1903 Springfield National Match Question

[pete-z]

Any help on serial number 1361460 ?

The rifle has the obvious markings of a NM. Not sure if the SN can
help to verify the rifle.

Thanks

Information

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[John Beard]

S/N 1361460 is listed as a National Match Type C DCM sales rifle.

J.B.

[Rick the Librarian]

Can you post some pictures?

[GarandGrabber]

Please Pics...Of all the things I lust for in my collection is a 1903 NM. After all the Perry stories etc...

[pete-z]

Thanks.

This is not my rifle. It was correct for what I could see. Only problem was the rear sight. It had the top notch.

I thought the sight w/notch was not supposed to be used on a NM rifle. I suppose there are abnormalities...

Am I correct?

The rifle is for sale. I am not sure if I am interested though. I want papers with any that I get.

I have no pictures.

Thanks again.

---------- Post added at 09:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 PM ----------

Can you post some pictures?

Rick,

I have no pictures of this one. It was at a show and no pictures were allowed.

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 PM ----------

Please Pics...Of all the things I lust for in my collection is a 1903 NM. After all the Perry stories etc...

This rifle was for sale - asking 4300$. Probably take 4K or so. Rear sight had a question as stated in prev reply to Rick.

[John Beard]

Thanks.

This is not my rifle. It was correct for what I could see. Only problem was the rear sight. It had the top notch.

I thought the sight w/notch was not supposed to be used on a NM rifle. I suppose there are abnormalities...

Am I correct?

The rifle is for sale. I am not sure if I am interested though. I want papers with any that I get.

I have no pictures.

Thanks again.

Theoretically, the rear sight on a 1931 National Match rifle should have no notch in the top of the sight leaf. But, over the years, I have seen several 1930's NM rifles with notches in the sight leaves. One can only speculate how they got there.

The notch in the top of the sight leaf was eliminated during WWI and was never reinstated.

If the rifle has a Lyman 48 rear sight, then the military rear sight is a replacement. When a Lyman 48 sight was used, the military rear sight was removed and usually misplaced.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[pete-z]

Theoretically, the rear sight on a 1931 National Match rifle should have no notch in the top of the sight leaf. But, over the years, I have seen several 1930's NM rifles with notches in the sight leaves. One can only speculate how they got there.

The notch in the top of the sight leaf was eliminated during WWI and was never reinstated.

If the rifle has a Lyman 48 rear sight, then the military rear sight is a replacement. When a Lyman 48 sight was used, the military rear sight was removed and usually misplaced.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

Thanks.
I suspected the NM sights probably did have abnormal uses. I saw another guy selling sights and he had a NM? sight that had the notch.

Seems that the NM is a learning process. I have been digging...

Onward!

[Rick the Librarian]

I have NM M1903 1370112 with the earlier rear sight (with "notch").

[pete-z]

I have NM M1903 1370112 with the earlier rear sight (with "notch").

The notched sight is more common than I thought.

Soon the rarity will be the NM no notch sight...

[John Beard]

Thanks.
I suspected the NM sights probably did have abnormal uses. I saw another guy selling sights and he had a NM? sight that had the notch.

Seems that the NM is a learning process. I have been digging...

Onward!

Absence of a notch in the top of the sight leaf is no indication of a NM sight. All sights made after 1918 had no notch.

J.B.