M1917 Enfield Sniper

About the M1917 Enfield Sniper

The M1917 Enfield Sniper was the American-caliber derivative of the British Pattern 1914, rechambered for .30-06 Springfield and used in limited numbers as a sniper rifle during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Featuring a long 26-inch heavyweight barrel with a 1:10 left-hand twist, the M1917 was generally considered more accurate at long range than the M1903 Springfield, though heavier. Numerically, the M1917 was the most common American rifle of WWI - approximately 60% of the American Expeditionary Force carried it - and selected examples were fitted with Winchester A5 scopes for sniping duties.

Sergeant Alvin York, America's most celebrated WWI hero, used an M1917 Enfield when he single-handedly killed 25 German soldiers and captured 132 others during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on October 8, 1918, though some accounts attribute his feat to the M1903 Springfield. The M1917's role as the primary American rifle of WWI is often overshadowed by the M1903 Springfield, despite the 'American Enfield' arming the majority of the AEF. Its continued use as a sniper rifle through the Korean War demonstrates the design's enduring accuracy.

M1917 Enfield Sniper specifications

The M1917's internal magazine held 6 rounds (one more than the M1903 Springfield), though stripper clips held only 5. The rifle's long sighting plane and protected aperture rear sight contributed to its excellent long-range accuracy. While the M1903A4 was the standard-issue US sniper rifle of WWII, the M1917 continued to see limited sniper use, particularly in the Korean War where its .30-06 cartridge and accurate barrel made it effective at the longer engagement ranges typical of that conflict. Only approximately 50 Winchester-manufactured M1917s were fitted with A5 scopes during WWI, making original sniper-configured examples extremely rare.