Early Rock Island 1903

[RCS]

Joe, I am not an expert on these early 1903 rifles - but your Rock island s/n 27686 appears to be original to me. The Conrad Nelson 1908 cartouche
on a stock without cross bolts is very early and quite rare. I sent an email to John Beard about your post on this forum, Mr Beard is the expert on
these early Rock island rifles and I hope he will see your photos and post some comments.

[Joe Hardin]

RCS
I appreciate your effort .
Hope we find something out.

[rayg]

Joe, I am not an expert on these early 1903 rifles - but your Rock island s/n 27686 appears to be original to me. The Conrad Nelson 1908 cartouche
on a stock without cross bolts is very early and quite rare. I sent an email to John Beard about your post on this forum, Mr Beard is the expert on
these early Rock island rifles and I hope he will see your photos and post some comments.

I agree! Can't wait for John's opinion, Ray

[Joe Hardin]

Ray here are some full picts. Hope this helps.

[Joe Hardin]

Here are a couple more picts

[rayg]

Thanks, can't tell if it has a stock cartouche in my photos, picture dark, also if you get a chance pls show the underside of the sight base which should not be solid., Ray

[Joe Hardin]

Ray the stock cartouche is hard to pick up on my camera. I have a decent pict of it in the first photos I posted.

[rayg]

Yes I see it, I missed it in the first photo thanks, it has the early correct 08 date. Now all you need is to show the split leg rear sight band to show it's overall correctness. Nice rifle and one of the very few still in existence remaining not updated. Congratulations, Ray

[Joe Hardin]

Ray can you please send me a pict of what you mean by a split leg rear sight band. I am sorry but I don,t understand.
Thanks

[rayg]

The rear sight base under the wood is not solid but open and is commonly referred to as split legs. See photo's # 2 and 10, of the base's on this thread.