1903 Grenade Launcher Spigot

[zx9rt1]

Anyone know of a source where I can get my hands on a launcher for the 1903 Springfield? Elusive little creature for sure.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

There's one on gunbroker right now... M1 M1903 US Grenade Launcher - K Accessories at GunBroker.com for another three days or so.

[Tom in N.J.]

The one now up for on-line auction seems to be one of the refinished over pits that Numrich sold about 40 years ago. They had been junked and stored outside and show it. But they were the real deal. I have one of their M2 (M1917 rifle) modified to M1 (M1903A1) over stamped and parkerized. I also have one of their M1 launchers with type but no maker markings. These were made by MLS for KM. Photo shows, top to bottom, early short door K/M M1, late long door K/M M1, parkerized MLS made M1, K/M made M2 modified to M1 and parkerized.


Here is a link to the reproduction maker's website.

90th IDPG Reproduction Grenade Launcher, M1 for the M1903 Springfield Rifle

[rayg]

Tom thanks for posting that site of the repro ones. As I always do after seeing that site again, I go look at my launchers to re-satisfy myself that they are real.
I don't have as many 03 launchers as you do but do have a very scarce original unissued/mint 1917 Enfield launcher that came out of a museum auction a number of years ago.
Most of the Enfield launchers were converted as 03 launchers like the one you have, other ones were sent with the Enfield Rifles to other countries via lend lease or were destroyed as scrap. As a result there are next to none left now.
Here's some photos of it, Ray

Attachment 72936Attachment 72937Attachment 72938

[Tom in N.J.]

rayg... That's a beauty! New in the grease!.. and, as I see no KM marking, it was made by MLS for KM. Over 39,00 M2 launchers were converted to M1 by boring out the tube to accept the larger muzzle of the M1903 series rifles. The M1 (M1903 rifle) was then standardized for use on both the M1903 and the M1917.

[rayg]

I was curious about what had to be done to alter the 1917 launcher to enable it to fit the 1903 rifle. So I put the 1917 launcher over the muzzle of an 03. It didn't go far enough down on the 03 barrel for the gate with the locking screw to swing over and behind the front sight to enable the screw to lock the gate on. To do so, the small inside ID shoulder that the muzzle rests on would have had to be cut deeper/further in so the launcher would fit further down on the barrel. I didn't measure the ID's of both launchers up to that small shoulder but both launchers fit over both barrels with out a problem, Ray