Added a 1918 Springfield 1903

Well I've always focused on collecting sidearm’s but have added 2 new rifles this past week. I added a 1918 Springfield 1903 which appears to be a project gun but I found it to be very attractive especially at the 595.00 price tag, I think it has a newer "C" stock and has a 1927 barrel on it and has been refinished. I don't usually buy refinished guns but had to make an exception on this one. I've located and purchased an original Kerr sling for it, also working on a forum member on a correct bayonet for it. Since this has a safe serial I plan to shoot it some at the range. The rifle should arrive here later this week.

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If you want a "typical" M1903 for your collection, looks like you picked a nice one.

Hey Rick, ain't that the kind of rifle that ol Alvin York used to kill all of them Huns? :move eek:

Yep, he sure kept her purty!! :D

Well it is pretty and at a nice price but why do you want a Kerr sling? Model 1907 would be perfect.

And maybe eventually pics of the whole thing all together... rifle, sling and bayonet...? Once they're all together.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

And maybe eventually pics of the whole thing all together... rifle, sling and bayonet...? Once they're all together.

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The sling came in yesterday, the rifle should be delivered this morning. Jim I'll be sure to post some complete pics, the bayonet will be the icing on the cake ;)

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Originally Posted by twh

Well it is pretty and at a nice price but why do you want a Kerr sling? Model 1907 would be perfect.

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It seems finding an original leather M1907 that has not cracked or flaked badly is a chore, I was able to locate a couple of nice clean WWI canvas Kerr "No-Bucle" slings to pick from. I have located an leather M1907 from another forum member that appears to be in very good shape from WWII that I plan to use on my 1903A3 1943 rifle.

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Your set up is ok but to be more proper the Kerr slings were used mainly on the 1917 Enfield and maybe a few were made for the Springfield but were actually a bit shorter. They were made in different sizes and were civilian made catalog items purchased from the Kerr company by the Government because of need. Also if I remember correctly, most stayed in the states to full fill the need for slings for the Enfields in basic training. And the 1903A3 mainly used the later canvas slings as it didn't come out in full production until 1943.
I think this, you should put the 07 sling on the 03 if you buy it, and get a later canvas sling for your 03A3, then get a 1917 Enfield for the Kerr sling . That gives you a good excuse to buy an Enfield and another sling..

Here is one of the Kerr Companies slings I have that they made and sold in leather. It's longer then the regular Enfield sling, Ray

Attachment 64457Attachment 64458Attachment 64459Attachment 64460

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Originally Posted by rayg

Your set up is ok but to be more proper the Kerr slings were used mainly on the 1917 Enfield and maybe a few were made for the Springfield but were actually a bit shorter. They were made in different sizes and were civilian made catalog items purchased from the Kerr company by the Government because of need. Also if I remember correctly, most stayed in the states to full fill the need for slings for the Enfields in basic training. And the 1903A3 mainly used the later canvas slings as it didn't come out in full production until 1943.
I think this, you should put the 07 sling on the 03 if you buy it, and get a later canvas sling for your 03A3, then get a 1917 Enfield for the Kerr sling . That gives you a good excuse to buy an Enfield and another sling..

Here is one of the Kerr Companies slings I have that they made and sold in leather. It's longer then the regular Enfield sling, Ray

Attachment 64457Attachment 64458Attachment 64459Attachment 64460

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Ray good advice, you know as a matter of fact I have a M1917 Remington with its original leather sling (may be a bit longer) I could switch out. I need to pull it from the safe and inspect its condition for integrity and put some conditioner on it. I may be able to use it on the "03" or like you said use the recently purchased "M1907" on the 03 and pick up a 43 dated web sling for the Remington 1903A3.

For matters of collecting preferences, I don't usually consider refinished guns. But if I did, I would pick one like that. It's tastefully done. Very nice.

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Originally Posted by martin08

For matters of collecting preferences, I don't usually consider refinished guns. But if I did, I would pick one like that. It's tastefully done. Very nice.

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Martin my thoughts as well, but the more I looked at it and the price tag of 595.00 with a perfect bore I could not let it slip away. I plan to take it to the range. Thanks for the comments.

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Originally Posted by lkgmadmax

Ray good advice, you know as a matter of fact I have a M1917 Remington with its original leather sling (may be a bit longer) I could switch out. I need to pull it from the safe and inspect its condition for integrity and put some conditioner on it. I may be able to use it on the "03" or like you said use the recently purchased "M1907" on the 03 and pick up a 43 dated web sling for the Remington 1903A3.

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There you go. Take the 07 sling off the 1917 Enfield you have in the safe and put it on the 03 and put the Kerr sling that's on the 03 on the 1917 Enfield. Then all you have to do is buy is the later canvas sling for the 1903A3. However if you already sent for the other 07 sling you were going to buy, that would still be ok for the 03A3, Ray

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Originally Posted by lkgmadmax

Martin my thoughts as well, but the more I looked at it and the price tag of 595.00 with a perfect bore I could not let it slip away. I plan to take it to the range. Thanks for the comments.

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Great rifle and price!

I missed the pictures at first and just looked at them; Nice Springfield

I received a correct 1918 SA Bayonet today from a forum member here, it looks like a great match with my rifle. Following up posting some additional pictures of the added bayonet and leather sling.

Nice rifle! I would have bought it, too! Then I would have refinished the stock, because I can't leave well enough alone.

Mike

Was it not so that York also involved in stopping a charge by the Germans on his position with a 1911 Colt of which I read he was not supposed to be outfitted with one! TIA

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

of which I read he was not supposed to be outfitted with one!

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Depends on where you read it. If you have evidence, present it. A vague claim does nothing to move the ball.

Nice looking rig. That blade accents it perfectly...sling too.