New guy with a 1903A1 question

[Dalfort]

Hello all,

Needing some info on a 1903A1 made in 1931

As far as I can tell its an all original rifle. It has:

1931 serial # (1.36 M)

1931 dated SA barrel w/flaming bomb

early S stock with correct 1931 stock cartouche, S.A. SPG , and circle P





It looks to be an original early A1 that was never rebuilt as its wearing an early S stock.

I'll get some photos up but assuming a 90-95% rifle, any guess on value?

Thanks

Information

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[Chuckindenver]

if its in an S stock, then its a standard 1903. and not a 1903A1..

[Dalfort]

Ok, then it must have an originally fitted C stock to be an A1?

I am new to '03's - I assumed all post 1929 rifles with a nickel steel receiver were considered A1's.

This rifle is dated 1931 per the barrel/reciever - this matches with the timeline on the S stock cartouche. It shows SPG - the stamp of Stanley P. Gibbs, who worked at Springfield Armory from 1916 to 1951. He became a small arms inspector in 1931.

So this is either a late 03' with a nickel steel reciever or an early A1 with a leftover S stock?

[ismith]

No, the c-stock is what makes it an A1. It's just a 1903 with the s-stock. Now if you were to install a c-stock on it it would become an A1.

[Chuckindenver]

without digging out the hornets nest...to be a true A1, it would have had to been sold as such,. if you post the serial number ill check my list.
then no matter what stock its in or what it looks like, it will be a 1903A1

[Calif-Steve]

Does anyone know how many C stocks SA made before WWII? Lots of late made '03's show up in S stocks. I have no idea how many C stocks were actually made before the war.

[Dalfort]

ok there she is

I found this SPG cartouche info searching A1's:

"S/N 1,369,761? - 1,548,601 1931? - 1939
This is the stamp of Mr. Stanley P. Gibbs, who worked at Springfield Armory from 1916 to 1951.
He became a small arms inspector in the early 1930's. The exact date is unknown.
The earliest rifle encountered that I know of is in the 1,436,000 range with a barrel date of August, 1933.
I have listed the starting 1931 year number of 1,369,761 as the start of his inspections. If anyone has more accurate information, please send it."


If thats the case this 1931 rifle predates his earliest SPG cartouched example by 7000 units.

The unit numbers on the buttstock are interesting - appreciate if anyone can provide info

[Chuckindenver]

no hit in the DCM sales list. maybe SRS?
what bolt does it have in it?

[Dalfort]

I just pulled it out and its a BF code which shows 1940-41.......so the bolt is not original

The reciever, barrel, and stock are all 1931 - my biggest question is how did it not get rebuilt in WW11 (later barrel and C stock).

I have seen a ton of early 1903's wearing WW11 dated barrels, it seems odd this example could get thru WW11 with its 1931 tube?

[ismith]

I have seen a ton of early 1903's wearing WW11 dated barrels, it seems odd this example could get thru WW11 with its 1931 tube?

If it was a Navy rifle it might have sat in a rack on a ship for most of the war, no real way to know without an SRS hit or other documentation.