1917 US Enfield

Dave45-70

August 05, 2009 11:53

I posted a question a couple weeks ago about a 1917 Winchester with a brass tag on the butt plate with a number and "Ist MED BN " on it.All my research does not reveal any 1st medical batt.prior to 1940 so that would rule out WW1 service.A WW2 friend told me he thought, but was not sure that some non-combat groups were issued 17's due to a shortage of M-1 grands and lots of our troops were using 1903's at the start of WW2. Can any of you WW2 vets remember if there were 1917's issued?The history of our military weapons has always amazed me and if they could only talk.AND to all our WW2 vets out there "THANK YOU" so much.. from a viet nam vet

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  Laredo Lefty

  August 05, 2009 12:27

  David..... What your friend told you is probably correct. Some WWII history buffs may chime in and correct me, but I think those old rifles were issued to rear eschelon personnel during our early involvement in WWII. That would explain the " 1st Med Battalion" tag.
  
  Oh yeh, from one Vietnam vet to another......Welcome home.

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  Don McManus

  August 05, 2009 14:28

  Pretty good summation.
  
  http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl19-e.htm

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