
Gus
 
Chas,

Crisp markings, original configuration, original blue, war-dated - what more could you ask for! Great piece, and a weapon that never got the kudos it deserved on either side of the Atlantic.

Mike
 
the Canadian Government issued alot of the .303 version's in WW2 . Nice piece.
Mark
P.S. Gus only early war SMLE's had volley sight's they dissapeared after 1914 or so. The cut off plate dissapeared after 1917.
 
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