[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Model 1903 Model 1917/Stats

Posted: 11/24/2005 8:33:33 AM EDT

Gentlemen,

First Happy Bird Day

Point of interest I think.
A Ordnance report dated March 2, 1937 shows the following:

Stats
Model 1903 901,548 of which 306,514 are in the hands of troops

Model 1917 2,174,855 of which only a small amount are in the hands of troops.

I wonder why so many 1917's as to Model 1903's ?
Just seems odd to me.

My sites with data and books and CD for sale. These are commercial sites. They also have Ordnance Data files posted there.
http://www.users.fast.net/~eclancy
http://www.garandm1rifle.com
Thanks again

Posted: 11/24/2005 3:16:42 PM EDT

[#1]

Three factories making 1917's - Winchester, Remington and Eddystone (owned by Remington)

Two factories making 1903's - Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal. Neither of which was as big as Winchester or Remington.

Posted: 11/25/2005 5:10:38 AM EDT

[#2]

Plus the factories were already tooled up to make the P14 rifle for the Brits. Change a few of the processes and now you have a US Rifle, M1917.

Rock Island also shut down M1903 production in 1913 and didn't restart until 1917.

Also, based on production #'s, I have to wonder if the M1917 wasn't easier to produce (i.e. less steps in the milling processes) than the M1903.

Posted: 11/27/2005 6:58:44 PM EDT

[#3]

I thought they already had some made for the brits and when we entered, they rebarreled. This would be another reason why so many. I'd still like to know which one Alvin York actually used. There is conflicting info on that.

Posted: 11/28/2005 5:35:46 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
I thought they already had some made for the brits and when we entered, they rebarreled. This would be another reason why so many. I'd still like to know which one Alvin York actually used. There is conflicting info on that.

The 3 companies made 1,117,850 P14 rifles for the Brits 1916-1917. The M1917 is a redesign of this model, changing the bolt face, barrel, and the magazine and clip guide on the reciever, to accept the US rimless .30 vs the Brit rimmed .303. Simply rebarreling wouldn't have been enough because of the dimensional differences between the 2 types of ammo.

Posted: 11/28/2005 4:50:43 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I thought they already had some made for the brits and when we entered, they rebarreled. This would be another reason why so many. I'd still like to know which one Alvin York actually used. There is conflicting info on that.

The 3 companies made 1,117,850 P14 rifles for the Brits 1916-1917. The M1917 is a redesign of this model, changing the bolt face, barrel, and the magazine and clip guide on the reciever, to accept the US rimless .30 vs the Brit rimmed .303. Simply rebarreling wouldn't have been enough because of the dimensional differences between the 2 types of ammo.

I realize this, I should've been more accurate in my statement. But what I meant is I thought there was a surplus of P14 rifles in .303 in the states that got converted to 06 because we entered the war.

Posted: 11/28/2005 6:11:52 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I thought they already had some made for the brits and when we entered, they rebarreled. This would be another reason why so many. I'd still like to know which one Alvin York actually used. There is conflicting info on that.

The 3 companies made 1,117,850 P14 rifles for the Brits 1916-1917. The M1917 is a redesign of this model, changing the bolt face, barrel, and the magazine and clip guide on the reciever, to accept the US rimless .30 vs the Brit rimmed .303. Simply rebarreling wouldn't have been enough because of the dimensional differences between the 2 types of ammo.

I realize this, I should've been more accurate in my statement. But what I meant is I thought there was a surplus of P14 rifles in .303 in the states that got converted to 06 because we entered the war.

All the P14s went to Commonwealth troops or at least were delivered as agreed to English custody. US M1917 production of some 2.4 million rifles was all new production from Aug. 1917 to Apr. 1919.

Posted: 11/28/2005 6:57:30 PM EDT

[#7]

Aaaaaaah, I guess I was mistaken then. Thank you.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Model 1903 Model 1917/Stats

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Model 1903 Model 1917/Stats

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Model 1903 Model 1917/Stats