Watch on the Rhine: sentry of the 310th Signal Bn, Moselle, Germany, armed with an M1917 “American Enfield ” with others stacked nearby for the rest of the guard force. (Signal Corps Photo 111-SC-45142 via the National Archives)
The M1917 Enfield was often regarded as an “also ran” when it came to American martial rifles.
Pressed into service when the official infantry arm– the M1903 Springfield– couldn’t be made in enough quantity to arm a 3-million-man American Expeditionary Force headed “Over There” in 1917-18, once the Great War wrapped up the Army spent the next 20 years trying very hard to get rid of them.
They gave thousands away to the Philippines Constabulary and other allies before, during, and immediately after WWII– the Danish Navy still uses a handful of them in Greenland.
Boom. Danish Slædepatruljen Sirius with Enfield M1917, circa 2022
Thousands more were sold off as milsurp or scrapped, with the Enfield widely available at rock bottom prices in the 1950s and 60s.
Others were relegated to drill status, including use by ROTC units, military academies, and Veterans organizations such as the VFW and American Legion.
This latter silo is where the CMP has been getting their Enfields from over the past decade or so, being guns typically returned by closed VFW halls that used them for firing parties for decades. As such, don’t expect really bright, crisp bores, but DO expect lots of coats of linseed oil on the furniture. Those guys liked to keep them shiny.
Price is $1,000-$1,100 depending on the grade, which is about right for an intact (still in military configuration and not “sporterized”) M1917 Enfield.
For comparison, check out these recently sold Enfields on Gunbroker, with final prices:
Anywho, the CMP presser on the Enfields:
Beginning January 9, 2024, CMP will have a very limited quantity of 1917 Service and Field Grade rifles available for mail orders. CMP Stores will also have a limited quantity this week as well. These are sold AS-IS with no returns or exchanges. Once these are sold out, we will not backorder these. Please keep in mind the yearly limit of one (1) 1917 per year, per person. If you have already purchased one this year, you are not eligible until January 2025. For more information on the 1917 rifles, please visit this link https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/m1917-enfield-rifle-information/. Ordering information may be viewed at https://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/ordering-information/.
They also have some Expert Grade M1 Garand Rifles up for grabs:
CMP currently has a selection of Expert Grade M1 Garand Rifles available for mail orders, including .308 rifles. Once they’re sold out, we will not accept any more orders. View details on the Expert Grand M1 Garand Rifles at https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/m1-garand/. Ordering information may be viewed at https://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/ordering-information/.