Springfield 1903 - Looking for help to ID what I have

I have very little knowledge about the Springfield 1903 and so I am looking to members of this forum to help identify one. This appears to possibly be an unmodified original 1903. The serial number is 3407XX which according to some serial number references I have seen shows it as being built in 1907. The bolt has an S30 stamped on it. The safety has Ready and Safe. The Mag Well/Trigger Guard has an S stamped in it. The bayonet lug has an H stamped on the bottom. The barrel has SA over the flaming bomb and 05 under it. The stock as J.F.C. in the rectangle in block letters, the circle P and a K under the cutoff. There is also at the rear of the stock on the top before the butt plate K follwed by 13 under it and then 41 under it.

Based on my knowledge of Trapdoors and Garands I am thinking this is an all Springfield manufactured 1903 made in 1907 with a 1905 made barrel.

What do you think? What is this K 13 41 stock marking? Thanks for your help!

Welcome to the forum! :thup:

I believe the serial # dates to 1908.

The '05 barrel was original to a Rod Bayonet rifle chambered in .30-'03. I don't think it is original, but not sure.

The "H" on the upper band means "hardened". It first appeared circa 1910.

The bolt could be original.

Not sure it's 100% original, but it sounds nice. Can you post photos? Mike

Here are some photos of the rifle.

The 1903 Springfield in the picture is very nice.The stock is an early one bolt, high wood and the top wood is a "no sight plane", very early.
The numbers on the comb "K/13/41" mean Troop "K", "13" Cavalry, Trooper #"41".
The 13 Cav, modified the markings when they were formed putting Troop "K" ahead of "13" Cav marking , which was not the traditional way of marking their rifles.
Troop "K" was deployed from inception in 1901 in the Philippines, Mexican Border war(1916-1917) then to Border watch till being drawn into the 7th Cav in the early 1920's under consolidation.
Where the "stake pin" is located on the front sight would better tell you if the barrel started life as 30/03 barrel or a 30/06 barrel.
Front pins were "Rod Bayonet" barrels,converted to 30/06.
Respectfully submitted
Ed Byrns

Thanks so much for the response and information. I am including a photo of the front sight as well as the rear sight. Any additional information you could provide would be appreciated. Was this military unit Army or Marines? Also, I have seen 1903 with a wide range in values. Would you be willing to estimate where this might fall on the scale?

Thanks much!
Don

13th Cavalry was an Army unit, then an armoured unit during WWII.

The U.S. Cavalry is part of the U.S. Army.
The sight is pinned in the front.
The rear sight is correct for a 30/06 rifle of that time frame.
Value is subjective to both the seller and the buyer, and what motivates them.
Since the serial number is incomplete and the rifle cannot be seen in its entirety,that cannot be answered.
Respectfully
Ed Byrns

OK. Let me see if I understand this correctly. Since having the front sight pinned in the front means that the rifle was originally 30-03 and later converted to 30-06? If this is the case would the original barrel have been re-bored or replaced?

Thanks!
Don

Don - A new sight system was designed for the M1903 in 1905. This also did away with the rod bayonets. Before many RB rifles could be converted, the caliber was also changed, in 1906. Both conversions were done simultaneously 'til about 1910. On top of that, new rifles were also being made at the same time.

Many '05 dated barrels were RB barrels in stock. New sights were installed and the rear of the barrel was shortened .2". The barrel was re-threaded and re-chambered.

With conversions and new production going on at the same time, could it be possible the converted barrels were put into the production line? Making the barrel original?

Large numbers of 05 barrels were converted to 30-06.

It looks like a S stamp on the handguard which would indicate an altered or reduced in total length handguard - very early

I spent a few hours today looking through 3rd Edition of Joe Poyer's 1903 book with the rifle in front of me. This rifle is still looking very correct. Seems to be what is referred to as: 1903 .30-M1903 Knife Bayonet altered to .30M1906 with M1905 Sights (2nd Alteration), Springfield.

Apparently the K marked in the Mag Cut Off area means that that stock was made by Keystone.

Rear sight, slide, drift slide and sight leaf, front sight, "S" stock with the JFC, Type 4 handguard, both barrel bands, type 1 mag cut off, 1st variation bolt, all appear to be correct for a 1908 rifle.

One thing I am a little confused about is the reference to the front sight base being pinned in front or rear. The only pin that is visible is the one holding the sight leaf on. The front of the sight has a slotted screw toward the bottom and the rear has a square hole. Is the screw hiding another pin?

I know that Keystone made replacement stocks that are stamped with a K in the cut off, I don't think they made replacement stocks with grasping grooves, did they??

That stock is not a Keystone. Nice early 03 conversion. Valuable.

PD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 41magman

I spent a few hours today looking through 3rd Edition of Joe Poyer's 1903 book with the rifle in front of me. This rifle is still looking very correct. Seems to be what is referred to as: 1903 .30-M1903 Knife Bayonet altered to .30M1906 with M1905 Sights (2nd Alteration), Springfield

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Poyer's book has numerous errors -- be careful! The "Types" he mentions have no basis in fact - they are his own invention.

To piggyback on what Pete said, Keystone only made WWII replacement stocks - the "K" on your stock is a coincidence.

Maybe the K has more to do with the K stamped in the top of the butt for K company?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 41magman

Maybe the K has more to do with the K stamped in the top of the butt for K company?

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No, the "K" in the magazine cut-off area was a sub-inspector mark applied when the stock was made.

HTH,

Emri