Info please Springfield 1903 National Match Images Included

[Matt P]

Hi guys. Excellent site here. Wonderful amount of serious gun guys.
I have this rifle...
Springfield Serial #1496337 1903. 30-06 Cal. It has the Lyman 48 rear sight, SA 3-37 on the top of barrel near muzzle. Star on crown. N.S. on bolt handle with a possible #2 on the other side underneath. No serial etched on polished bolt, or at least none I can find. Grooves on trigger face. Fine serrated butt plate with trap door containing cleaning kit. Stock has on left side SA SPG stamped twice. Under the bolt release on stock is an "S 8 3". I am not sure what else I can add beyond that then images.
I would appreciate any and all information on what I have and an approx. value please. My latest edition Blue Book is worthless to me. This series of rifle is just foreign to me as to its value and such.
I have tried to research this on my own which has led me here.
Thank you in advance for any and all information.
I will be posting images of some others too is I may from Springfield. (2) 1922 M1, M2, and a 1903 22 trainer also.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Johnny Peppers]

It is not listed as a DCM Sales rifle. May have been a military team rifle that was turned in. The bolt not being numbered and the sight face being finished over along with the second SA/SPG cartouche indicate a refinished rifle. The Lyman sight appears to be a later version than I would expect to see on pre WWII NM rifle.

[Roadkingtrax]

I see where the rifle was refinished, or most certainly the rear sight. The slide was not removed.

[Calif-Steve]

Parkerizing looks fresh to me. Nice rifle, for sure. But not worth NM money. What is the story on it?

[Matt P]

If this rifle was refinished, it was some time ago.
The story is I purchased off the nephew of an Japanese man who passed some time ago. The nephew is in charge of selling these for the Aunt.
He has several 1903s along with a Tanker A3 Smith Corona, Hoffer Thompson,1922s M1, M2 and some others. It looks like he did his collecting real heavy in the 80s. This based on the rifles and handguns he had.
I agree the park looks very good. New looking. I have no idea when this was done nor would the nephew know. This one does not appear to have been a shooter for him. He clearly was very interested in this series.
Still, what about the various components of the 03 being in place as to its National Match heritage?
Thank you for your efforts so far in this thread....

[Johnny Peppers]

All the parts to build a NM rifle was available through the DCM. You could get a NM receiver, a NM barrel, a NM barreled receiver, and all the small parts needed to put one together.

There is nothing that proves it was an original NM rifle. According to your description it does have a star gaged barrel, but nothing else to indicate a NM.

[Calif-Steve]

Back in the 1930's you could mail your barrel to Springfield and they would Star Gage it for a small fee. Lots of NM parts floated around before and after WWII. It looks too fresh to me in the photos. I see where the guard screws match the park color. Just looks re-done, re-parked to me. The sum of the parts do not make it a NM rifle, just a nice rifle, but not an NM. Lots of high end buyers at the Del Mar Gunshow in San Diego. Certainly worth a try on your part. By the way, what is a Tanker '03-A3?

[Matt P]

Bolt nor stock add anything to being considered National Match? What about butt plate? It seems you suggest the only thing NM is the barrel.
Please help me understand what is it missing that it should have.

Thanks again for the effort.

Edit- Just saw the last post. I have a list of what rifles are for sale. one listed is as a Tanker Smith Corona. I assumed such a rifle existed. Again, I do not know these rifles and that's why I am here looking for information.


Why could this not have been an original National Match simply re-freshed?

[Johnny Peppers]

The original butt plate on that rifle would have been coarse checkered rather than fine checkered if it were NM. Springfield Armory did rework NM rifles that were turned in, but they were reworked to the same configuration they were when new. The rear sight would not have been finished over.

[Calif-Steve]

This rifle is not a NM rifle. It is likely a standard Service Rifle that has been up-graded. Up-grading does not make it a NM. It should not be sold as a NM rifle. That would be fraud on the seller's part.