Very strange, I have several pre-war 03's from good sources that have the opposite direction. I collected Springfields from the mid 1970's to 1993 when I had to sell of the collection because #2 son came down with spinal meningitis while having no insurance at the time. It cost me over 160 rifles, but, when all was said and done all the bills were paid and I still had a son and 3 1903 rifles. I'm not sure of the lug direction in war time guns, my apologies, if you wait a second I'll see if I can get the other foot in my mouth. The only reason I even looked at it was bask when they were affordable I would check and see the lug head on the right side looking for a #2 which indicated the gun was a DCM issued N.M. rifle and if correct it has the #2 on the lug, a number 64012 stamped on the base of the barrel with a star gauge number at the top, center of the barrel. There are exceptions to all rules this is not in stone because over the years DCM guns mated with the Military issued and things became a wee bit confusing. Sorry for being so long winded, I still love them, I just can't afford them anymore-SDH