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Does anyone have information on these rifles? These were used by US forces during WW I. Any good books on these?
What kind of information are you looking for? There are a number of books dedicated to the Model 1917 and Pattern ’14 rifles.
Here are some of them (in no particular order):
United States Rifle Model of 1917 by C.S. Ferris (my preferred quick reference)
The U.S Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917 by Dick Culver (available for free download as a pdf)
The Pattern 1914 and U.S. Model 1917 Rifles by Charles Stratton
There are also US Army Technical Manuals for the Model 1917 including:
Basic Field Manual FM 23-6 U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917 (Enfield)
Description and Rules for the Management of the United States Rifle Model 1917
Soldiers Handbook for the Rifle and Score Book for Special Course C for the United States Rifle Model 1917
Hope that helps.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
What kind of information are you looking for? There are a number of books dedicated to the Model 1917 and Pattern ’14 rifles.Here are some of them (in no particular order):
United States Rifle Model of 1917 by C.S. Ferris (my preferred quick reference)
The U.S Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917 by Dick Culver (available for free download as a pdf)
The Pattern 1914 and U.S. Model 1917 Rifles by Charles Stratton
There are also US Army Technical Manuals for the Model 1917 including:
Basic Field Manual FM 23-6 U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1917 (Enfield)
Description and Rules for the Management of the United States Rifle Model 1917
Soldiers Handbook for the Rifle and Score Book for Special Course C for the United States Rifle Model 1917
Hope that helps.
Regards,
Jeff, thanks for the information. I recently decided I need one of these to fill a slot. I know nothing about the guns and want to educate myself before I buy. I see guns selling from $600 to $2,500. If I bought 2 books for reference which would you recommend?
Hi Chuck,
United States Rifle Model of 1917 by C.S. Ferris and The Pattern 1914 and U.S. Model 1917 Rifles by Charles Stratton are both soft-bound and reasonably priced. Those should get you started. Both books are aimed at collectors and detail the various changes and configurations of the Model 1917 although neither have the breadth of information found in a Brophy or Campbell work on the Model 1903.
Good luck in your search! I assume you will be looking for a Winchester produced 1917?
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thanks Jeff. I found and read the PDF. It helped me a bit by explaining what and where the markings are. How to know if it is an arsenal rebuild and if the barrel may have been changed.
Yes, I only want a Winchester.
You might want to look for a Winchester Pattern ’14 also, they are similar to the M1917 but chambered for .303 British.
Also, if you find a M1917 with a painted red band around the handguard it usually means the 1917 was sent to the British who painted them red to differentiate them from their Patt. ’14 rifles which were a different caliber. The red band rifles usually bring more $$ from collectors.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
The Canadians also bought the Model 1917 Enfield in .30-06 caliber and marked them the same way with a painted red band and .30-06 stencil. These arms will have the Canadian “C” with a broad arrow stamped into the left hand side of the butt-stock but being U.S. WWI surplus rifles, they were not necessarily Winchesters.
WACA Life Benefactor Member
NRA Life Member
I talked to Craig Riesch yesterday about the red markings. He said this was done in WW II not in WW I. I will have to ask him about the Canadian guns? Winchester and Remington were making the P 14’s for the British before the US got into the war. Craig has authored and co-authored books on military arms. He often worked with Joe Poyer.
One more book that may be of interest and was published back in the 1980’s or early 1990’s from memory is:
The American Enfield P17, by J C Harrison. All line drawings inside rather than photos.
Quite why the author used the term “P”17 rather than M17 escapes me. In British Home Guard service during WW2 this rifle was often somewhat erroneously referred to as the P17, the “P”being an abbreviation for Pattern, in use in the U.K.
If I could only by one book on this subject it would be United States Rifle Model of 1917 by C.S. Ferris. Its really well researched and has good photos.
Regards
AlanD
Rick Hill said
The Canadians also bought the Model 1917 Enfield in .30-06 caliber and marked them the same way with a painted red band and .30-06 stencil. These arms will have the Canadian “C” with a broad arrow stamped into the left hand side of the butt-stock but being U.S. WWI surplus rifles, they were not necessarily Winchesters.
Thanks Rick. I have not received C.S. Ferris’ book yet. I saw Craig Saturday but forgot to ask him the question..
Out of interest the Canadian purchase is reported as being 80,000 rifles.
In fact they got 79,500 as 500 were diverted to a small island or country, the name of which escapes me.
Regards
AlanD
Sydney
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