very rare to find 1903 rear sight base

Found a early open bottom 1903 rear sight base. Never seen one before that was not on a barrel. The 30-03 rifle in 1905 had this rear sight base and as the rifles. were re-chambered to 30-06 the rear sight base was moved forward. Also early Rock Island and Springfield rifles manufactured in the new 30-06 caliber also used this open bottom rear sight base.

Photos show both a Springfield and Rock Island factory 30-06 rifles with the open bottom rear sight baseAttachment 122022Attachment 122023Attachment 122024Attachment 122021

A very rare find, indeed. Very few legit application exist for this piece. But even if it can not be installed on a proper gun, it has a collectible interest just as it is.

I have two of the "tweener" versions from the 30-'03 to 30-'06 design change. We'll call them the 1903/05. Both are 1905 serial number receivers with SA 05 A marked barrels. These both have the closed bottom sight bases.

But they have the front barrel band and bayonet lug set back 1/4", as evidenced by the plugged screw hole in the fore stock. Stocks were initially made for the rod bayonet.

This stock came from a CMP low number Springfield 1903. Rick Borecky found the stock but the barreled action was gone, Rick sent the stock to me. This stock was on a 1903/05 30-03 caliber rifle, then converted to 30-06, note the new screw hole.

The most interesting part of this stock is the top tang butt plate marking which Ed Byrns translated for me: Troop H 8th Cavalry Trooper 18

The US 8th Cavalry went into Mexico in 1916Attachment 122027Attachment 122028Attachment 122029Attachment 122030Attachment 122031

Another great piece of M1903 history. Early "small" S on the front face.

Yes, that is the nature of the plugged screw hole, to be found on the M1903/05 stock. And the unit numbers are fantastic!

Your stock received the crossbolt upgrade. One, or two?

The stock with the 8th Cavalry butt plate is a single bolt stock which I have installed on a Rock island four digit receiver with a SA 6-16 barrel date, bolt is early H I heat codeAttachment 122032

That sounds like a good choice for your early stock.