Aussie with a new 1929 M1903

[Jollygreenslugg]

G'day folks,

I normally post on the Lee-Enfield board as that is where my collecting interest lies. My brother gave me a terrific birthday present and I'm trying to find out more about it.

It's a 1929-dated Springfield (according to the lists available here) 13206XX. I won't be able to post pics until I get my camera back in a couple of days, but I'm not having much luck in finding details.

There is a very faint cartouche on the left hand side of the stock, an inch or so behind the base of the safety recess. It's hard to read, but it appears to be stamped FJA in the rectangle. I've searched for FJA and it appears to be a Remington mark. I can't find reference to it being inside a rectangle, however.

In front of the magazine well plate (please excuse my ignorance of M1903 terminology, I'm a Lee-Enfield bloke) is a square, a triangle and something else which is hard to make out. The square appears to have an S or a 5 in it, but it is really hard to see. Likewise the triangle, it appears to have a 1 or I. I can't make out the mark under the stock behind the trigger guard, it looks like it could be a letter, or scratches in the timber.

Behing the foresight base on top of the barrel is the SA then flaming bomb and 1 -30, which would seem to indicate that it has its original barrel. The buttplate is plain, and has no apparent marks. I can't make out much on the bolt, other than an 8 in a circle and an R, both on the block behind the bolt handle to which the safety is attached (gee, Lee-Enfield terminology isn't much help with these bolts!)

I realise that this post is useless without pics, and I'll try to get some shots over the next couple of days. I've attached some low-res camera-phone pics to suffice until I can get some better marks.

I'm not aware of an active Springfield collector's scene in Australia. I really don't know how it could have got here unless someone actively imported it. I'm wondering if I have a restored sporter.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Cheers,
Matt

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Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[John Beard]

G'day folks,

I normally post on the Lee-Enfield board as that is where my collecting interest lies. My brother gave me a terrific birthday present and I'm trying to find out more about it.

It's a 1929-dated Springfield (according to the lists available here) 13206XX. I won't be able to post pics until I get my camera back in a couple of days, but I'm not having much luck in finding details.

There is a very faint cartouche on the left hand side of the stock, an inch or so behind the base of the safety recess. It's hard to read, but it appears to be stamped FJA in the rectangle. I've searched for FJA and it appears to be a Remington mark. I can't find reference to it being inside a rectangle, however.

In front of the magazine well plate (please excuse my ignorance of M1903 terminology, I'm a Lee-Enfield bloke) is a square, a triangle and something else which is hard to make out. The square appears to have an S or a 5 in it, but it is really hard to see. Likewise the triangle, it appears to have a 1 or I. I can't make out the mark under the stock behind the trigger guard, it looks like it could be a letter, or scratches in the timber.

Behing the foresight base on top of the barrel is the SA then flaming bomb and 1 -30, which would seem to indicate that it has its original barrel. The buttplate is plain, and has no apparent marks. I can't make out much on the bolt, other than an 8 in a circle and an R, both on the block behind the bolt handle to which the safety is attached (gee, Lee-Enfield terminology isn't much help with these bolts!)

I realise that this post is useless without pics, and I'll try to get some shots over the next couple of days. I've attached some low-res camera-phone pics to suffice until I can get some better marks.

I'm not aware of an active Springfield collector's scene in Australia. I really don't know how it could have got here unless someone actively imported it. I'm wondering if I have a restored sporter.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Cheers,
Matt

As you noted, your rifle's receiver was serialized in 1929. The barrel and receiver are likely an original combination.

At the time your rifle's receiver was manufactured, Springfield Armory was no longer assembling complete service rifles. Instead, they were making new barreled receivers to replace the barreled receivers of "low number" rifles turned in for overhaul. In case you're not aware, Springfield (and Rock Island) rifles manufactured prior to WWI were deemed to have unsatisfactory heat treatment. These are called "low number" rifles. Therefore, beginning in 1927, the Army embarked on a program to replace "low number" rifles that were turned in for overhaul.

Examining your pictures, I note that your rifle was arsenal-overhauled again during late WWII, refinished, and re-assembled from mixed parts.

The stock appears to be from a late Remington Model '03-A3. The cartouche is indeed "FJA". If you look closely, you may see an "RA" just to the left of the "FJA".

The bolt is from a rifle manufactured at Springfield or Rock Island prior to or during WWI. The bolt is probably casehardened and is generally considered unsafe for shooting.

The bolt sleeve and firing pin assembly is from a Remington Model '03-A3.

The trigger is from a Springfield or Rock Island rifle manufactured prior to 1911.

The handguard appears to be contemporary with your rifle's serial number. The upper band, lower band, trigger guard, floorplate, and buttplate appear to be correct milled parts that were manufactured prior to WWII.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Jollygreenslugg]

G'day John,

Thanks very much for your helpful and informative reply; your time is appreciated.

I have read about the problems with the "low number" rifles, and it's fascinating to learn that mine was a replacement. I wonder why the bolts weren't replaced? Was it a more recent thing that the case-hardened bolts were found to be unsafe?

I'm concerned about the bolt; if it's unsafe for firing then it looks like I have a safe queen. If I was to try and find a replacement bolt, is there anything in particular that I should look for? Are bolts easily available?

Cheers,
Matt

[Mike D]

For shooting, I'd recommend an 1903-A3 bolt. A bare bolt body should run about $25. Swap your parts over and your ready to go. Nice rifle!

[John Beard]

G'day John,

Thanks very much for your helpful and informative reply; your time is appreciated.

I have read about the problems with the "low number" rifles, and it's fascinating to learn that mine was a replacement. I wonder why the bolts weren't replaced? Was it a more recent thing that the case-hardened bolts were found to be unsafe?

I'm concerned about the bolt; if it's unsafe for firing then it looks like I have a safe queen. If I was to try and find a replacement bolt, is there anything in particular that I should look for? Are bolts easily available?

Cheers,
Matt

The "low number" receiver heat treatment issue that I explained also applies to bolts. Shooters today regard "low number" bolts as being unsafe for shooting. "Low number" receivers and bolts were casehardened and many were very brittle, like glass.

A few months after the heat treatment issue was addressed during WWI, the bolt handle was given a slight rearward sweep in addition to the downward bend. These are called "curved handle" bolts whereas previous casehardened bolts are called "straight handle" bolts, i.e., the bolt handle bends straight down with no rearward sweep. For shooting, you should seek out a curved handle bolt. As Mike D pointed out, curved handle bolts are very common and inexpensive.

As a matter of note, the Army never regarded straight handle casehardened bolts as being defective. Unlike receivers, therefore, straight handle bolts were never withdrawn from service and replaced (unless damaged or worn out).

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Jollygreenslugg]

Gents,

Thanks very much for your helpful information and advice. I'll start looking for a curved handle bolt. Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Matt

[Kirk]

John Beard is without peer in his knowledge of 1903s. He has posted much information about the rifles on a website run by a fellow known as ViShooter. See especially the sections on bolt heat lot numbers. http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html

At Camp Perry, where the US National Matches are held, shooters with bolts having the Single Heat Treatment (the heat treatment given to the "low number" receivers) were advised to keep a spare bolt handy, one already headspaced to their rifle. That way, if a bolt failed (safety lug prevented complete failure) during a match, the shooter would swap bolts and keep shooting.

Since you are a long way from Camp Perry, the advice about getting a replacement bolt (Double Heat Treated or Nickel Steel) is good advice. Just make sure someone competent in the use of headspace gauges (Go and No Go gauges) checks it out first.

[Jollygreenslugg]

Plenty of fascinating information, thanks gents.

I'll be sure to do the right thing with a new bolt.

Cheers,
Matt