Old Salt’s A3 barrel problem brought up the subject of Sedgley M1903 barrels. I have some experiences with these barrels and some questions maybe some of you can help with.

I first encountered M1903 Sedgley barrels in late 1968 when Art Roberts showed me 3 or 4 when I visited his home in Fall Church, VA. This was the first I knew that Sedgley made issue type M1903 barrels. Art said he got them in a trade with the marines at the Quantico Museum

I first encountered large numbers of Sedgley Barrels in the early 70s, when I was involved in two large rebuild projects of M1903s and A3s. One consisted of a little more than a thousand rifles for which the owner had acquired more than enough new barrels and most of the other parts new or reparked. He had at this one location at least 1000 Sedgley barrels, still in their original crates with the USMC inspection papers inside each. Bill Ricca asked me to send him a copy of the inspections paper that came in the crates, perhaps he could post it.

At the time I had never heard the ‘bent/straighten barrel stories‘, but I knew of Sedgley. So I was very curious as to the quality of these barrel and pushed bore gages (0.297”& 0.299”) thru a lot of these to check uniformity of the bore dia., I never encountered a kinked barrel. I installed from 200 to 300 of these on 03 receivers, IIRC, all required finishing chambering. I installed new two groove barrels on the approx. 400 03A3 receivers. All test fired.

A year or so later, during another M1903 rebuild for the same individual. I saw more crates representing 3000 or more Sedgley barrels and helped open some of these crates and remove approx another 1000 barrels. Without digging out the paperwork, IIRC each crate held 12 barrels, all of the barrels I saw had the USMC stamp on them and were dated 43 or 44, however I do not remember any USMC or Navy Dept. marks on the outside of the crates. I asked the owner if that was all the Sedgley barrels he had and he said, no, that there were tons more. More details than that, either he did not say or I do not remember. Most of my involvement in this rebuild project was to train lower paid individuals to do the work I did.

I am not sure where this individual acquired these barrels, but I do know he was getting much of his stuff from Tooele. I was later told that he went on to rebuild at least another 2000 to 3000 M1903s (maybe more) using these barrels.

In the mid 80s I encountered my first kinked, (bent/straighten, whatever you wish to call them) Sedgley barrel. As best as I can remember, I had about 6 or 7 come thru my shop. The owners were shooting them and brought them in with complains of inaccuracy. I test fired each of these rifles and found no sign of excessive pressure. I also fired some from the bench, groups were almost non-existence with some key holing, all failed to pass a 0.295” bore gage. I looked at the inside of these barrels and checked with a modified drill rod as best as I could. The obstructions appeared to be elliptical, as if the barrel had been crushed at that point. I do not remember any marks on the outside of the barrels that would indicate they had been crushed, bent, straighten, could have been, I just don’t remember.

These kinked Sedgley barrels that came thru my shop were all on M1903s that had been re-parked. with a very uniform color overall and a shade darker that the ones from the rebuild programs. The kinked barrel M1903s that I could trace, all originated from Petrero Ave. Whither all kinked Sedgleys came from that location I do not know.

At the time I asked some people I knew in the SA parts trade were these kinked barrels were coming from. Two individuals came up with variations on the same story, “The Philippines“. Lonnie Lambert came up with a photo he claimed to be of these barrels as they laid in a ’warehouse’, all in a huge pile, bent at about a 30 degree angle, with a nice radius to the bend. I asked Lonnie who brought them into the U.S. and all he said was, “you know, that LA crowd.”

Where did this story about Sedgley, bent then straighten barrels come from?? Does anyone have original information about these damaged/defective barrels?? All I have or have heard is hearsay or he said/they said. How many of you actually own or owned one?? Do you know were it originated from?? Did any one handle one of these barrels that was kinked and had never been installed on a receiver???

Interestingly enough, the 43/44 dated barrels fall under the time period as the U.S. Army contract to Sedgley (as per Ricca) and yet all the ones I removed from a crate, had the USMC stamp. Continuation of old contract??? Maybe Sedgley did not want to change the stamp until it wore out, assuming two stamps, one with the ‘Circle S’ with USMC,, the other stamp with the date????, at least that is my guess,, anyone know for sure???

I understand that Sedgley acquired AV’s barrel making machinery (I think Jim is the source of this information). Bill Ricca states that, the information he has indicates all Sedgley barrels were made inhouse.

I attended the National Guard’s National Match Armorer rifle and pistol school in Nashville. While there I met Gene Barnett (M14icon NM Barrel fame). We got to talking about these Sedgley 03 barrels and he offered to air gage any I sent him (if the pilot fit OK). At the time I thought the shipping cost too high, so now, to my great regret, I never got to find out just how uniform or not, these barrels are. I slugged a great many of these barrels and IIRC, the largest I ever measured were 0.3085”, the slugs went thru smoothly with no indications of tight and loose spots. In my opinion, the Sedgley was better in quality than a Springfield WWII made barrel.

So, that is it, just another part of the M1903’s history that I am hoping someone can add some factual information to.

45B20
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