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And, after use and experience with the gun, many doughboys stopped complaining. soldiers’ lives and took the lives of many of the enemy. It was also the tool that saved many U.S. Nevertheless, even with all the criticism, the M1917 served well.
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It then completed the cocking process when the bolt was closed.) In addition, it just didn’t seem right to many Americans that this foreign-designed rifle-which finished cocking upon closing the bolt, unlike that of the M1903 that cocked when the bolt handle was lifted to open it-be used by American forces.(Actually, the M1917’s dual-locking lug bolt’s striker partially cocked on opening the bolt. It also had a windage-adjustable rear sight, making it easier to zero (although some would argue that the M1917’s rear sight was tougher, as was the front sight both were protected by robust wings, or ears, to prevent dings or damage by rough handling in combat conditions). Pistol grip: Characteristic of British-designed rifles of the time, the pistol grip is modified or abbreviated compared to those of American design which, when a pistol grip was present, was more pronounced.įor one thing, the M1903 had a sleeker look. And, many in the military didn’t like it much, preferring the Springfield. military rifle-the M1903 Springfield-during that time period. Regardless of what it was called, it was issued to, and carried by, more U.S. “Enfield” most likely surfaced because it rolled off a soldier’s tongue easier than M1917 and because the P-14 on which it was based was designed by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in England. To differentiate these two very similar guns, the P-17 name came into unofficial use. The term, “P-17,” was most likely coined by workers at Remington, Winchester and Eddystone, which were previously contracted to manufacture the P-14, Great Britain’s replacement for the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE). 30 M1917,” but it was also known as the “Enfield” or “P-17”-both of which are technically incorrect (although many attached those nicknames to it).
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