Original U.S. WWI Rare 27th Division AEF Unit-Marked M1917 “American Enfield” Rifle Action (Breech) Cover - 101st Cavalry NY

Original 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.

The 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 & Ypres-Lys Offensive.

During World War I, the 101st New York Cavalry was broken up and assigned as various elements of the 27th Division: 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.

The Breech cover is fully described in the British LoC 17368, 24 June 1915, though British it was the same for the United States.

“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-

Rifles Short MLE– To the guard sling swivel, or through the swivel screw hole in the lugs on the trigger guard.”

A 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 Troop D of the 101st Cavalry Regiment, New York. There is a maker’s mark as well dating it to July 29 1917.

The 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.

A lovely example ready to be displayed or even used.