Recently acquired 1903A1 Questions

[Valkyrie45]

Thanks to everyone for the information. I love learning more about US Military weapons. So by the SN chart recomended to me it appears this receiver was made late in 1937. With a SA barrel dated 8-42 and what was described to me as a WWII Type C stock would this rifle be considered to have been rebuilt during WWII, sometime later than WWII or did the receiver sit in storage until being built sometime after the 42 barrel date? I realize this would be purely conjecture but since the stock has no cartouches, etc. I was thinking it was not in the main war time assembly process. Could this one be one of the ones built for Sale?

Since the two 03 books I have, seem to be lacking in some information, what reference guide would you recommend? I have "A collector's Guide to the '03 Springfield" and "The Springfield 1903 Rifles".

Thanks Again.
Bruce

Information

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[John Beard]

Thanks to everyone for the information. I love learning more about US Military weapons. So by the SN chart recomended to me it appears this receiver was made late in 1937. With a SA barrel dated 8-42 and what was described to me as a WWII Type C stock would this rifle be considered to have been rebuilt during WWII, sometime later than WWII or did the receiver sit in storage until being built sometime after the 42 barrel date? I realize this would be purely conjecture but since the stock has no cartouches, etc. I was thinking it was not in the main war time assembly process. Could this one be one of the ones built for Sale?

Since the two 03 books I have, seem to be lacking in some information, what reference guide would you recommend? I have "A collector's Guide to the '03 Springfield" and "The Springfield 1903 Rifles".

Thanks Again.
Bruce

(1) It's possible that the S.A./8-42 barrel is original to your rifle's receiver, but not likely. Some of the very high serial number receivers (mostly above S/N 1529000) were originally fitted with 1942-dated barrels.

(2) As I recall, the WWII-era Type C stocks inletted for the '03-A3 barrel guard ring didn't appear until 1943 or 1944. So, the stock indicates your rifle was overhauled in the latter part of WWII.

(3) Your rifle was not originally built for private sale.

(4) A good reference book on M1903A1 service rifles has yet to be written.

J.B.