Need help identifying an '03 bolt

[RBruce]

Curved handle, single small gas relief hole. Markings on top of the handle are not clear. Punch mark and other small mark under the handle.

Information

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[Jim Tarleton]

Latter half of 1919 L5 SA DHT bolt. A very strong and desirable bolt in my opinion.

Jim

[John Beard]

I concur with Jim. w/L 5 bolt from 1919.

J.B.

[RBruce]

Thanks, Jim and John. I always appreciate your collective knowledge.

[Jeff L]

Looks like a 7 to me, not an L.

-Jeff L

[John Beard]

Looks like a 7 to me, not an L.

-Jeff L

'Tis indeed a "7". Springfield routinely used an upside-down "7" for an "L". One of the many little mysteries I had to unravel while negotiating my way through the steel lot codes.

J.B.

[bb1]

How do you find out about this kind of stuff? It looks like a garden variety Spgfld. bolt to me.
bb1

[John Beard]

How do you find out about this kind of stuff? It looks like a garden variety Spgfld. bolt to me.
bb1

'Tis indeed a garden variety Springfield bolt; one of dozens.

C.S. Ferris once brought to my attention that M1903 bolts were marked with a steel lot code. I looked in Colvin and Viall and confirmed his observation. It then became a matter of collecting data from original rifles to determine which bolts were made when. There were also some other clues I discovered that helped unravel some of the mysteries, such as the upside-down "7" being an "L".

Bolt steel lot codes are now conveniently tabulated on Vi Shooter's website.

J.B.

[Jim Tarleton]

I strongly recommend vishooter's site. It is the place for 1903 info in my opinion. I also thank vishooter for maintaining that site. I thank you, John for the bolt tables and thanks to everyone that assisted in putting it all together, even if one of you is from Texas. It has been a great help for people like me.

Jim