New guy with a 1903A1 question

[Rick the Librarian]

Dalfort,

Not to also start a hornet's nest, but curious why you show a "reproduction" stamp for the SA/SPG and the "circle P" in yout initial post. I personally have problems with "reproducing these stamps. A lot of the problems with fake stock markings on eBay come from these. IMHO, you'd be better off just using the stock, as is.

[Chuckindenver]

likely the barrel and bolt were changed at the same time.. nice rifle, and a great looking bit of history....i wouldnt change a thing

[Dalfort]

I simply used it as a reference for what the stock cartouche looked like - I had no idea it was a repro.

I dfon't believe in restamping - same with cars - its only original once

---------- Post added at 01:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 PM ----------

the barrel matches the reciever - 1931

I'm gonna leave it as is

[enbloc8]

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?

In 1931 Springfield was still making '03 parts, but doing very little assembly. Regular production had ended in 1927-8, and from then until the eve of Pearl Harbor it was assembling rifles for match and civilian orders--such as there were. With the US entry into the war, there was apparently a massive binge of assembling Springfield rifles from parts on hand. Ordnance policy at the time was to use up existing supplies of old-spec parts before switching to a new design, which helps explain why a rifle with such a late serial could wind up with a WW1-pattern stock. The Armory did not use up their supplies of leftover stocks from 1918-19 until right before WW2.

Large numbers of newly-made Springfields immediately went to second-line units and spent the war there...often not getting fired except for the periodic rifle qualification. As an example, I have a gorgeous 1903A1, with high serial number, mid-30s barrel and prewar C-stock, with an SRS trace to an antiaircraft unit in Newfoundland in 1943. It went through a rebuild program after the war (and the stock is marked accordingly), but there's no evidence anything on it was changed. From what I understand, if an arm came in for rebuild and was found to be already in spec, it was simply stamped (to indicate "it's been here") and sent back out. So, it's entirely possible your rifle spent the war in a similar capacity.

[Dalfort]

thats good info - this 1931 unit must have had light duty.

How do you know yours went thru a post war rebuild? Does a second circle P designate that?

I need to querry the SRS for info

[m1903rifle]

Nothing in SRS for that number

[Roadkingtrax]

I have a similar period rebuild. Old parts, with a new barreled receiver. J5 Bolt, and a mix here and there.

Hope to test her out this weekend!!!









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[Dalfort]

Nothing in SRS for that number

thats a bummer - the bolt may have been changed when it was preped for issue in WW11