1903A1 NM Hatcher Hole, bolt hole question......

[218bee]

Just curious.....when the second, larger hole was added to the NS bolts, was a Hatcher Hole automatically drilled? I have 2 1903A1 rifles that are both ways...both very high numbers, (1.33 mil & 1.45)....The 1.45 looks to be a NM (no SRS hit), but is smack dead in the middle, almost consecutively in a clump of 1903A1 NM's.....and has all the NM hallmarks...
The rifle has a polished NS bolt, reversed safety, polished rails & extractor ...NS bolt in it has the second, larger hole added, however, the receiver never received a Hatcher Hole....It is a 1934 rifle, well before standardization of the hatcher Holes...it has a star guaged 1930 barrel with perfectly matching finish to receiver & RSFB....(another curiosity to me)...
The 1.33 has a Hatcher hole, but has a single, small-hole NS bolt....This rifle has obvious been rebuilt, but wouldn't that prompt a large-hole bolt to be installed to correspond with the Hatcher Hole.....???

Both bolts headspace perfectly, and according to John's bolt chart, are contemporary to the rifle's serial numbers....but I was curious if the larger gas holes in the NS bolts had anything to do with a Hatcher Hole being drilled at the same time? Was this written in stone?

Thanks for any input here..

218bee

Information

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[John Beard]

A decision was first made to add Hatcher Holes in new-production receivers and bolts. And I believe later decisions were made to retroactively add Hatcher Holes on old receivers and bolts coming through for overhaul.

Both of your rifles pre-date the original Hatcher Hole decision. Therefore, almost any combination is possible after overhaul, depending on when and where it happened.

Are your bolts serialized to your rifles? Please advise.

Thanks!

J.B.

[218bee]

I know for a fact the 1.33 mil rifle's bolt is unserialed....I have to dig out the NM rifle, but if memory serves, it is DC/electric penciled on the underside of the bolt body...

Would they have modified the bolt and not drilled the Hatcher hole? Could it be a later, spare bolt, renumbered to the receiver?....Just FYI, the stock has another rifle's serial# neatly stamped ahead of the rear sling swivel..not many numbers off the current receiver's....Where these parts swapped around or regenerated that much?

Thanks again

218bee

[John Beard]

I have gone back and read your descriptions more carefully.

Your 1934 rifle matches the description of a rifle that was assembled circa 1936 from leftover parts. I note, for example, that it has a 1930 barrel in it. This is not unusual in the least because very few barrels were made in 1934. And, even though lots of receivers were made, very few rifles were assembled in 1934. The receivers were carried over and used in succeeding years. So, your 1934 rifle was assembled from leftover parts circa 1936 and fitted with a current-production bolt having the extra gas escape hole.

I concur that your 1.33M rifle has been overhauled. And during overhaul, it picked up the Hatcher Hole. But, the question arises about who, when, and where it was overhauled. Apparently after 1936 and apparently not at Springfield Armory. The Army's policy was to add a second gas escape hole in bolts coming through for overhaul. The Marines' policy was to enlarge the existing gas escape hole. But, as I recall, neither policy was enacted in 1936, but several years later. So, perhaps that puts a window around when your rifle was overhauled.

So, to answer your questions:

(1) The bolt was a current-production bolt with the extra gas hole and required no modification.
(2) You could look at it that way.
(3) Yes, as your rifle so ably attests.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[218bee]

Once again, John...many thanks...I will get some nice close up pics of the 1934 NM rifle and get them up here ASAP....

Warmest Regards

218bee