SRS search for NRA Sporter confirmation

First timer on this forum trying to sort out the pedigree of a potential NRA Sporter. I've browsed many of the member contributions over the years on the various configurations and details of NRA Sporters and am still in the dark on some of them. I currently have a 1903, serial # 1407286 with matching electro-penciled bright bolt, rounded receiver, heavy barrel dated 5-38, no star gauge on muzzle (I understand 1938 barrels may not have one) but there is a code under the barrel marked SA P and A 785 which may indicate star gauging. The correct Lyman 48 peep sight and front blade sight are present and what appears to be the correct stock and barrel band. The receiver has been drilled and tapped for a scope, the bolt altered slightly for clearance and a low-scope safety and cocking piece installed. It has an adjustable trigger as well. The rifle is in excellent condition with most bluing intact and just a slight amount of freckling on the front of the trigger guard and floorplate. At some point in time, the original buttplate was removed and replaced with a reddish shotgun-type pad but the stock does not appear to have been altered in any way. I'd sure appreciate any comments on confirming this as an NRA sporter, one way or another. Thanks.

Funny .. the rifle is right in the block of SPT rifles, but exactly your serial is listed as...

1407286 062440DEPT OF JUSTICE

Wonder what the Department of Justice was doing with that rifle, I guess it was not for prison guard ;)

If possible, post pictures of your rifle!

Promo, vielen dank! It would appear that rifles, like people, have a story. I have been looking for the story behind this rifle for some time now and with your gracious response now have a bit more to try and fit into it's history. At approximately the timeframe this weapon was built and shipped, the US Department of Justice gained a new agency (1940). President Roosevelt directed that the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) be moved from the Department of Labor to the Department of Justice. Part of the INS included the US Border Patrol. This rifle may have been assigned to the US Border Patrol operating along the US-Mexican border out of Del Rio, Texas which would fit with the oral history that I have been given about its provenance. The story goes, that it came into the possession of a US Border Patrol agent who was a competitive marksman, either as part of his official duties or on a Border Patrol competition rifle team. I haven't been able to research completely the extent of competition rifle matches the US Border Patrol was involved in but I do know they competed in both Intramural and National Matches. Beyond that, I have no other information as many of the Agents of that era are no longer around to corroborate the facts. I will try to get as many pictures as possible of the rifle and its details as I can and post them here. It would be interesting to know just how many of these were obtained by the Department of Justice and exactly what they were used for. Again, thanks for the information.

I would also have the following hits...
1198163 062237JUSTICE DEPT
1322779 102936JUSTICE DEPT
1324764 102936JUSTICE DEPT
1450560 042937JUSTICE DEPT
1450560 062237JUSTICE DEPT
1510323 062440DEPT OF JUSTICE
1510335SPT 113039DEPT OF JUSTICE (TO SA)

That's just an excerpt, note that most are dating 37 or earlier. Therefore only a few rifles would fit your description. Maybe the mentioned agent ordered the rifle via his agency, probably it was cheaper or easier to get a rifle that way.

Really looking forward to pictures of your rifle! And if I was in your position, do further research upon the said owner!

Promo, I finally got a clear day to try some outdoor shots but I'm afraid my amateur efforts didn't produce the results I wanted but will post these pictures until I can produce some better ones. I haven't been able to find out much more on the history of this rifle but was interested in seeing that another one in the list you provided was shipped the same day mine was to the US Dept of Justice. I wonder if they were sent to the same location. Anyhow, here's the link to the photos and I'm hoping others may weigh in with comments. Photo and image hosting, free photo galleries, photo editing

[QUOTE=BlackJack;287105]Promo, I finally got a clear day to try some outdoor shots but I'm afraid my amateur efforts didn't produce the results I wanted but will post these pictures until I can produce some better ones. I haven't been able to find out much more on the history of this rifle but was interested in seeing that another one in the list you provided was shipped the same day mine was to the US Dept of Justice. I wonder if they were sent to the same location. Anyhow, here's the link to the photos and I'm hoping others may weigh in with comments. Corrected URL: 47ftwxp's's Library | Photobucket

Nice rifle, the recoil pad is sad tho.
Reminds me of my first SA 03.

Blackjack now that you know that SRS has a record on your rifle you will probably want to write to them and request a copy of the documents. I believe you have to first subscribe to their publication. There will be a charge for any documentation as they will have to send a researcher to the National Archives to dig the material out and make copies. The procedure is described on their website and may have changed recently.

Good luck!

JGaynor. Thanks for the response! It appears your suggestion is the most logical way to obtain this type of documentation and it probably wouldn't hurt to get a subscription to another source of information on these very interesting 1903's. I'm also interested in getting feedback from other members who have them and/or have way more knowledge about these than I do. I'm currently searching for the correct buttplate to return this rifle to its original configuration. Thanks again.

BlackJack, A subscription to the U. S. Martial Arms Collector magazine is $35 per year. The basic sales letter is $65. The letter will tell you to whom it was sold and the city and state where they lived. You will also get a photocopy of the sales record card. I have gotten the sales letters on all my NRA Sporters. I think it is well worth the $100.

If the stock has been shortened very much on your rifle the original type buttplate will not fit. The original length of pull to the back of the wood is 13 3/8". The buttplate can be ground away a very slight amount if that is all that is all that is needed to make it fit. Much grinding on the top or bottom of the buttplate will get into the hollow. That can be built up with weld and reshaped. You will probably have to spend $75 or $80 for a correct original steel buttplate. I have seen some aluminum buttplates but I think they were aftermarket copies.

Any chance this is one of the NRA Sporters issued to the FBI (part of the DOJ, of course.) Are the serial numbers of those rifles known? As a retired Agent I'd love to find one of those guns.

I worked for for the U S Marshals Service from 1960 until 1990. During the early years of that period our logistical support was handled out of main Justice. When we received an order to destroy the two Model 1907 Winchesters in our office inventory I contacted the main justice officials with the naive assumption that they were unaware that they were ordering valuable collector's items destroyed. I was informed that it was DOJ policy to not sell any surplus firearms. I sincerely doubt that any 1903 NRA sporters that became surplus to FBI needs would have been legally transferred out of the FBI ownership. There may be one or two retained in the FBI laboratory.