Springfield M1903 National Match Special?

[martin08]

martin08:

The Gunboards photos of 12651XX look to be a standard NRA Sporter, which is what I would expect from the serial number. 81 rifles in the serial number range comprising 1265100 to 1265197 are all listed as NRA Sporters in the SRS DCM book. 6 more are listed as bare receivers, and I would bet that they were all bare Sporter receivers, quite likely sent to custom shops of the day to be turned into custom sporting rifles..

I am not registered on Gunboards, so I can't enlarge the photos, but the thumbnails appear to show an everyday, garden variety Sporter, IF there is such a thing...................

Perhaps you could get the entire serial number from the owner, and we could confirm that?

HTH

I did message to get the confirmation from iskra of Gunboards that the Sporter SRS hit was not listed as NPM. Apologies for leading down the wrong path.

But is not the regular Sporter, as it does have the M1922 pistol grip and buttplate. A real fine looking gun, as well.

[relics6165]

But is not the regular Sporter, as it does have the M1922 pistol grip and buttplate. A real fine looking gun, as well.

martin08:

I think somewhere along the line one of us is confused about something..................either I am missing your point, or I'm thinking you are missing what an NRA Sporter actually is. The NRA Sporter was built by Springfield Armory with the 1922 pistol grip stock, and the 1922 butt plate, and it was called the NRA Model. I'm not sure if you are confusing some of the configurations of the 22 caliber Springfields (the 1922, the M I, and the M II) but the 1903 Springfield NRA Sporter Model (in 30-06) always had the 1922 stock and buttplate.

Perhaps, as I mentioned, one of the possible points of confusion is the 22 caliber Springfields....................I'm looking at a 1936 DCM price list, and in it they call the US Rifle, Caliber 22, M1922 MI an NRA Model, and show it with the 1922 stock and buttplate. While they were undoubtedly sold this way (I have one......) most in the MI and MII configuration were sold with a conventional 1903 Springfield appearing stock, with a pistol grip, and grasping grooves. The best way I can quickly describe this stock, is it looked like a 1903 pistol grip stock for the rear half, and a Sporter stock, with grasping grooves, for the front half.

Anyway, HTH.

Please let me know if I have confused you (or me) even more..................................

[martin08]

Confusion is on my end! So all info is appreciated.

As I am a collector of military firearms, this is my first venture into the specialized Springfield Armory (or private build) offerings, and the learning curve is steep!

[relics6165]

martin08:

If you are going to continue to venture into the world of 1903 Springfields, I am going to make one more (long) suggestion for you:

The best way to get up to speed on 1903s, other than these, and other forums that cover such rifles, is to find a copy of Brophy's The 1903 Springfield. The layout can be a little confusing to the novice, but once you get used to it, you will be glad you have it, and will find yourself referring to it frequently. Clark Campbell also wrote a nice 03 book. Poyer's book, and Harrison's, need to be looked at a little carefully, but can still be helpful at times. Some combination of these books will work for most collectors of the 1903 still in military configuration.

If you are going to dip your toe into the water of the 1903s that Springfield Armory put out through the NRA and DCM for the sportsman and target shooter, then you will need Brophy and Campbell, plus the books put out by Springfield Research Service (SRS). There are two different books, the first is Summary of DCM Rifle Sales 1922-1942, and it lists nothing but serial numbers of Service Rifles, National Match Rifles, Sporters, Target Rifles, Special Rifles, and bare receivers sold through the DCM before WW2. While it is not totally inclusive of all rifles sold by the DCM, this book can be (actually IS) worth it's weight in gold if you happen upon one of these types of rifles, that is either unknown, or improperly identified. The second set by SRS is Serial Numbers of Martial Arms, a 4 volume set, and again they simply list the serial numbers of arms that Frank Mallory found in the National Archives (and other places) during his research. IF you have a rifle listed in SRS you can write to SRS, and pay for, a letter detailing what was found about that rifle. This information can range from mundane to priceless.The only problems with these books, since they are worth their weight in gold, and they are out of print, is that they are quite hard to find, and are expensive!

If you ever make the mistake (and several of us have!) of becoming interested in the 1903s that were customized by the big name custom shops before, and to an extent, right after WW2, then the 2 volumes of Michael Petrov's Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century are priceless! They are also just getting ready to go out of print, but can still be found on the big internet auction site.

As I mentioned before, the Milsurp and other forums, can be quite helpful, but you need to be able to weave your way around incorrect the information that pops up from time to time, just as it always will in an open forum, even like this one. Join up, post lots of pictures, and ask lots of questions!

HTH

[martin08]

Thank you, again.

No doubt, if one is to seriously contemplate entering the specialized M1903 area of collecting, the investment in reference material is a must. Speaking for myself, when using only the web, I ran into much confusing information and nomenclature. Having purchased the rifle for $750, I knew that I wasn't going to get hurt. But if I was considering spending in the two, three, or four thousand dollar range or more, I wouldn't have had the confidence to pull the trigger

On the military configuration models, with a modest collection of eight specimens, I do have experience enough to stay out of trouble.

[martin08]

In what may only be considered as a major stroke of luck, I was able to speak to the former owner of this gun, a 91 year old retired Maine resident now living in Florida. His earliest memories of the gun were from 5-6 years of age in his father's gun cabinet. He inherited it in the 1950's, when he had the stock checkering performed and replaced a damaged handguard.

He doesn't recall ever seeing any paperwork for the gun, but (now the stroke of luck) he asked me for my address and sent the original rear sight! The parkerized finish is faded, except for the area underneath the slide.

[Rick the Librarian]

Great - you walk under a lucky star!

[Herschel]

If you decide to get a Clark Campbell book you should buy the The '03 Springfield Rifles' Era.
It is the last of his books and was copyrighted in 2003.