Front sight band marked "A"

Printable View

10-14-2009, 01:22 PM
Chuck Russell

Front sight band marked "A"

I recently bought a RIA M1903 with a RIA 4-06 barrel date, serial number 32238, high wood, no cross bolt bolt stock with CN 1908 cartouche; handguard without sighting groove or clips; smooth trigger and butt plate, serifs on the cut-off and safety lettering, etc. I think all the parts are correct for the 1908 period when it was assembled, but, there is an A on the underside of the front sight band. What is your opinion as to whether this sight was assembled with the rifle or is a later replacement?
10-14-2009, 01:34 PM
Gary L. Bush

Chuck,
Please post pictures here and refer to vi shooters web page.
Is the cross pin in the front sight fixed base, at the front or rear of base?
Gary Bush
10-14-2009, 05:18 PM
Chuck Russell

Rear sight pin is to the rear. I hope the photo link works

http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc204/cerussell/
10-14-2009, 09:40 PM
Emri

Chuck.....

NICE Rifle !!!!!!!!!

I don't know the meaning of the "A", but wouldn't worry about it being OK or not. The sight "pin" that Gary asked about appears to be unmolested and would indicate the front sight fixed base has been there all the while.

FWIW,

Emri
10-14-2009, 10:10 PM
John Beard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Russell

I recently bought a RIA M1903 with a RIA 4-06 barrel date, serial number 32238, high wood, no cross bolt bolt stock with CN 1908 cartouche; handguard without sighting groove or clips; smooth trigger and butt plate, serifs on the cut-off and safety lettering, etc. I think all the parts are correct for the 1908 period when it was assembled, but, there is an A on the underside of the front sight band. What is your opinion as to whether this sight was assembled with the rifle or is a later replacement?

The "A" is a Rock Island Arsenal subinspection mark. And, yes, it was assembled with the rifle!

And thanks for the pictures! You have a nice rifle!

J.B.
10-15-2009, 08:43 AM
Chuck Russell

Thanks to all for the comments and information about the Rock Island.
10-16-2009, 02:01 PM
WW1 Fan

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1010090-1.jpg

Question for JB, I notice the "legs" of the 7s on the sight leaf are curved, like Springfields, not straight as most RIA sight leaf numbers were..........

Is this the original sight leaf, or a Springfield replacement?
10-16-2009, 06:13 PM
John Beard

Quote:

Originally Posted by WW1 Fan

Question for JB, I notice the "legs" of the 7s on the sight leaf are curved, like Springfields, not straight as most RIA sight leaf numbers were..........

Is this the original sight leaf, or a Springfield replacement?

Your rifle's rear sight leaf is a replacement. That's not unusual for a rifle which has seen a lot of service.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the picture! :wave:

J.B.
10-17-2009, 08:32 PM
PeteDavis

The sight slides on those rifles originally had a square edge. I gave one to Tarleton.

New parts maybe, but that is certainly the original cased finish is it not? Love that bright steel!

PD
10-17-2009, 08:52 PM
RCS

another Rock Island

This Rock Island s/n 64145 has an RIA 3 -07 dated barrel with a small letter B under the front sight band. The rear sight has the square slide
10-17-2009, 09:35 PM
Chuck Russell

2 Attachment(s)

I wasn't sure what the difference was between a Springfield "7" and a Rock Island "7" on the sighting scale. I have a Springfield that was overhauled by Rock Island during the WW1 period. The elevation slide must have been replaced by Rock Island using one of their manufacture. The difference is obvious: Rock Island-straight leg; Springfield-bow leg. The third form of "7" can be seen in a photo from Nick Ferris' book, "Rock Island Rifle, Model 1903". The "7" on an original RIA 1905 modification M1903 rifle is pretty fancy. I hope the photos are helpful to fellow newbies.
10-18-2009, 01:46 AM
John Beard

You need to trade rear sights on your rifles. Your Rock Island has a Springfield rear sight and your Springfield has a Rock Island rear sight.

FWIW.

J.B.
10-20-2009, 10:09 PM
Chuck Russell

OK. Switching sights was a good idea. Now the Rock Island has a Rock Island leaf. There are collector's who flinch at "changing the history" of the rifle, but I've done my share of restoring M1 rifles and carbines so I'm not without sin. In the process of changing the leafs I noticed that near the base of both leafs on the non graduated side there are letters. I checked the leafs on three other pre-WW1 Springfields. They all have either a letter or a number stamped into the metal. Is there any significance to these markings? All the drift slides had a 5 stamped on the back. A 1.27 million SN Springfield with a 11-26 barrel date has a 6 on the drift slide. What is the significance of these numbers?
10-21-2009, 06:57 PM
John Beard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Russell

OK. Switching sights was a good idea. Now the Rock Island has a Rock Island leaf. There are collector's who flinch at "changing the history" of the rifle, but I've done my share of restoring M1 rifles and carbines so I'm not without sin. In the process of changing the leafs I noticed that near the base of both leafs on the non graduated side there are letters. I checked the leafs on three other pre-WW1 Springfields. They all have either a letter or a number stamped into the metal. Is there any significance to these markings? All the drift slides had a 5 stamped on the back. A 1.27 million SN Springfield with a 11-26 barrel date has a 6 on the drift slide. What is the significance of these numbers?

Generally speaking, the marks on the back side of the leaf at the base are subinspection marks.

The number stamped in the drift slide represents the aperture diameter in hundredths of an inch. Early rifles have a No. 5 aperture and later rifles have a No. 6 aperture. I don't recall where the changeover occurred. During overhaul, No. 5 apertures were enlarged to No. 6 and the number on the back was "X'd" out and re-stamped.

Hope this helps.

J.B.