Tag Archives: CMP M1917

CMP has M1903 Springfields & M1917 Enfields on Hand (with Krags on the Way!)

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This U.S. Volunteer, photographed in Tampa in 1898, preparing to ship out for points south in the War with Spain, is carrying the distinctive Krag

It seems the returns from old VFW and American Legion posts have yielded some old war vets in quantity large enough to pass on to the public.

As noted in a memo from our Civilian Marksmanship Program friends in Anniston:

Effective June 26, 2024, customers are allowed to purchase up to six (6) bolt-action rifles per year while supplies last. The current inventory of M1903 and M1917 rifles by grade is listed below. CMP also plans to release up to 1,000 Krag-Jorgensen rifles beginning in mid to late July. These have not been worked so a grade break-out is currently unavailable. Given the six (6) bolt rifle per customer per year limit, please plan accordingly.

Once this inventory of bolt action rifles is exhausted the CMP does not expect to have further supply. The rifles will be sold via mail order and in CMP stores. Store sales may be limited due to inventory.

Additionally, if a customer has already purchased their limit of six (6) bolt action rifles they are authorized to bid on and purchase bolt action rifles for sale on the CMP auction site above the six (6) rifle limit.

Current Inventory:

M1903 Rifles — Service Grade: 78; Field Grade: 386; and Rack Grade: 356
M1917 Enfield Rifles — Service Grade: 203; and Field Grade: 1,067

Additional details, including rifle descriptions, ordering information, and purchase eligibility requirements can be found on our CMP Rifle Sales web page at https://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle-sales/.

It seems current pricing on the M1903s ranges from $700 (rack) to $950 (Service) with S/H included while M1917s are a bit more spendy, running $1000-$1100.

No word on pricing for the Krags yet.

Nice Mackinaws

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Via the California State Military Museums Program, the below amazing original color photos show an inspection of elements of the newly-formed California State Guard’s 5th Infantry Regiment by the commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment at the CSG’s Camp Ribidoux in Riverside, circa 1942-ish.

Notably, the State Guardsmen are issued Great War-era M1917 “American Enfield” bolt action rifles with 10-pocket belts and long M1917 pattern bayonets, both modified from original British designs. 

Another notable piece of gear is the Mackinaw-cloth plaid jackets, likely drawn from old “Tree Army” Civilian Conservation Corps stocks, an item ordered originally by the U.S. Army that would remain a standard issue for civilian DOD contract construction workers in Iceland and other cold climes during WWII. 

As noted by CSMMP the stocks may have been around when the CGS moved in:

Formerly a labor camp, Camp Ribidoux served as a regimental headquarters, training center, supply depot, and field hospital for the State Guard. Later during the war, the camp was transferred to the Army Service Command’s 9th Service Command for use as a prisoner of war camp.

Both the old CCC guys and the State Guardsmen would likely find it hilarious that hipsters now pay $1K for Japanese repros of the same coat.

Of interest, during my recent trip to the CMP Marksmanship Park last week, the Creedmoor shop had several surplus M1917 returns, via Anniston Army Depot, all with dark bores, likely recently sent back to the Army from closing VFWs. 

They are a much better buy than Japanese repro CCC Mackinaws, in my opinion.