The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-02-07
THE NEW u. S. ARMY RIFLE


that of the rifle and for that reason
they receive a great deal of attention
in accounts Of fighting in this war, the
rife is an indispensable weapon and
it plays a tremendously important
part in all military operations.
When, Uncle Sam got into the war
he realized that hundreds of thous-
ands Of rifles would be required at
once but when he took an inventory
he found there were on hand only
about 100000 new Springfelds, the
kind used for years by the American
army. However, several big Ameri-
can firearms factories were equipped
with machinery for making the Brit
ish Lee Enfield rifle and this circum-
stance, was seized as the best means
of solving the problem. The Brit
ish-owned machinery in these plants
was taken over for the sum of about
81 100000 and the plants went to
work within few months after our
declaration of war turning out these
rifles, somewhat modified, for our
army. The daily output is now from
$4,000 to 10000 rifles and it is in
creasing right along.
The ammunition used in British
rifles is different in size from the
Springfield 1906 army cartridge which
is used in our Springfield rifles. The
chambering of Enfelds for the U. S.
army has been modified so that they
will take the Springfield ammunition
and thus obviate the confusion, en-
barassment and inefficiency that
would inevitably accompany the use
of more than one kind and size of
cartridge.
Some of the experts who testified
before the senate committee declared
that the German Mauser rifle is bet
ter than the Enfield and it probably
is in a few respects but the Enfield
supplied to our soldiers is undoubt-
eddy the best all-around weapon made.
The rearsight of the newgun is con-
sidered by experts to be much su-
perior to that of the Springfield, be-
ing big "peep" or aperture sight.
The peep which is one-tenth inch in
diameter is set only about five inches
from the eye, an arrangement which
makes for quick, easy and accurate
aiming. ..-.
The Springfield peep is about 10
inches from the eye and it's diameter
is only half that Of the Enfield peep.
When the leaf of the Springfield is
raised the soldiers eye is confused
by the view of a peep and three
notches so that in hurried shooting
or, if he has not had considerable
practice he is likely to sight through
the wrong one and shoot far wide of
his mark. ~ ..a-
Experts consider the sight on the
new Enfield superior in position, de-
sign and protection to any ever de-
vised for military use. Besides it's
advantage over the Springfield gun in
this respect, the new Enfield is SUI
perior in some points of design and
finish and some of the more essential
parts are made of better material.
The Springfield rifle with the bay
onet weighs nine and two-thirds
pounds while the Enfield with bayo-
net in place weighs II pounds. The
barrel of the Enfield is also two inch
es longer. The greater weight of the
Enfield gives bayonet thrpsts with it
greater force and effectiveness than
thrusts made with the Springfield.
The greater length also gives some
advantage in bayonet fighting and
also adds to the ,muzzle-velocity of
the bullet somewhat.
The magazine Of the Enfield will
hold six cartridges but the U. S.
army uses clips holding only five.
These are loaded into the magazine
with a single movement Of the
thumb. The barrel is covered with
wood nearly to the muzzle so that it
will not become too hot to handle
even when fired rapidly and for long
periods.
The British idea of making the
rifling with the left-hand twist is
retained in the American guns. There
are five grooves in the Enfield instead
of four as in the Springfield.
PASTE THIS ON YOUR MIRROR