Rarity of Original Pre-WW1 Service Rifles

[Promo]

I'd be willing to bet a NRA Sales rifle, as well. Just for curiosity, is the raceway inside the chamber and the follower rib polished?

I now checked the rifle and since I anway took a few pictures of another piece from the collection, I thought why not of this M1903 aswell. Note the non-polished rails and the colour-hardened firing pin, cutoff and safety.

[Fred G.]

That is one of the prettiest 1903's that I can remember seeing. Maybe there are some I've seen that are like it, but I couldn't say that I've seen more than the fingers on one hand if That many at all. Absolutely Beautiful!

[Salt Flat]

Promo, Beautiful rifle! Your photography and lighting are as nice as the rifle. Salt Flat

[Promo]

You would be surprised to find out the camera was an iPhone (5) - but that might help understanding that good pictures are mainly based on good light. Of course a digital camera image is even better, but unless the picture is required for a publication, I'm satisfied with this quality.

And of course thanks for the nice comments on the rifle. Besides that, note that it's a so-called "High-Wall" stock, with only one reinforcement bolt. The meaning of the R in the magazine cutoff, the S on top of the handguard and the 4 behind the triggerguard is, is something which only John can answer.

[WarPig1976]

Can see your hand holding the phone in the reflection off the trigger guard..
Apple products rock!!!...except the stupid new watch...

[browningautorifle]

That trigger guard/magazine plate look to be nitre blued as per the old ways.

[RCS]

The S stamp at the rear of the handguard, I found it in "Springfield 1903 Service Rifle. Production and Alteration" by C.S. Ferris and John Beard. The handguard was reduced in length by 0.2 inches and the letter S was stamped near the rear sight swell to indicate the handguard had been shortened from the 1905 handguard. I have a handguard with the letter S stamp too, but my handguard is also with the two handguard clips but does have the rear sight cut

[firefuzz]

Many thanks for this thread, especially the pics. IMHO, the 1903 Springfield is the most beautiful military rifle ever made. Before I started lurking here I thought my 1919 barreled rifle was really something. Now I'm going to have to really examine it to see what all is original.

Several years ago a fella had a rod bayonet '03 at one of the small, local gunshows. The two-hole front sight was what first caught my eye and the bayonet soon followed. It was priced far beyond my means, but I asked the seller if he knew any history on the rifle, his story was interesting, believable or not.

According to him the rifle had been in his wife's family forever and she had received it upon her fathers death. According to the family lore, her grand father had been a member of the Tennessee National Guard and due to a feud between families had stolen the rifle from the armory and fled to the mountains for several years. Upon his return nothing was ever said about the rifle and he was afraid to turn it in, not wanting to go to jail. It had been in their family ever since.

Like I said, believe it or not it's an interesting tale.

Rob

[Fred G.]

Wow Rob, that's pretty interesting. The rifles were indeed mostly issued to National Guard units as well as to the Military Academy in the U.S. Cool accounting of the history of that rifle! Thanks for Posting Rob!
Hey, if you don't mind me asking, what was the price of the rifle back then?

Fred

[firefuzz]

Fred I'm sorry for the late answer, been kinda under the weather. I had to call my running buddy to try and remember close to when it was...all we could agree on was that George W. was President. LOL.

The seller had a $4,500 tag on it then and the way he acted he didn't care if it sold or not. He was very friendly in letting us examine and handle the rifle. He only had two or three military rifles on his table, lots of hunting shotguns and rifles and I think he used the old gun as a "magnet" to draw people in. It sure caught my eye.

Rob