Printable View
Was wondering if anyone could help with some letters stamped into my Springfield M1903 receiver just behind the gas vent hole on the right side. The letters look to be SKF but the first letter is somewhat faded so not 100% sure on that one. Receiver s/n is in the 400,000 range and the barrel is dated 1910. Also this rifle doesn't have the gas vent hole on the left side so not sure if it ever went through a rebuild. Thanks in advance for any help.
CaptMandrake
It would appear to some personal marking. Do you have sights, handguard, cartouche and bolt for this 1910 time period ?
As far as I can tell everything, except maybe the stock, seems to match for a 1910 production M1903. The stock, that the rifle came with, has no markings on it except for an S at the nose with a single cross bolt just below the mag cut-off. The butt plate is smooth with a 5 stamped on the inside just above the butt trap hole.
Added a pic of the markings on the receiver.
Looks like RKF to me. Mind you, having the thing help. Try a rubbing. Piece of paper on the marks and rub with a soft lead pencil.
There's a list of inspector's initials etc here.
Inspectors Stamps
Inspector stamps would be on the stock, not the receiver - lucky the receiver did not crack stamp those initials !
Agree they are civilian stamps (initials).
Sounds like a nice rifle, one bolt stocks are early and should have the 2nd bolt upgrade 1908- 1910.
However, you state there is a cross bolt under the mag cut off, which should be the 2nd. added bolt. (?)
I'm assuming the tapered stock pictured is a 2 bolt replacement by you.
Yep changed out the S stock for a C stock, just want to keep the original stock in good shape and not get dented up. Also found some small cracks in the stock so going to look into if repairs are needed. I thought the rear cross bolt came first but I'm limited on my research until my M1903 books get here
The letters are not stamped very deep into the receiver so it very well could be someone's initials, never thought of that, personal weapon maybe. I do know that the rifle looks very much like it has been shot some due to wear on the bolt.
Yes, the rear stock bolt came first, about 1907/08; the second was added 1917/18. If you see a stock with a single stock bolt in "front", that is almost always a Sedgely stock.
Thanks Rick for the timeline correction, and your real world experience!
Both Rock Island and Springfield stocks without any stock bolts are very difficult to locate. If you do locate this type of stock, it will be on a rifle and not "loose". Original no bolt stocks were also inletted for the open bottom rear sight base too.
Photo shows SA serial number 160963 with original SA 2-07 dated barrelAttachment 100319
So it would seem that I have a rifle that has a previous owners initials stamped into the receiver for whatever reason maybe match shooting or just personal rifle. Most parts seem to match for a M1903 built in 1910, well except maybe the stock.
No inspector stamps on the stock just a few numbers at the top of the butt forward of the butt plate. Looks also like someone did some shimming at the forward trigger guard hole. S stamped at the nose. Any thoughts would be welcomed.
Based on the large S on the foretip of the stock the stock was originally mounted on a Rock Island M1903 - 1913 or before.
That's interesting and here I thought it was a Springfield stock. I was under the impression that Rock Island stocks used RI on the nose tip.
They did ... when Rock Island started producing M1903s again, starting in 1917. Springfield used an 1/8" S on the foretip; Rock Island a 1/4" S.
Thanks to all who have posted info so far it has helped a lot. I think I ended up with a really nice rifle and goes well with the 03A3 I have. Needless to say it won't be along it has other friends.....