Low number 1903 questions

Good Morning,
I have a couple of questions on my recently inherited Springfield 1903. It is a low serial (1235XX which means it was made in 1905) with a HS 10-44 barrel. It has the original stock (no pistol grip) but no marks otherwise. I dont see a proof mark by the trigger guard (I read that I should see a P). I am told that my great uncle took this off to war, but which one and if he really did is kind of a mystery. I have a bayonet that was packaged with it, and it a metal cleaning kit with oil in the butt. I have attached some pics.

I am not looking for value as to me its a family heirloom but I am looking for any other info i can find on it and I was hoping yall could point me in a direction.

I am very familiar with rifles and shotguns, new to the vintage military rifles.

Thank you for any advice help you can provide, i really appreciate it.

We'll need about a dozen more detailed pics to be of ANY help at all.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

We'll need about a dozen more detailed pics to be of ANY help at all.

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Defiantly need more pics.
The stock may have been sanded. The trigger guard looks like it was polished or the blue has
worn off. The stock does have finger groves so it's an early one.

The HS barrel dates it to near the end of WWII. Keep in mind that rifle "bringbacks were extremely rare. What you great uncle might have meant is this was like the rifle he took to war. Unless there is some paperwork, old letters, pictures, etc. that document the fact, it is highly doubtful this rifle was one your great uncle was actually issued.

This link should help you some and would be a good place to start.

Vi Shooter's Home Page

If you have more questions, come back to see us!

J.B.

Rick is correct. Very few guys brought home their very own issue rifle. Just too hard and very likely Courts-Martial if caught. Probably bought after the war. Nice family addition, nonetheless.

Good Afternoon,
I have taken better pictures, take a look and let me know if you need more specific ones. I cant get the pics to load here, but you can see them on my flicker account here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2360020...7630454610330/

I didnt think that it was my great uncles but it was the story which was told to me.

Thank you for the input.

-John

One other question, do most 1903's shoot a 30-06 round? I am stealing my go/no go gauges back from a buddy in 30-06 but I want to make sure I am prepared in case it doesnt work. :wave:

Thank you,

-John

Is it my eyes or was the lower wood sawn completely through? I know that was one trick used to bring back guns in kitbags. Don't know about this one. The condition of the metal seems to not even slightly resemble the condition of the wood. Isn't the upper handguard too late for...which war are we talking about again? The early guns used 30-03 but that was changed so early the barrel you have is going to be 30-06. I'm with the nay-sayers here. I don't think this was his issue for either war. It's not shame or anything, my great uncle was USMC from 1919 to 1923 and his stories about his service weapons were sometimes ambiguous.

Good afternoon,
it does appear to be sawed through but is pretty solid.

This would have been for ww2 but my family isnt quite sure of any real details just hersay. Both my grandfather and great uncle were living in canada but fought for the US as they were us citizens. My grandfather served in the navy on the Saratoga before the war started and was supposed to get out in 41... I dont know anything about my great uncles service. I dont really care if it was his for the war or if it even saw action, if anything it is still a neat rifle. I have seen quite a few sportorized 1903's in my area. I always have thought the original 1903's were interesting. I am looking forward to shooting it, as I really like to shoot.

The side of my family which I retrived this from isnt in to guns at all. I also took my grandfathers grandfathers 1922 model 94 which was being kept in a blanket in the basement of my aunts house. the 1903 was at least rolled in newspaper then in a blanket then in a plastic bag (the newspaper was from 82 when my great uncle died).

"Duffle Bag Cut". Likely taken home by the Vet! How do you like that?

I'm seeing an early 03, mostly all corect with the exception of the barrel. Single bolt stock , no grove handguard, straight bolt, and dished knobs on the sight. It's more that likely it was a WWII rebuild. Someone duffle-bag cut it in the wrong place!
I think I'm going to be sick.

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Originally Posted by Jake Holman

I think I'm going to be sick.

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So question, does this cut affect the operation/operationability of the gun? (or really why does it make you sick?)

I am not so familiar with vintage military arms.

No it doesn't interfere with operation of the rifle. It just reduces what would be a nice rifle's value by about 2/3! Kind of like seeing a classic 57 Chevy spraypainted bright orange! :D

ah, would it be worth that much without the cut? I am never going to sell the rifle, but i think its nice to know sometimes.

I don't mean to p*ss on the parade but it's not really got collectors value. More like sentimental value. The stock was probably pinned from the center or just carpenter glue. It's probably solid as the rock. It's just that it's mostly a conglomeration of parts that are serviceable and mostly clean. Keep it and make your own call on shooting a low number. There's lots of info here to steer your decision.

could be worth something if you give it a new stock, as is though it just looks mangled.

Looks like a real nice early rifle, unfortunate about the stock though, maybe that would be a rick borecky job for repairs, thats more of a collector rifle than a shooter in my eyes.

Looks like a GI bringback. Very uncommon for US rifle. I wouldn't touch it. Family value is high. BUT, I've seen lots of family stuff sold-off when a nephew gets his hands on it. Understand there is always a hard-up family member. Good luck.

If it were mine I'd wait until I found a correct, or close to correct stock and shoot low pressure loads in it. If you do you will have to reload them. Those single bolt stocks are hard to come by.:crying:

Nice rifle. Please leave it AS IS! It looks fine just like that. The stock cut would not interfere with shooting.