M1917 Enfield

 Index of Illustrations


PARTS WHICH ARE MOST LIABLE TO REQUIRE REPAIR.
 
COCKING PIECE.-Nose worn from neglect to keep it lubricated.
LOWER BAND SWIVEL AND SCREW.-Screw, if not properly expanded, works loose and, with swivel, is lost.
STACKING SWIVEL AND SCREW.-Screw, if not properly expanded, works loose and, with swivel, is lost.
STOCK.-Bruises, cuts, pieces chipped from different points, broken at small.
STRIKER.-Point burned by defective cartridge, or broken by snapping with the chamber empty.
 
REPLACING BROKEN PARTS.
 

BUTT PLATE PIN.-This pin has both ends upset; the burr on one end must be filed off and the pin driven out with a drift; when a new pin is put in, its ends must be upset with light blows of a hammer.

SWIVEL SCREWS.- These screws, upon which the stacking swivel, lower band swivel, and butt swivel are mounted, have hollow ends which are expanded to prevent the loosening of the screws. If a burr has been formed by the expanding operation it should be filed off before attempting to remove the screws. After the screw has been replaced it should again be expanded by the use of the special expanding tool provided for that purpose.

TRIGGER PIN.-This is a straight pin and can be driven in or out from either side.
 
INJURIES WHICH DO NOT RENDER PARTS UNSERVICEABLE.
 
BOLT.-The entire flange at front end may be broken off, except a small portion on the opposite side from the extractor hook, which is required to hold, in connection with the extractor hook, the empty case while it is being drawn to the rear for ejection.

If automatic ejection be not considered, the entire flange may be dispensed with.

BUTT PLATE.-Bruises, cuts, or wearing.

BUTT SWIVEL.-Bent.

COCKING PIECE.- Moderate wearing of nose. The nose can wear until manipulation of the bolt fails to cock the piece.

EXTRACTOR.-Moderate wear or break of edge of hook.

FLOOR PLATE.-Bent or bruised.

GUARD.-Bent, bruised, or cut.

 
USING THE RIFLE WHEN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE BOLT AND
MAGAZINE MECHANISM ARE WANTING
 
The parts not essential, or only so to a degree, are the ejector, safety lock, bolt stop, floor plate, magazine spring, and follower.

In the absence of the ejector, the empty cases drawn to the rear by the extractor can be removed from the receiver by the finger.

The safety lock being merely a precautionary device, its absence does not affect the usefulness of the arm.

The absence of the bolt stop does not affect the usefulness of the arm.

The absence of the floor plate, follower, and magazine spring only prevents the use of the magazine, but docs not prohibit the use of the arm as a single-loader. The soldier should be taught to appreciate these facts.

 
REMARKS.
 

All earns and bearings should he kept slightly oiled to prevent wear. When firing many successive rounds care must he taken that unburned grains of powder do not collect and pack in the locking lug recesses of the receiver, as this will interfere with the perfect closing of the bolt. Such accumulations can be blown out from time to time, or, when packed, removed by a knife or the screw driver.

Except when repairs are needed, the following parts will constantly be injured if allowed to be dismounted by the soldier for cleaning; and when repairs are necessary, they should he removed only by a company artificer, or some one familiar with the handling of tools and delicate mechanisms, viz: Bolt stop, safety lock, front sight, lower band, upper band, and stacking swivel screws.

Unless the screw driver is handled carefully, and with some skill, the screws are sure to be injured either at the head or thread.

The BULLET JACKET EXTRACTOR is shown in Figs. 150, 151, and 152. This extractor consists of a steel cylindrical plug provided with lands and grooves on the sides. To use the extractor, it is inserted in the muzzle of the barrel hollow end (see Fig. 152) first. The extractor is then urged down the barrel by pressure applied with the cleaning rod until the jacket and extractor fall out into the chamber. The bullet extractor for the 1917 rifle is different from that for the 1903 rifle and may be distinguished by the fact that it has five grooves and left-hand twist, to accord with the rifling.

The AIMING DEVICE, shown in Fig. 153, in place on a model of 1903 rifle, and Fig. 154 in detail, is intended for use in aiming drill and is issued to infantry, cavalry, and engineers at the rate of four per company. With this device the instructor may give a visual demonstration and thereby convince the soldier of the errors made in aiming.

The device consists of yoke A, which by means of the spring clips B embraces the small of the stock, the bracket C to which the collapsible arms D are held, and the eye E, which is closed by the shutter F. The eye is provided with a stop pin G, to hold the shutter in an open position. Tension washers are furnished for the joints to lend stiffness to the mechanism.

To use the device it should be seated firmly on the rifle at the small of the stock. The rifle should then be placed on an improvised rest, or aiming stand. The instructor sights the rifle very accurately, bringing the point of aim, the front sight, rear sight, and the pin hole in the shutter F all into line. Then he throws back the shutter of the aiming device so as to expose the large aperture in the eye E. He requires the recruit to verify the sight setting.

Then the instructor may change the position of the rifle either slightly or considerably and require the recruit to explain how the line of sight lies with reference to the point of aim, or if very wide of the mark he may direct him to sight the piece and bring the line of sight back on the mark. The recruit uses only the large aperture, which is practically the same as if he did not have the aiming device at all. The instructor then drops the shutter and shows him conclusively that he has been looking along the right or left side of the front sight, or has failed to look through the middle of the rear sight notch, or has taken a full sight when he said he was taking a half sight, etc.