Another snowy weekend, and chores are done. I thought I'd start one of these "Show Me" threads myself.
Show me your '03 Springfield! Here's mine to start the show: My rifle makes the Oddball 10 list of '03 Springfields; web site address, http://m1903.com/odd1903/
A little background, cited from the article...
"Don't believe everything you read....
M1903A1 Rifle Made at Springfield but marked Rock Island
Rock Island Arsenal made Model 1903 rifles from 1906 to 1913, and 1917 to 1919. Later, all unfinished parts were shipped to Springfield. Among these parts were about 2,000 receivers that were nearly finished, and had already been marked " ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL" but not serial numbered or heat treated. About 1928 Springfield finished these parts, and made them into complete rifles, but left the Rock Island markings in place. Clearly marked ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, but Rock Island only made rifles up into the low 400,000 range".
Historical note: After 1919, The Rock Island machinery was put into storage. When contracted by the US Army to make 03 Springfields, Remington asked the Government to give them the Rock Island equipment so they could get the 03A1 into production faster. So if you have an 03A1 or 3 Remington, it was made on Rock Island machinery!
My receiver was marked, #423882, but not barreled at Rock Island.
1931 M1903 U.S. Springfield .306. Rock Island receiver #423882 (1919). Post production assembly variant; barreled at Springfield armory (8/1931), with original finish Springfield transitional Semi-C stock, original sling, blued finish about 95% turning brown. Four well marked cartouches (AA1, AA, S, and P). Superficial crack behind tang through AA cartouche. Based on the finish, this rifle was not rearsenaled during WWII. Barrel bright, no pitting, excellent. Only flaw is that a previous owner peened the front sight in place, forcing me to adjust the rear sight to compensate. Very accurate rifle, better than all my Mausers, as the elevation in an 03 is adjustable while a 98k's battle sight is fixed at 150 meters. My best shooting was 19 of 20 rounds of US 1967 surplus in a 5 inch circle at 100 yards, sitting without a rest.
Left
Right
AA1 and S (Springfield) cartouche
P cartouche
AA Cartouche
Rock Island Receiver
Receiver again
Springfield Barrel
MajSpud
Show me your '03 Springfield! Here's mine to start the show: My rifle makes the Oddball 10 list of '03 Springfields; web site address, http://m1903.com/odd1903/
A little background, cited from the article...
"Don't believe everything you read....
M1903A1 Rifle Made at Springfield but marked Rock Island
Rock Island Arsenal made Model 1903 rifles from 1906 to 1913, and 1917 to 1919. Later, all unfinished parts were shipped to Springfield. Among these parts were about 2,000 receivers that were nearly finished, and had already been marked " ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL" but not serial numbered or heat treated. About 1928 Springfield finished these parts, and made them into complete rifles, but left the Rock Island markings in place. Clearly marked ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, but Rock Island only made rifles up into the low 400,000 range".
Historical note: After 1919, The Rock Island machinery was put into storage. When contracted by the US Army to make 03 Springfields, Remington asked the Government to give them the Rock Island equipment so they could get the 03A1 into production faster. So if you have an 03A1 or 3 Remington, it was made on Rock Island machinery!
My receiver was marked, #423882, but not barreled at Rock Island.
1931 M1903 U.S. Springfield .306. Rock Island receiver #423882 (1919). Post production assembly variant; barreled at Springfield armory (8/1931), with original finish Springfield transitional Semi-C stock, original sling, blued finish about 95% turning brown. Four well marked cartouches (AA1, AA, S, and P). Superficial crack behind tang through AA cartouche. Based on the finish, this rifle was not rearsenaled during WWII. Barrel bright, no pitting, excellent. Only flaw is that a previous owner peened the front sight in place, forcing me to adjust the rear sight to compensate. Very accurate rifle, better than all my Mausers, as the elevation in an 03 is adjustable while a 98k's battle sight is fixed at 150 meters. My best shooting was 19 of 20 rounds of US 1967 surplus in a 5 inch circle at 100 yards, sitting without a rest.
Left
Right
AA1 and S (Springfield) cartouche
P cartouche
AA Cartouche
Rock Island Receiver
Receiver again
Springfield Barrel
MajSpud
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