Comments by "51WCDodge" (@51WCDodge) on "Firearm Demonstration: Model 1917 'Enfield' Rifle" video.

  1. The 'Original' Enfeild P14 was in .303. The rifle was adapted to 30.06
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  2. The rifle was based on the Enfeild P14 in .303 . The Britsh Army were looking at a new cartridge following the South African Boer war, and the performance of the Mauser. The Enfeild .276 cartridge came to naught but a rifle Pattern 1913 was developed. When the Great War broke out the P13 was updated , as it was easier to produce than the SMLE and became pattern 1914. Then as there was no capacity in UK, the Americans were approached. Winchester, Remington and Eddeystone Remington took on contracts. Due to supply and cash flow the British Goverment paid for machine tools and upfront costs some $21,000,000 . The rifles were then built between 1916 and 1917. By that time SMLE production was up so the P14 was second standard or occasionally issued as a sniper rifle in late 1917. The production lines stood idle. When the US came into the war in 1917 there was only the Springfeild Arsenal turning out the Springfeild 1903 the Standard US rifle, and the US were short of rifles. The P14 proved adaptable to the American 30.06 cartridge so the British sold the production lines to the US for about $9,000,000. The result was the Enfeild M1917 (Always the full date) became the most issued rifle in US service.
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