Printable View
There is a SA 1903 SN 756375 that I am looking at and the owner claims it is a NM. Can anybody verify this? I found that it was made in 1917 and may be unsafe to shoot, but thats it so far. Sorry, but the sale bill has no pictures of it. By the way, what is the SRS database people refer to? Thanks.
Jared
I could very easily be mistaken, but I don't believe any NM rifles were built in 1917 and 1918. What is he basing his assertion on that the rifle is a NM?
It does have a single heat treated receiver, and some of these were found to be glass hard. Just my opinion, but I would not want it as a steady shooter. The early NM rifles are desirable because of what they are rather than their value as a shooter.
1903 Springfield Armory serial numbers below 800,000 are of single heat treatment and are considered unsafe to fire. Bolts with straight handles are also single heat treat.
Rock Island changed to double heat treat at serial number 285,506.
Aside from that, NM models will have some differences to help identify them. If there is a serial number database, I'd like to know too. I have a rifle I'd like to check against it.
Some features were phased in later and won't be found on early rifles, but in general, here's what to look for.
Star gauged barrel.
Reversed safety lock
Headless striker
Polished bolt and bolt raceways in receiver
Rifle serial number electro pencil engraved on bolt
Tuned trigger pull
Type C stock starting in 1929
SA M1903, S/N 756375 was not originally manufactured as a National Match rifle. The rifle was a wartime issue service rifle. A possibility exists that the rifle may have been converted to a National Match rifle by a shooting team after WWI, but that possibility is very remote and remains unproven without infallible documentation. The burden of proof is on the seller.
Hope this helps.
J.B.
Are the rails polished, is the rifle equipped with a Lyman 48C or something?
Thanks everybody for the help. I will have to ask about it when the sale starts.
When the sale starts??? Pass on this one. It is a "story gun".
I agree with Steve, if it wasn't born a NM, then it is extremely unlikely it was ever converted, due to the directives regarding low number actions after the heat treatment dilema. Yes, many were kept in service, but if any at all were sent on to match service, I'd have to see it to believe it.