Thanks Bill those are some great pictures. I will PM
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Yes Vishooter hasn't changed since I began collecting, but it is known as the most accurate.
The build cartouche is too faint to read but the RIA FK (Frank Krack)is a rebuild mark from RIA during 1920 -30. -Brophy
Is there a RI stamped on the forend tip?
Nice stock. I like rebuild stocks, I can make the rifle as mixed up as I like as correct to the rebuild date.
I am a software guy and depending on what needs to be done, maybe I could help to update the site. If the current administrator is intersted, just send me an email or pm.
Roy, do you know how the RIA metal was marked? or was it marked? By marked I mean "R" like for Remington.
It is "RIA FK" it looks like there is an "S" on the forend tip it was covered in gunk, Also found a C or O in the mag/trigger guard well here is a picture;
Attachment 92278Attachment 92279Attachment 92280
To Eddie
Most of the good info was copyrighted to John Beard. If you could contact him and if he let you use his lists you could create a new site quite easily which could be the best M1903 site around, I'm not tech at all but I would like to help with such a project if possible and the platform was easy.
I need to get the RIA book, but very early in production I think RIA had some proofs like eagles heads and ordnance bombs but by WW1 they were not used.
Roy
With respect to sources CS Ferris's book on RIA production is the most complete resource in print. There are numerous threads on this forum and on the Jouster2 forum all though a lot of those were generated on the prior version of that forum but may still be in the archive portion.
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.
A good place to start to get more information on this interesting variation is C.S. Ferris' Rock Island Rifle Model 1903 book published about 10 years back and still available online.
The most interesting (to me) variation of these "hybrids" are the "high number Rock Island rifles. These were receivers marked with "Rock Island Arsenal/Model 1903" with a Springfield serial number in the 1,290,000 range. Supposedly, about 1200 of this variation were manufactured.
"For the record", four types of receivers were sent from Rock Island to Springfield in the mid-1920s:
1) raw forgings
2) completed but unmarked receivers
3) receivers with "Rock Island" but no serial numbers
4) receivers with Rock Island and RIA serial numbers
Here's a few pictures of the "high number" RIA/SA hybrid I have:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-2.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-3.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4/xlarge-1.jpg
---------- Post added at 06:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:17 AM ----------
RIA/FK is actually Frank Krack, inspector (actually chief of small arms inspection), 1941-46 - Brophy was incorrect.
A large (1/4") S is evidence the stock was originally manufactured at Rock Island during the 1904-1913 period.
Any information on Springfield 606103 (without Hatcher hole) barrel is RIA 5-18 dated ?