"Manufacturing The M1917 Rifle" (video)

[m1a_scoutguy]

I find it interesting that they decided to make a completely different rifle during the war years. I mean they were already making 1903 rifles as fast as they could I'm sure. I'm wondering if the 1917 was an easier/cheaper rifle to build? I own a 1903A3 but not a 1903 or 1917, I have a buddy that has a beautiful 1917 and it is a nice rifle but I like my 1903A3 better, maybe it's a little more refined. I'm always lookin for a nice 1903 but just haven't come across one yet. Ah this explains it,just found it: https://www.shootingillustrated.com/...903-and-m1917/

[TexHill]

I find it interesting that they decided to make a completely different rifle during the war years. I mean they were already making 1903 rifles as fast as they could I'm sure. I'm wondering if the 1917 was an easier/cheaper rifle to build? I own a 1903A3 but not a 1903 or 1917, I have a buddy that has a beautiful 1917 and it is a nice rifle but I like my 1903A3 better, maybe it's a little more refined. I'm always lookin for a nice 1903 but just haven't come across one yet.

Springfield Armory was the only manufacturer of the 1903 and couldn't keep up with war production. Dept of the Army initially wanted to sub out production of the 03 to the commercial sector, but Winchester and Remington who were already making the P14 Enfield for the British convinced the Army that it would be cheaper and faster to chamber the P14 in 30-06 and thus the M1917 came into being. In the end, more M1917's were issued than were 1903's.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/con...of-1917-rifle/

Personally I feel that the 1917 is the superior rifle, especially where the sights, trigger, and cock on close mechanism are concerned.

[m1a_scoutguy]

Springfield Armory was the only manufacturer of the 1903 and couldn't keep up with war production. Dept of the Army initially wanted to sub out production of the 03 to the commercial sector, but Winchester and Remington who were already making the P14 Enfield for the British convinced the Army that it would be cheaper and faster to chamber the P14 in 30-06 and thus the M1917 came into being. In the end, more M1917's were issued than were 1903's.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/con...of-1917-rifle/

Personally I feel that the 1917 is the superior rifle, especially where the sights, trigger, and cock on close mechanism are concerned.

I guess it was a good thing that they were making the British rifles and it was easily converted to the US chambering. Would have been a heck of a time getting even more rifles built from the ground up if those British rifles weren't up & running!

[john armond]

Springfield Armory was the only manufacturer of the 1903 and couldn't keep up with war production. Dept of the Army initially wanted to sub out production of the 03 to the commercial sector, but Winchester and Remington who were already making the P14 Enfield for the British convinced the Army that it would be cheaper and faster to chamber the P14 in 30-06 and thus the M1917 came into being. In the end, more M1917's were issued than were 1903's.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/con...of-1917-rifle/

Personally I feel that the 1917 is the superior rifle, especially where the sights, trigger, and cock on close mechanism are concerned.

I believe approximately 75% of the issued rifles in WWI were 1917s. Alvin York's regiment was issued 1917's (though there is uncertainty as to him using a 1917 or 1903) but York preferred the 1903 sights over the 1917 peep, as that is what he was used to. At the end of the war, due to the more abundant numbers of 1917s the army debated on which rifle to keep as their standard, even designing a six-round charger clip for the 1917. The ability of a 1917 to hold six 30.06 rounds was due to the extra space in the 1917's magazine that was created when it was designed for the rimmed 303 British cartridge. Try loading six 30.06 in a 1917 and you will see it fits, feeds, and fires perfectly.

In the end, American pride (and the 1903) won, and the 1917 was relegated to substitute-standard status.

ETA: I have to agree, the 1917 is the superior rifle for the reasons mentioned above. The action on mine is so much smoother (I believe due to the cock-on-closing) than any of the 1903 variants I have owned. I can shoot mine smoother and faster (accurately) than my 1903s.

[SteyrAUG]

I find it interesting that they decided to make a completely different rifle during the war years. I mean they were already making 1903 rifles as fast as they could I'm sure. I'm wondering if the 1917 was an easier/cheaper rifle to build? I own a 1903A3 but not a 1903 or 1917, I have a buddy that has a beautiful 1917 and it is a nice rifle but I like my 1903A3 better, maybe it's a little more refined. I'm always lookin for a nice 1903 but just haven't come across one yet. Ah this explains it,just found it: https://www.shootingillustrated.com/...903-and-m1917/

So before our entry into the war we were making Enfields in .303 for the British, I think it was the P14 pattern. So production was already there.

[SteyrAUG]

I guess it was a good thing that they were making the British rifles and it was easily converted to the US chambering. Would have been a heck of a time getting even more rifles built from the ground up if those British rifles weren't up & running!

We could have just adopted french rifles like we did with the chaut chat.

[Slater]

I remember the old saying about WWI infantry rifles; "The Americans had the best target rifle, the German had the best hunting rifle, and the British had the best combat rifle".

[fred]

Testing the War Weapons by T.J. Mullin had a nice write up of both rifles, he also preferred the 1917. I always admired and wanted a few old-timey bolt rifles but never got around to it. I read that the British method for manipulating the bolt gave their riflemen an advantage in The Great War.
Another good read from the time: A Rifleman Went to War by McBride.

[HKGuns]

When I watched this video I wondered about my rifle. I hadn't taken it out of the safe in a while and didn't remember the month on the barrel. I knew it was '18 but that was all I could recall.

Well, I took it out of the very back of one of my safe's for annual inspection and cleaning. The barrel was made on 11-18 so it likely went through only months after this was made.

[eightmillimeter]

I remember the old saying about WWI infantry rifles; "The Americans had the best target rifle, the German had the best hunting rifle, and the British had the best combat rifle".

This statement is only true when you ignore the existence of the M1917, which is far superior to any SMLE.