M1917 Enfield Front Sight

Nine pounds of wool and grommets

Caught up in the patriotic fervor that pervaded the nation, male students rushed to enlist in the armed forces, which decimated college enrollments. At co-ed institutions like The University of Texas at Austin, the women assumed leadership roles on the campus previously been denied to them. Professors who specialized in subjects useful for war were recruited for their expertise.

To avoid the closure of hundreds of male-only colleges, a national Student Army Training Corps was created to allow students to both remain in school and receive military instruction. Because the corps was open to any high school graduate, legions of young men who might otherwise have joined the work force found themselves on a college campus, and returned after the war to finish their degrees.

By the end of the war, universities had firmly established themselves in the public eye as a national resource. The college campus became a place where American youth could be transformed into broadly-educated and valued citizens.

In Austin, the U.S. declaration of war on April 6, 1917, transformed university life almost immediately. The faculty organized into a military company. Led by Al Brogan, honorary captain and philosophy professor, 84 professors agreed to participate in one hour of drill three days a week. The group included honorary Private and UT President Robert Vinson. Senior professors who were a little too old for active military training assisted Dr. Eugene Barker from the history department in planting a war garden on a section of vacant land near the campus.

Many UT students rushed off to enlist, but with the advent of the Student Army Training Corps, campus enrollment again swelled to accommodate those who were concurrently students and members of the U.S. Army. The Forty Acres was converted into an armed encampment, as students in uniform woke to the sounds of Reveille, marched in formation to meals, and followed a strict schedule that included both academics and military training. Sentries were posted at university buildings, and professors were required to present proper identification to enter their offices and classrooms.

Review: Model 1917 Enfield

In World War I, the M1917 was issued to British troops as a standard infantry rifle, along-side the Enfield Mk. II rifle. Around twenty years later, World War II broke out, and the M1917’s were issued as sniper rifles after the soldiers realized how accurate they were. They were also issued to the artillery and rear-guard troops. Overall, 2,193,429 of these rifles were built. They saw service in the Korean War as sniper rifles as well. During the Vietnam War, they were still used, although much less frequently. Also, in more recent Middle East conflicts, rebels and insurgents have purchased these as surplus rifles to use in their battles.  The M1917 is a superb rifle. The Enfield bolt makes cycling the rifle easy and smooth. I started out by firing a few rounds from the bench at 100 yards, and got a great 4-inch pattern. After that, I attached a few CD’s to the top of my target, and I was punching one-inch wide holes in them at 50 yards. I didn’t miss once. Six shots, six holes, six dead CD’s. While it’s a bit on the heavy side at nine pounds, the M1917 Enfield 30-06 rifle is an all-around great rifle. The hard-hitting cartridge makes it perfect for big game hunting as well, which is why I use one as my deer rifle, as does my dad (mine is a Winchester, his a Remington). My 93-year-old rifle was bought in the 1920s by my great grandfather, and it was passed down through the generations, making me the fourth person to own this rifle in our family. My dad bought his at Cabela’s in 2009 after giving me his Winchester. I strongly recommend picking up one of these rifles. You won’t regret it.

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