1903 NRA sporter help

[Guyonabuffalo]

Hello all,
I'm new on this site, but I kept browsing all the information so I figured I might as well register. I recently acquired a 1903 from a guy locally for a rather low price that I had planned on turning into a hunting rifle. After admiring my new rifle for a few days, I decided to do some research on it because of the shorter stock. It has the "P" stamped on the stock, star stamp at the 6 o' clock position on the end of the barrel. I'm looking for someone who can confirm that the serial number is infact an NRA sporter. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Garrett

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Promo]

Post the serial and we'll check. Does it have the Lyman 48C rear sight? And does it have a serial number electropenciled on the bolt?

[Guyonabuffalo]

Post the serial and we'll check. Does it have the Lyman 48C rear sight? And does it have a serial number electropenciled on the bolt?

Serial: 1294982, yes it is electropenciled with the sn on the bolt and yes it does have the Lyman 48 c sight.

[Johnny Peppers]

Your serial number is indeed a Springfield Sporter. Does it still have the original curved steel buttplate? The stock is flat, but the back of the buttplate is curved.

[Guyonabuffalo]

It's not the original just a padded one but everything else is in great shape

[Promo]

Post some pictures of it! And do not turn it into a hunting rifle, rather sell it and of that money buy a brand new rifle

[Guyonabuffalo]

Well thank you for the help promo you saved a nice piece of history! I'm glad, I decided to do a little research now.

[Promo]

You might want to know the complete SRS entry...

1294982SPT 081029DCM RIFLE SALES 1922-42

This means it was sold on 10th of August 1929. So if it's still the original barrel, it should date prior to this date!

[Guyonabuffalo]

Can the cpm provide anymore information that's worth while? I may sell it but I still would love to know any history I can about the rifle (out of curiosity)

[Rick the Librarian]

The CMP might be able to give you the basic information you have from Promo's post above. You can write to Springfield Research Service (the organization that has the information), and you can probably get a copy of the receipt showing who the rifle was sold to. Doing it is a little costly and time-consuming. You have to subscribe to their magazine, which I believe is $35 a year and pay something like $50-75 for a letter of authenticity and a photocopy of the receipt.

By the way, your receiver originally started out at Rock Island Arsenal in 1919. Virtually all receivers with serial numbers in the 1,289,000-1,301,000 range were made off of forgings and blanks from Rock Island Arsenal, which produced M1903s from 1904 to 1913, and again, from 1917-1919.

Here's a picture of my NRA Sporter, which was modified by Griffin and Howe, sometime in the 1930s. Serial number 1,295,379.