Springfield 1903 Sporter circa 1930

[M1903Guy]

Attachment 46369Attachment 46380Attachment 46379Attachment 46378Attachment 46377Attachment 46376Attachment 46375Attachment 46374Attachment 46373Attachment 46372Attachment 46371Attachment 46370Attachment 46381Found her on a used gun rack at a high end rifle store. She appears to have been a safe queen. I was able to get a Springfield Research Service (SRS) sales letter for her. It lists it as: Model 1903, National Match. Sold to: Capt. Milton Hill, Infantry, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, on August 15, 1930.

The stock has a firing proof (P in a circle, no serifs) ; it has a fine blued finish, the bolt is polished bright and electro-penciled with the rifle's serial number; the barrel is star gauged; bore pristine and it is fitted with a Lyman No. 48 sight. When I purchased the rifle the only thing missing was the sight apertures for the Lyman. Was able to get some on-line from Brownells. When they arrived I took it to the range and used a 25 meter zero target. You're looking at 20 rounds (1 box) of Federal national match ammo, fired from a bench (seated) with a padded rest. I don't shoot that well, but the group would have been smaller if I had better breath control.

Information

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[M1903Guy]

*I did a search for Capt. Milton A. Hill which turned up a notation about one Col. Milton A. Hill, Inspector General. His name appears on a list of 25 passangers being evacuated from Corregidor to Australia on a US submarine on May 3rd, 1942. I strongly suspect it is the same person.

[Rick the Librarian]

Now THAT would be interesting!!

I wonder if it could be a son? The same rank in 1942 as he was in 1930?

[Johnny Peppers]

Does the SRS letter show it as a National Match or a Sporter?

[Promo]

SRS list has it as being a SPT. Nice rifle Christopher! How much did you pay for it?

€dit: if you're looking for a closeby brother which comes with an additional barrel and want an NRA marked triggerguard for free ... US Springfield Model 1903 NRA Sporter : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

[ABPOS]

Another beautiful rifle!

[Herschel]

The 1903 NRA Sporters did not have NRA marked triggerguard assemblies. I have seen the listing of the 1903 Rifle that is described as NRA Sporter on gunbroker. I hope no one takes the listing, photos, etc. as evidence that the NRA marked triggerguard assemblies are correct for the NRA Sporter. Congratulations M1903Guy for finding a fine example of the NRA Sporter. Rank came slow in the 1930's Army. I believe the CPT that was evacuated on the submarine would be the original purchaser of the rifle.

[M1903Guy]

Good evening Gentlemen, I'm in the process of moving so my reference materials are spread across several locations at the moment. However, my SRS letter does identify this rifle as an NRA Sporter. Also. Captain Milton A. Hill of 1930 was indeed Colonel Milton A. Hill in 1942. In fact Brigadier-General Milton Abram Hill retired in 1946. What I've been able to find so far:

1939 - 1941 Col. Hill was Commandant, General Services School, Philippine Army.
1941 - 1942 = Inspector, HQ U.S. Army Forces Far East.
1942 - 1943 = Inspector General U.S. Army North Africa Theater of Operations
1943 - ??? = Inspector of Training, Infantry Replacement Center, Camp Roberts (largest US Army Base of its day).

[Promo]

Herschel, I didn't say that the NRA sporters did have that magazine guard, it's just a nice add-on to turn an old M1903 into a nicely NRA purchase rifle . After all, it sold a bit above $ 1000, quite cheap if you consider that the last NRA triggerguard sold for more than $300 on eBay, $700 for a NRA sporter is rather at the low end.

Christopher, I hope you make notes to every rifle you have. Great to be able to tell who had the rifle and aswell of the life of this person!