Springfield 1903 Low SN

About 8 months ago I picked up a really nice Springfield Armory1903. It is a low SN 361,6xx with a HS 1944 barrel. Has forged trigged guard/floor plate with a nice stock. "However" the stock is a replacement stock with no stampings anywhere but is in like new condition. The bore is "very" good condition. The rear sight is the popular Buffingtion with windage adjustment. Before someone jumps in a says, "DON'T SHOOT CAUSE IT WILL BLOW UP AND TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF!" Heard that for the last century with very few early on that did blow but were attributed mostly to bad ammunition powder. And yes a few receivers did have bad heat treatings. First chance I get I will put a few rounds down range! Nuff said!

Anyone got any idea of it's value being the stock and barrel are not original for a almost like new rifle?

Pictures please

We can't evaluate a rifle without pics...and they don't blow up, the receiver shatters like glass. We have several threads here discussing it. It'll make a wonderful collector though.

Pics: Manufactured in 1909. On the right side, muzzle end, of the barrel has an "F" for Flannery Bolt Co.

Every time I watch the movie "Sand Pebbles", with Paul Newman, I get goose bumps with all the 1903 action shooting. How about you?

Nice clean looking rifle, is that an '03A3 stock? Cut for the handguard ring?

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nice clean looking rifle, is that an '03A3 stock? Cut for the handguard ring?

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Good question! I dunno but sounds possible. Probably happened when action was re-barreled during/after WWII.

I just noticed there is a little hole, chipped out, in the lower upper stock. Never noticed it before. The receiver has the original patina, of the time, and everything else has been replaced.

My Rem 1903-A3, Rem 9/43 barrel, has the same Scant stock but the receivers' rear sight mount has been "flat topped" and a Lyman aperture sight added. Both barrels are nice two groove.

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Originally Posted by LX Kid

I just noticed there is a little hole, chipped out, in the lower upper stock

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You know the band spring lives in there...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

You know the band spring lives in there...

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Now I do and is the same on my 1903-A3 stock.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nice clean looking rifle, is that an '03A3 stock? Cut for the handguard ring?

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It's a WWII C-stock and, yes, it has the cut for the handguard ring to be used on the 1903A4.

BEAR (BDY)

---------- Post added at 06:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:14 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by BEAR

It's a WWII C-stock and, yes, it has the cut for the handguard ring to be used on the 1903A4.

BEAR (BDY)

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My bad ... scant stock

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Originally Posted by BEAR

scant stock

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Yes, not a "C". I think those look great, these not so much.

Not a "few" were bad. Actually production was quite consistent and almost all were over-heated in the Forge House. Use moderate hand loads with new brass. Good luck.

Far as price goes, that serial number is a swift kick to the groin. On low number actions as long as the rest of the rifle is period correct they have collector value and can fetch a decent price. Not the case with yours when it's a mix matched rifle on top of a LN receiver. In your case it's only worth what the parts are worth and in those regards odds are greater it was not an arsenal product, specially with no arsenal marks on the stock (which itself could have been changed too). Not saying it's not arsenal built but to this day NOS HS barrels are still on the market so anyone could have built this rifle, does it have a Hatcher hole?
The stock does have provision for A3 HG retaining ring but could would need to see pics of the left side to tell manufacturer? I guess while I'm delivering bad news... it was Steve McQueen and I too like that movie, love the shots of them/ him using the 03. I like the fact that despite Hollywood's usual shortcuts he actually uses the rifle correctly, flipping the sight up and adjusting to take the shot on Po-Han.

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Originally Posted by Randy A

I like the fact that despite Hollywood's usual shortcuts he actually uses the rifle correctly, flipping the sight up and adjusting to take the shot on Po-Han.

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AND THEN THREW IT IN THE BLOODY RIVER .... Oh, the agony, the pain !!!!!

BEAR (BDY)

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Originally Posted by Randy A

he actually uses the rifle correctly, flipping the sight up and adjusting to take the shot on Po-Han.

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I liked the BAR scenes better...

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Originally Posted by Randy A

it was Steve McQueen and I too like that movie

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Oh yeh, I was wondering if someone would catch that! Good job. Now I know that I'm not the only one who was a fan! LoL Glad I only paid $225 for this miserable piece of of parts on a knawed out log! Guy said he carried it around all day, at the gun show, and was tired and wanted to go home. He's happy, I'm happy so all is good in the world.

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Originally Posted by LX Kid

Glad I only paid $225 for this miserable piece of of parts on a knawed out log! .

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At that price, the cash would have given me friction burns from flying out of my hands so fast!

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Originally Posted by rcathey

At that price, the cash would have given me friction burns from flying out of my hands so fast!

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Funny you should say that cause I only had $30 in my pocket and I was flying around the show, getting wind friction, begging people to loan me $200. Fortunately I found a friend that loaned it to me and I gave it back the next day!

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Originally Posted by Randy A

does it have a Hatcher hole?

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It does not have the Hatcher's Hole on the left side. It does have the smaller hole on the right side. The 03-A3 does have the Hatcher's Hole on the left side.
(Should I drill a hole in the left side to let those ruptured cases breath?)

No, don't drill it. Receiver is very hard and you may muck it up. Use new brass and moderate loads. Good luck.

I have a low number receiver 1907 rebarreled in '19 and I used to shoot I with reduced loads twice a year on the 4th and Veterns Day until I had a second pistol blow up in my hand then I decided maybe it was time to retire the old girl. You do what you want I've been lucky twice. And in case you are interested the first was a Cobra derringer in 9mm with less than twenty rounds through it {replaced by them in 38 which has had hundreds of rounds through it } and the second was an SA XD in 45. With no injuries.

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Originally Posted by Calif-Steve

No, don't drill it. Receiver is very hard and you may muck it up. Use new brass and moderate loads. Good luck.

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I was kidding! I should have put a "LoL" at the end of that last line. Ha Ha
I have a copy of "Hatcher's Notebook" and have been doing some interesting reading, starting on page 212, about the heat treatment and hardening of the receivers. Interesting read as long as I can keep my eyelids open!
Interesting fact is that in Aug 1918, starting SN 319921, they went to a nickel steel that was similar to the steel being used by Winchester and Eddystone for the Model 17 Enfields. This is a curiosity to me cause my rifle was mfg in 1909 with sn of 391xxx. That's a nine year difference!

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Originally Posted by LX Kid

That's a nine year difference!

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I take it you're suggesting a close relation of serial numbers? They didn't make many rifles or bayonets until war production...comparatively...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I take it you're suggesting a close relation of serial numbers? They didn't make many rifles or bayonets until war production...comparatively...

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That's true but by 1918 my receiver was already 9 years old and "wasn't" made of the nickle metal as were signified by the earlier serial numbers than mine. Just confusing! (According to mfg dates.)

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Originally Posted by LX Kid

I was kidding! I should have put a "LoL" at the end of that last line. Ha Ha
I have a copy of "Hatcher's Notebook" and have been doing some interesting reading, starting on page 212, about the heat treatment and hardening of the receivers. Interesting read as long as I can keep my eyelids open!
Interesting fact is that in Aug 1918, starting SN 319921, they went to a nickel steel that was similar to the steel being used by Winchester and Eddystone for the Model 17 Enfields. This is a curiosity to me cause my rifle was mfg in 1909 with sn of 391xxx. That's a nine year difference!

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319921 is the number at which Rock Island switched from the new double heat treat to "nickle steel"- yours is Springfield. Acc. to one reference I grabbed quickly, Springfield's switch to nickle steel occurred in 1927 at number 1,275,767.

Ridolpho