Re: Springfield 1903 NRA Sporter Inquiry

[oakfarm]

Listed on page#46 of summary oy DCM sales1022-42.I have #137095.Hope this helps,I do think 2500$ is too dollar.JMHO Lee W.

[Herschel]

Wolf,

My listed NRA Sporter #1367827 has a barrel date of 11-30. The barrel has a very noticeable star guage mark on the muzzle. I disagree with those who say most star guage marks were very lightly stamped. All six of my NRA Sporters have star guage markings that are deep enough to be readable even with some muzzle wear. The original bolt on #1367157 should be marked NS for nickle steel as nickle steel bolts were in use prior to 1930 and would have had the serial number of the rifle etched in electric pencil on the BOTTOM of the bolt. (Earlier NRA Sporter bolts were numbered on top so they would be readable with bolt closed.) This requires the bolt be looked at up through the magazine well to read the bolt sn or the bolt can be removed and the extractor rotated 90 degrees to see the sn. Late 1930's NRA Sporter replacement barrels were not star marked on the muzzle but had the star guage number under the barrel, as other posters have mentioned. The price of $2,500 for a listed NRA Sporter, assuming the barrel is star guaged barrel and the bolt is numbered to the rifle, could be a bargain depending on how much original blue is on the piece. It is possible that the original bolt was ground on the bolt handle for scope clearance. If this was done, a later owner in restoring the rifle might have replaced the bolt with a bolt that was not ground. This would look better but would detract from the rifle's value as it would not be numbered to the rifle. FWIW

[Herschel]

Lee, If the rifle you mentioned is an NRA Sporter you have left a digit off the sn.

[Chuckindenver]

that is on my DCM sales list as well, my NRA Sporter has the star very light, but its there,
mine also has the number on the underside of the extractor and not on the bolt itself.
for a nice original rifle, 2500.00 is a fair price, for one thats been restored, reblued or played with, modified, its a bit steep.

[Johnny Peppers]

This is a star gage record card for a new Sporter barrel. The star gage record number is a/335, and is found on the bottom of the barrel where it would be hidden by the forearm. The barrel dates to 1938, and does not have the star gage mark on the muzzle.

[Herschel]

chuckindenver, If I understand you, the serial number of the rifle is on the underside of the extractor. I have never looked there for a serial number but have never read of the bolt serial number being placed there. I have owned 10 or 12 NRA Sporters and have handled at least twice that many. And have observed the following. 1) The first NRA Sporters , circa 1923, did not have the serial number on the bolt. 2) The next placement location, through maybe 1929, was on the top of the bolt where it could be read with the bolt closed. 3) The last location was on the bottom of the bolt when the bolt was closed. What is the serial number of your rifle that has the numbered extractor? Thanks, Herschel

[Chuckindenver]

i have seen 3 examples of the extractor with the serial number, one was a fellow Jouster members bolt, that was sent to me to have the serial number put on, he thought the bolt was a replacement, WLK3 bolt if i remember right.
when i took it apart, i find the serial number on the underside of the extractor,
the 3rd one i saw was on a badly sporterized rifle, ground up original bolt, D&T,d about 10 times...cheesy stock, but it still had the guaged barrel, and in nice shape, with a sight sleeve conture..i almost picked it up. but 1000.00 was too much,
and it had both the bolt and the extracor serialed.
that made be belive that mabe, they replaced the bolt or the extractor or both on these rifles at one time. ya just never know.

[The Wolf]

Well, I took the plunge and bought it for $2500! I got my greedy little hands on it today, and immediately inspected it for a star-gauge mark on the barrel crown... none there. So, I CAREFULLY removed the stock (Ed B. said he'd kill me if I damaged any screws or the wood) and I found a star-gauged number on the bottom side of the barrel:

I
1659

Ed says this is an unusual star-gauged number. Anyone out there with additional thoughts/comments on the rifle would be greatly appreciated!

Best Regards from Virginia,

The Wolf

[Da CSP 1903shooter]

The serial number on the Springfield 1903 Sporter is as follows:

1367157, with an SA dated barrel of 1-31.

Best Regards from Virginia,

Lone Wolf

Sorry, Heres the correct information for you;


1367152SPT 061732DCM RIFLE SALES 1922-42
1367153SPT 052432DCM RIFLE SALES 1922-42
1367154SPT 103031DCM RIFLE SALES 1922-42
1367156SPT 042732DCM RIFLE SALES 1922-42
1367157SPT 112331DCM RIFLE SALES 1922-42

[sdkrag]

I have concentrated on krags for many years. I did manage to find a star gauged 03 years ago serial #1372748 with a 1929 dated star gauged barrel. I didn't realize that any records existed on NRA sporters. Any chance a kind soul would check my serial number to see if it floats to the surface. When i bought it it was in a hacked up stock. I have been shooting it for years mounted in a c-stock. My toughest job is keeping it. I have two teenage boys that like to shoot, especially fine rifles.