interim weapon prior to the arrival of the M1 Garand. Korean War and after After World War II, the M1917 went out of front-line duty with the US forces. Chinese Communist forces used M1917 rifles during the Korean War. This rifle was also used, unofficially, in small Middle-East and African conflicts as a military-assistance program supplied rifle. Contemporary use The M1917 is used as a ceremonial and drilling rifle, as with the M1903, M1 Garand, and M14. For military purposes, mainly as last resort against aggressive polar bears and muskoxen, the Danish Sirius Dog Sled Patrol (Slædepatruljen Sirius) still use the M1917 as their service weapon, due to the high reliability of these bolt-action rifles in the harsh conditions of high Arctic Greenland. Design details Due to the original P13 action being designed for a high-powered .276 Enfield round with a larger diameter case than the .30-06 Springfield, the magazine capacity for the smaller diameter .30-06 Springfield was six rounds, although stripper clips held only five cartridges. Both P14 and M1917 rifles are noted for several design features. The rifle was designed with an iron sight line consisting of rear receiver aperture battle sight calibrated for with an additional ladder aperture sight that could be flipped up and was calibrated for in increments and in increments. The ladder aperture sight moves vertically on a slide, and hence was not able to correct for wind drift. The rear sight element was protected by sturdy "ears" and proved to be faster and more accurate than the typical mid-barrel sight offered by Mauser, Enfield or the Buffington battle sight of the M1903 Springfield. Future American rifles, such as the M1903A3 Springfield, M1 Garand and M1 carbine, would all use similar rear sights. The front sighting element consisted of a wing-protected front post, and was adjusted laterally and locked into position during assembly at the arsenal. The M1917 rear sight element was situated on an elongated receiver bridge, which added weight to the action, as well as lengthening the bolt. The M1917 has a sight radius. The battle sight radius is slightly shorter at . The M1917 action weighs versus for the M1903 Springfield. The rifle maintains the British cock-on-closing feature, in which the bolt's mainspring is loaded and the rifle cocked as part of the return stroke of the bolt, which aided rapid fire, especially as the action heated up. Most bolt action