We will never know. York himself seems never to have publicly stated which rifle he used, and anything from anyone else is conjecture. His unit had been issued M1917's, and unless he somehow stole or traded for a 1903, he had a M1917. It is likened to arguing what size stone David used to slay Goliath. Those who really know are long gone.

It is kinda like the WWI era statue made for the Army to represent a Doughboy. The model was a Marine friend of the sculptor, thus it became a Marine statue when the Army refused to pay the guy.

Jim