M1903 Factory Sneak?

[M1903Guy]

Attachment 46269Attachment 46270Attachment 46271Attachment 46272Attachment 46273Attachment 46274Attachment 46275Attachment 46276"Buy the rifle, not the story" is sage advice. However, when I picked up this rifle a few years ago it didn't come with a story so I've had to make one up. But I figured I'd ask you guys for your opinion.

It is a beautifully finished M1903 Springfield that I suspect walked out of Springfield Armory much like the old Johnny Cash song "One piece at a time". Everything about the rifle says late 1918/early 1919. Perhaps an ordnance worker decided to reward himself now that the Great War had ended.

All the metal parts are finely blued. The Barrel is an AV, ordnanace bomb, 10 - 18.
The rear sight face is polished bright and has dished adjustment knobs.
The receiver is marked "U.S. Springfield Army Model 1903." But no serial number was ever applied.
The butt plate is finely checkered.
The trigger is serrated.
There is no Hatcher hole.

The stock is nicely a finished two bolt finger groove; but it has no markings save for a small number "4" behing the trigger housing. No signs of post production sanding. It is, however ,milled for a "Mark I" rifle with a small indent where the Mark I's oval opening would be.
The handguard is pre-1910 - no sight cut, no clips.

Information

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[Mike D]

Could you post some photos of the whole rifle? It does appear very nice.

I wonder how many inspection stamps are on the underside of the receiver? Have you had it apart?

Mike

[Chuckindenver]

likely a parts gun...but who put it together???it is neet though...i like it.

[Salt Flat]

Unfinished early receivers used to come up from time to time. I've seen several advertised. They were not completely machined (maybe 90%). I don't remember if they had serial numbers or not . Possibly your rifle was assembled using one of these? At any rate I wonder if yours was heat treated or not. I doubt any heat treating was done before applying the serial nmber. Your story sounds plausible but there is no way to know. Very interesting though. Salt Flat

[M1903Guy]

Attachment 46299Attachment 46300Attachment 46301

I had not considered the possibility that the receiver might not have been heat treated. Important safety tip thank you! Judging by the lack of wear on the bolt face and the barrel's lands and grooves it does not look like it has ever been fired. Took the rifle apart this evening. On the bottom of the receiver their are a large "P" and "F" and smaller "J" "P" "M" "G" and what looks like a "6". I took these photos with my Iphone so lets see how they come out.

The handguard has a single air chamber on the underside and is stamped with an "85" and an arrow. On top, toward the chamber, there is a small "s".

Note: in the photos the trigger housing looks like it extends a bit outof the stock. I just hadn't tightened it back down after taking the rifle apart. Fits snug.

[Fred G.]

Wanna sell it?

[Calif-Steve]

A photo of the bottom of the receiver, please. But I need to see the rear section around the trigger. Thank you.

[Rick the Librarian]

I'm not trying to raise red flags, but wouldn't there be some BATF problems due to the fact it doesn't have a serial number. For what it's worth, I believe that one of the last functions performed was the serial number being stamped on the receiver.

I might tend to agree with Chuck, because of the AV barrel. Only used on replacement M1903s. Nice looker, though.

[Chuckindenver]

no legal issues.. made before 1966.. and never had a serial number/
if it had the number removed..then it would be an issue...

[M1903Guy]

Attachment 46331Attachment 46333Attachment 46332Attachment 46334As requested by Calif-Steve I've added some photos of the trigger area. What are you looking for? I also found a mark on the barrel I missed the other day.