1903 Stock Markings and Ammunition to use?

[204Milsurp]

Just picked up a nice Model 1903. I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on the stock stamps. i am also wondering what kinds of factory ammo i can use in the rifle. It is a safe serial number but i want to be safe with it. Thanks!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[m1903rifle]

The SA DAL stands for Springfield Armory and Donald A Leary ( inspector at Springfield ). The double P's indicate a rebuild. What is marked on the top of the barrel behind the front sight?

[RCS]

I may be wrong, but thought the SADAL in a single line was a rebuild stamp ?

[204Milsurp]

The rifle was re-barreled in 1928 as the markings indicate on the top of the barrel. Is there anything else notable about the rifle that i can look for?

---------- Post added at 11:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 PM ----------

Here is what the barrel markings look like.

[rcathey]

I’ll touch on the ammo question.
This rifle was made after the improvements in heat treating but before the switch to nickel steel.
I would not hesitate to shoot any off the shelf 30-06 in this rifle.

[m1903rifle]

The SA 28 barrel indicates that the rifle was likely built at SA using the RIA receiver. RIA transferred a lot of parts including receivers ( finished and unfinished ) to SA during the late 20's. The SADAL is indeed a rebuild stamp. It appears the there is an earlier rectangular cartouche under the SADAL. Is there a RI stamped on the muzzle end of the stock?

[pickax]

A bit of plagiarism by me, this should ultimately be credited to John Beard, and saved by TWH.
3 different types of SA/RIA hybrid rifles. First type are high numbered RIA receivers which were already roll marked with the name and serial number and were completed by SA in the ‘27-‘29 period.These appear in the higher RIA 300,000-400,000 serial number range. The second type, which had the receiver roll marked with the name but no serial number. The third type was a bare receiver that was roll marked and serial numbered at SA. The last two types are all in the 1.29 serial number range and were produced in ‘29 at SA and would originally have a boxed SADAL inspection stamp not DAL (end quote].
Another tidbit saved from Rick.
Quote Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian View Post
According to John Beard, Receivers sent from RIA were from 375,000-430,000+ - 375,000-405,000: About half of these were sent to Springfield; from about 405,000-430,000+, about 75%+ were sent to Springfield and finished there.

My thoughts are this was a complete rifle re arsenaled with a new barrel. Hard to imagine a loose 1918 receiver still kicking around at RIA closing, And the time period fits with the Daniel Leary period at SA during the rebuild years.

[John Beard]

S.A.D.A.L. and the two encircled "P" marks are the overhaul inspection and proof stamps of Springfield Armory inspector Daniel A. Leary. The stamps were in use around the 1928 period. With that serial number from 1918, the receiver would not likely be one finished at Springfield in 1928. Except for having a replacement semi-early Remington bolt assembly, you may have a reasonably-original rifle.

J.B.

[204Milsurp]

This rifle does not have anymore markings on the wood other then what i showed earlier. Thanks for all the information!!

---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 PM ----------

Wow that's some awesome information.

Thank you! Glad i decided to post about it.

What are the odds that it saw conflict in World War One?