New to me 1903

[browningautorifle]

but almost impossible to know if parts were mixed by an an arsenal overhaul, by an armorer in the field, or by a collector. To me, it doesn't matter.

Agreed, they shoot great.

[Mike_S]

You will have a lot of fun, even if it is a part's queen. In many cases the mix of parts is part of the service life - but almost impossible to know if parts were mixed by an an arsenal overhaul, by an armorer in the field, or by a collector. To me, it doesn't matter. It's all part of the life of an amazing piece of history, and does not in any way diminish the pleasure I feel in a live, historical experience holding wood in hand at the firing line letting my imagination run. My kids and I like to invent stories for how every little ding, scrape, or mixed part made it on the rifle. It's all part of the fun and enjoyment of keeping these rifles going.
Just my 2 cents. Let us know how it shoots!

I'm ok with a parts queen - kind of like the 429 SCJ Torino out back (figuratively, though I did have one at one time) with the shaker intake with no matching numbers, but all NOS replacement parts - still runs down the road with authority!

Glad to hear you say all that, it's how I choose to romanticize historical objects - there are so many paths a story can go.

Probably wont be for a bit, but I will certainly provide a range report when I have one.

[m1903rifle]

Not sure where you are getting that the barrel and receiver match. The receiver dates from 1915/16 and is a "low number" which most people recommend not firing.

[Mike_S]

Not sure where you are getting that the barrel and receiver match. The receiver dates from 1915/16 and is a "low number" which most people recommend not firing.

I'll tread reasonably lightly here - what makes you think this has a low serial number? I don't see anywhere in this thread where the serial number is typed out, and at this time, for me anyway, the pictures I posted that might have shown the serial number are "content unavailable". So how did you surmise your fact?

I never said the barrel and receiver match, what I said was is seems the receiver serial number and barrel (stamp) are indicative of same year of manufacture - by the same armorer.

The serial number is, in fact, 1313961, that being a little bit above the 800,000 mark, I am led to believe it is far enough away from "early serial number" to be a fun shooter. But, I am totally new to the M1903 game, and as such, admittedly know less than a little.

Thank you so much for your supposition of fact not in evidence.

[m1903rifle]

Sorry....my apologies. The picture showing the serial number is from RCS's post. I starting looking at your pictures and kept clicking on the right arrow and the Springfield M1903 with the 600K+ number showed up. I didn't know it would do that.

[Mike_S]

Sorry I reacted quickly and sharply, my wife says I need to work on that. I just hate being the newbie and getting trounced on.

Anyway, by the time I am done, my embellished story should include Audie Murphy and Sgt. York!