http://www.odcmp.com/forms/m1917.pdf
I do not know about a 'LAST DITCH' during WW1, I believe the British allowed us to to have an option, we chose to build the M1917 Enfield so I guess it could be said we had a 'FIRST DITCH', we ditched the 03 for the M1917, Browning/Winchester found nickel in 1895, Springfield found nickel in 1926.
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:...&ct=clnk&gl=us
F. Guffey