I recently purchased a Rock Island Arsenal 1903. I'm not much of a milsurp guy but the rifle is in wondrous condition and I got it for $300 from a family friend. The wood is beautiful....it seriously looks like it came from the factory but yet it has initials and what I am assuming are some sort of proof marks in various areas. The serial number is 393XXX and is from what I understand totally safe to shoot. It has a barrel marked SA with the "flaming bomb" ordnance stamp and 10-17. Doing some research I found this was a Springfield Armory barrel made in October 1917. And from looking up serial numbers of RIAs I believe I am safe in assuming it was manufactured in 1918 or 1919. What concerns me is why a 1917 barrel was on a gun of later manufacture. From what I've read its usually the other way around and quite common to find barrels from later years on these. I am also looking for a value on it. The parkerizing (or what I am assuming is parkerizing) is BEAUTIFUL! It does not have a spot of rust, corrosion, or pits of any sort anywhere on it.....besides a small ding or two which isn't noticeable. The bore is good....it's a tad dark but the rifling looks good and it appears to have 4 grooves. It di include what appears to be an original sling although it is badly rotted on one end and it had the cleaning rod in the butt. Is it safe to assume this is an original rifle and not reworked? And if it isn't.....how much is it worth anyway? Hoping you Milsurp guys can help as I know very little!
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