1903 Rod Bayonet Rifle Question

[pete-z]

The sight here is 1 that I have seen. Referred to as " Krag sight, non strike through numbers, without center yardage lines
and with yardage serrations on left side". Pictured on Pg 43 of C.S Ferris " Rock Island Rifle Model 1903".

This Krag sight could be found on a Rod Bayonet but not as issued. Where did you get the picture?

[John Beard]

The sight here is 1 that I have seen. Referred to as " Krag sight, non strike through numbers, without center yardage lines
and with yardage serrations on left side". Pictured on Pg 43 of C.S Ferris " Rock Island Rifle Model 1903".

This Krag sight could be found on a Rod Bayonet but not as issued. Where did you get the picture?

The rifle belongs in a prominent collection and is well-documented by the Springfield Research Service. Going from memory, the rifle was sold by order of the Chief of Ordnance to a Chicago gun sight company for installation of an experimental rear sight being promoted by the company. That's where the two holes came from. At least one other early rod bayonet rifle is known having that same style of rear sight leaf. So, I guess that sight leaf style was indeed "as issued" for some early rifles.

J.B.

[pete-z]

The rifle belongs in a prominent collection and is well-documented by the Springfield Research Service. Going from memory, the rifle was sold by order of the Chief of Ordnance to a Chicago gun sight company for installation of an experimental rear sight being promoted by the company. That's where the two holes came from. At least one other early rod bayonet rifle is known having that same style of rear sight leaf. So, I guess that sight leaf style was indeed "as issued" for some early rifles.

J.B.

The sight is seen on rifles sent from SA to other than military (Army etc). The military issue sights appear to be uniform and the ones sent to the governors and others for other reasons are where the sight you mention appears.

At least this is my observation. There was one like like the picture auctioned at Julia recently.
The rifle there was original except for the telescopic sight hardware on it. That rifle was sent to the sight manufacturer for work to be done to mount the optic for review. It didn't go to the military either.

[Mike D]

While were kinda on the subject, here a RB front sight cover on fleabay, "Buy it Now" - and no, its not mine - SPRINGFIELD 1903 ROD BAYONET FRONT SIGHT COVER - eBay (item 140508910324 end time Feb-07-11 11:13:40 PST)

[pete-z]

Always nice to get something unexpected at the end of the day.

I will check this out. The pictures are interesting as the book pictures usually have bad lighting.

I will do a comparison on it tomorrow.

I checked it 2-5-11. It is a real one.

Thanks.