Early SA 1903

[Kirk]

Very nice! The stock appears to have high wood as well. Does the rear sight have the rib on the rear? Does it have a platinum line at the aperture (does not appear so in pic)? Brophy says the drain hole in the sear was introduced in 1914.

[RCS]

It looks like a faint platinum line across the aperture, there is a rib at the top of the sight leaf. I have a repro copy of Rules For The Management of the U.S. Magazine Rifle Model of 1903 Caliber .30 which is the ram rod bayonet rifle in 30-03 cal. The line drawings of the sear indicate a bottom hole ? I could be wrong-

[P-07ShortLee]

There is an old photo in Brophy's "Springfield" book showing a RB rifle with the hole, so I think that is also a hole although the drawing you refer to is not really clear on that.

Nearly every "thin" type trigger I see is on one with a hole.

I like it



---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:08 PM ----------

Is that a punch mark on the triggerguard or is it a "pinned" slot?

[RCS]

I always thought this rifle was original - the triggerguard has the pinned slot too.

[Rick the Librarian]

"Technically", the rifle isn't original, as it probably was made as a 30-03 (although with later features, like the fold leaf sight and upper band with bayonet lug). It WAS modified with a later barrel and other features.

However, for all intents and purposes, it is considered original to the 1907 or 1908 rebuild.

[John Beard]

I still am interested to know if the sear with the bottom hole is correct or not - a few years ago I bought a Rock Island at an estate sale, it was in the 64xxx serial range also with a RIA barrel dated 3-07 with the open bottom rear sight base. The sear on the Rock Island also had the bottom hole too.

The bottom hole in the sear is correct. The rifle is indeed original.

Thanks for sharing!

J.B.

[Rick the Librarian]

I have a 78,000 SA which has the same sear. I know that several years ago, it was thought that any sear with a "weep" hole was a later replacement. However, recent research seems to indicate that the hole was seen on earlier sears, as well.

[P-07ShortLee]

I have a 78,000 SA which has the same sear. I know that several years ago, it was thought that any sear with a "weep" hole was a later replacement. However, recent research seems to indicate that the hole was seen on earlier sears, as well.

Actually I have seen fewer "no hole" around, all the early examples I have seen do have the hole, maybe they were leftover production from the RB rifles, or maybe they continued making them for some time.