Possible USMC 1903?

[John Beard]

For those who may be interested, here are some hard verifiable numbers and observations:

Total quantity of low number rifles manufactured: 1,085,000

Total quantity of low number rifles issued to Navy, USMC, and sold to NRA members, etc: probably no more than 100,000

Total quantity of low number rifles remaining in the Army: 1,085,000 – 100,000 = 985,000

Total number of low number rifles scrapped by the Army after 1927: approximately 250,000.

Total quantity of low number rifles remaining in Army inventory at the beginning of WWII: 985,000 – 250,000 = 735,000

The Army incurred combat losses during WWI. So the actual quantity was somewhat lower than 735,000, but still very substantial.

Richardwv’s assertion that the CMP Greek low number rifles were almost all USMC issue is erroneous. I worked at the CMP and saw hundreds of Greek low number rifles. Indeed, one of my jobs was to grind off the striker points so the low number rifles couldn't be fired. A few Greek low number rifles were USMC issue, but most were not. I had trouble finding one to buy.

For what it's worth.

J.B.