Pics of my first M1903

[bigduke6]

Purchased this along with a P17 this week, have been looking for a nice example of a M1903 for a long time and in the UK they demand a high price, and are hard to come by, the barrel i would say has seen the better part of its life, will be out to try it this week plus the new P17, only thing i know or if its correct is i found a page on the web which according to the serial number it was produced in 1930. any other info please,

Information

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[Donzi]

Looks like a very nice rifle, bigduke. Yours was manufactured just over 10,000 before mine. That sure seems to be an early bazrrel date on yours; mine is 7-1918. Best of luck @ the range.
Donzi

[Donzi]

Let's make that "early barrel". I gotta start paying attention :-)
Donzi

[Embalmer]

Your alowed to have a live rifle like that in the UK?? Was always told deactivated only.... Awesome if you can. *shrugs*

[bigduke6]

Your alowed to have a live rifle like that in the UK?? Was always told deactivated only.... Awesome if you can. *shrugs*

Only things we cant have in the UK are Fully auto/semi auto rifles. Pistols were baned over 10 years ago, we still have black powder pistols and you can still shoot classic pistols such as Lugers, but this is limited to approved clubs and guns must be stored there.
thats just the basics, it would take me all day to explain our laws.

[bigduke6]

Sorry forgot to say semi auto rifles over .22rf so we can have ruger 10/22,s etc.

[Griff Murphey]

I'm looking at that serial and wondering if the "1" has been added to make it appear to be a high number. Someone who collects low numbers could be more certain, but the style of the script sure looks right for a 1909 rifle. My question would be should the "1" be so plain. I think not, and the spacing is wrong, too. If it is a low number there are some concerns RE the safety of the rifle with full power ammo; many who shoot low numbers, if they do so at all, use very mild loads. Others say they should not be fired at all. Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but you may have been sold something that was not what you thought. Hopefully someone else will jump right in and say I'm wrong; hope so...

[bigduke6]

I'm looking at that serial and wondering if the "1" has been added to make it appear to be a high number. Someone who collects low numbers could be more certain, but the style of the script sure looks right for a 1909 rifle. My question would be should the "1" be so plain. I think not, and the spacing is wrong, too. If it is a low number there are some concerns RE the safety of the rifle with full power ammo; many who shoot low numbers, if they do so at all, use very mild loads. Others say they should not be fired at all. Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but you may have been sold something that was not what you thought. Hopefully someone else will jump right in and say I'm wrong; hope so...

If the .1 has been placed there this would meen it was made in 1909 still wonder about the 05 on the barrel.

[Jim Tarleton]

I'm looking at that serial and wondering if the "1" has been added to make it appear to be a high number. Someone who collects low numbers could be more certain, but the style of the script sure looks right for a 1909 rifle. My question would be should the "1" be so plain. I think not, and the spacing is wrong, too. If it is a low number there are some concerns RE the safety of the rifle with full power ammo; many who shoot low numbers, if they do so at all, use very mild loads. Others say they should not be fired at all. Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but you may have been sold something that was not what you thought. Hopefully someone else will jump right in and say I'm wrong; hope so...

I enhanced the photo of the receiver ring and using a caliper, I measured the distance between numerals and the height of each. The spacing and heights are correct.

What is odd is what appears to be an inletted insert into the stock mortise beneath the front receiver ring.

Jim

[mark1]

Bigduke what is the heat lot number on the underside of teh receiver. John Beard can confirm if the receiver is a high numbered one.