1918

[Anson Chase]

I thoroughly enjoy this forum and thought to share my 1903 as so many have done. I also have questions that possibly membership can help advance what I think I know about this rifle.

I realize that it has visited Augusta Arsenal witnessed by the cartouche, “Hatcher hole”, replaced bolt and likely metal finish etc. I understand that rifles that cycled through a arsenal restoration were completely disassembled and usable parts randomly used to build rifles and this is likely one of those.

My questions: barrel date seems to dovetail with serial number, so how likely is the barrel original to the receiver? Barrel has a mirror bore so maybe the combo was left intact? The single lug stock is a curiosity as I might of thought that a second lug might have been part of the AA process. I know that Coyle was an early inspector but not clear on how late he may have inspected and if there is any chance this stock is original to the original build. My (wishful) thinking that possibly a clean rifle was turned in and in-turn received minimal changes at time of AA visit. Regardless, this rifle fits my need for a 1903 Springfield and is a very satisfying shooter…...all I can do not to add a couple of table spoons of Accu-glas to the barrel lug…...smile.

I welcome all/any reply’s and a big thank you to the folks that make the forum possible. tim

[RCS]

I am far from an expert on the 1903 rifles, but I would think that your JFC single bolt stock came from another earlier rifle. The handguard might be original as well as the barrel.

The bolt was used during WW2 rebuilds. Rather than installing another stock bolt, they just rebuilt and inspected everthing and then the rebuild stamp.

I have an early Rock Island single bolt stock with the L.T.T. inspectors stamp that they also did not install the second stock bolt

[togor]

That is a nice rifle. Probably not a collector's parts gun. If it were mine and I wanted to shoot it, I'd probably get a shooting stock and not risk splitting that one. The relief at the receiver tang is not generous.