{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwi-unit-marked-m1917-american-enfield-rifle-action-breech-cover-101st-cavalry-ny","title":"Original U.S. WWI Rare 27th Division AEF Unit-Marked M1917 “American Enfield” Rifle Action (Breech) Cover - 101st Cavalry NY","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of a rather rare rifle accessory from WWI. A breech cover was used to prevent dirt and debris from getting into the action of a rifle when it was being carried on a long and dusty march. The Lee Enfield breech cover was used from the First World War through to the Second and was a short cover that protected the bolt and magazine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cover is unit-marked to the 101st New York Cavalry which was used to supply many combat units of the 27th Division, AEF which saw combat in the Somme Offensive \u0026amp; Ypres-Lys Offensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring World War I, the 101st New York Cavalry was broken up and assigned as various elements of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/27th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)\" title=\"27th Infantry Division (United States)\"\u003e27th Division\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: twenty-one officers and 706 enlisted men (parts of the Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, Supply Troop, and Troop F, two officers from Troop K and one from Troop L, and the entirety of the Machine Gun Troop and Troops A, B, C, D, and M) were assigned to the 104th Machine Gun Battalion; fourteen officers and 549 men (parts of the Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, Supply Troop, Troop F, Troop K less two officers, Troop L less one officer, and the entirety of Troops E, G, and H) were assigned to the 104th Machine Gun Battalion; nine officers and twenty-nine men from the Headquarters were assigned to the 102nd Ammunition Train; three officers and 181 men (including Troop I) were assigned to the 102nd Trench Mortar Battery; the remaining thirty men were assigned to the 105th Machine Gun Battalion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Breech cover is fully described in the British LoC 17368, 24 June 1915, though British it was the same for the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“the Cover is made of Double texture waterproof drill, and is fitted with 3 press studs on the left side of the rifle. Two eyelets are fitted in the cover for a lace which is knotted on the inside to retain it in position: The cover is attached to rifle by means of the lace as follows-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRifles Short MLE– To the guard sling swivel, or through the swivel screw hole in the lugs on the trigger guard.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small piece of reinforcement is sewn into the cover where the bolt handle would sit to give this vulnerable area a little more durability. This is also the spot where most markings are located on British made examples. This example is unit-marked for \u003cstrong\u003eTroop D of the 101st Cavalry Regiment, New York\u003c\/strong\u003e. There is a maker’s mark as well dating it to \u003cstrong\u003eJuly 29 1917\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall condition is quite solid and does not appear to have seen much use. There is wear present though it looks to have been made due to storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely example ready to be displayed or even used.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43759966027845,"sku":"ONJR25EPCR0104","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/IMG-1062.jpg?v=1759813648","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwi-unit-marked-m1917-american-enfield-rifle-action-breech-cover-101st-cavalry-ny","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}