Book Review: The U.S. Model 1917 Rifle | “America’s Enfield”

When it comes to books on the firearms used by American military forces of the 20th century, Bruce Canfield is the current dean of authors. With more than a dozen books currently in print, he is also one of the most prolific American Rifleman contributors of the past 30 years. As with all of his previous works, his latest, by Mowbray Publishing, is another “must-have” for the shelf of any avid collector of U.S. military arms.

The Model 1917 rifle is often called “America’s Enfield” due to its origins in the American-made Patterns 1913 and 1914 British Enfield in .303 caliber. Made by Winchester, Remington and the Baldwin Locomotive Factory plant newly established in Eddystone, Pa.—just south of the Philadelphia Intl. Airport—there were more than 2 million Model 1917s made during the war, twice the number of Springfield M1903s manufactured.

Canfield’s book contains chapters on the history of the rifle’s manufacture but also the bayonets and related accoutrements that were issued with and for the Model 1917. Of special interest to the collector are the tables in the back of the book that detail manufacturing dates, serial numbers and a complete transcript of Frank Malloy’s Springfield Research Service’s serial number records gleaned from the National Archives detailing exactly where and when many of the Model 1917 rifles were issued.

Written by a collector for collectors, the book gives background biographies of many of the key players in the development of the rifle and its manufacture, as well as all the small nuances of various markings and proofs that are found on each of the firearms. Supplemented with 200 black-and-white photos of the gun in use, as well as 400 detailed and razor-sharp color images of the rifle and its myriad components, this book is not just for “gun nerds” but anyone who wants to know and understand how this essential component of a soldier’s kit made it from blueprint to the trenches.

Suggested retail price is set at $50. For more information, visit Mowbray Publishing here: gunandswordcollector.com.