Springfield Sporter

[Cosine26]

As shown in my original post, the NRA Sporter was sold with the standard cocking piece and the standard safety. The headless cocking piece and reversed safety could be ordered through the DCM for ~$6.00,as long as the supply lasted. The 1930 NM M1903 eliminated the headless cocking piece but the rifle could be ordered with the headless cocking piece as long as the supply lasted. ( I do not know if this option was offered on the Sporter). In 1936 the headless cocking piece was banned from "service rifle" competitions. There must have been a lot left in supply because I saw them advertised through surplus dealer in the 1950"s .
I have RM from the 1930 showing the results of the California State Matches and it is apparent that Sporters and Lyman 48 equipped NM M1903's were in use. These were NRA matches, not service rifle competition.
Great collection!
FWIW

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[reddogrun]

Wonderful collection
Are any of them cal.22
Rudy

[Herschel]

The M2 rifle in the photo would be a 22 LR cal.

[reddogrun]

It may be of some interest to note that the Armory stopped producing Sporters in 1930 due to complaints from the private sector. The complaint was that the government should not be in competition with the private sector.
I wonder if the private sector then turned around and purchased parts from the Armory after they filed the complaint.

[Ralph in PA.]

Very nice rifles. I had to go check my 1922 it is serial number 573 close but not consecutive.

[reddogrun]

That a fun detail to know
I wonder who has 572
I saw one post that appeared to be 571

[Cosine26]

Springfield Sporter Rifles
In 1924, citing the lack of proper bolt action sporting rifles, the Ordnance Department started assembling and selling the NRA Sporting Style rifle. Sale continued in to the early 1930's ( Brophy indicates 1933, Campbell indicates 1932) when it was deemed unfair for the government to be in competition with industry. The Winchester 54, The Remington 30S and the Savage 1920 were now available. Brophy indicates that spare parts for the Sporter were available through 1940 ; while Campbell indicates that spare parts were only available to original buyers after 1934
Several commercial activities offered 'Springfield' Sporting Rifles for sale.
R.F. Sedgley offered rifles built on M1903 actins for many years It is well known that most Sedgley Sporters were built on SHT M1903 actions which had been re-heat treated. Roy Dunlap who knew Sedgley's work, indicated that this only annealed the action and made them soft. He further indicated that under continued use the Sedgley sporters developed increasing headspace. He also indicated that Sedgley removed the original stamping including the serial number (This was before the National Firearms Act of 1934) so that they would not be recognized as SHT actions. Removal of the identification was standard among some custom rifle builders - see the Bob Owens built rifles in Crossman's Book of the Springfield" I do not know where Sedgley procured his SHT actions. Several other arms dealers ( Bannerman and several other smaller dealers) advertised "Springfields" for sale at ~ $15.00 each. I would tend to believe that these were SHT rifles that had been declared obsolete and sold for scrap. See the following ad extracted from the October 1932 American Rifleman magazine below.
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

F.C. Ness and Townsend Whelen often referred people to Sedgley for the re-heat treatment process when answering questions in the Dope Bag section of the American Rifleman. The Armory would not install new barrels on the SHT receivers but would replace them with new receivers.


Griffin and Howe offered custom rifles built on NEW Springfield actions. Some were offer with new actions an star gauged barrels. In common with Stoger, they offered to rebuild Armory Sporters to their specifications. G&H also offered to build these rifles on Mauser actions. Later on they offered to rebuild Winchester Model 54's to the owners or G&H specs. Rifles with NEW "Springfield" actions and star gauged barrels were offered as late as 1935. Again I do not know where these actions were obtained. The NRA Sporter had long since been discontinued.
Imgur: The magic of the Internet


From October 1932 American Rifleman.
Note that the as says "Genuine new U.S. Governing Springfield Receiver... "

Imgur: The magic of the Internet


From July 1934 American Rifleman magazine.
Note that ad states "Action and barrel genuine improved NEW government Springfield issue.
G&H offered thee rifles upt through August 1935
Again I do not know where G&H obtained these. I was never aware that the Springfield Armory ever sold directly to custom gunsmiths. I now that t one time an NRA member could purchase a M1903 and have I sent to one of the custom gun makers. These were listed as "off the shelf" ready for sale rifles. G&H would also re-build owner's personnel rifles. STOGER never offered the sale of off the shelf rifles-only to rebuild owners Springfield rifles
FWIW

[reddogrun]

I am impressed by the detailed information that you have provided. I also am thankful for the amount of time and effort it must have taken to share these important facts.
Can you provide the meaning of SHT such as [ type of steel] ?
I am also lost in the world of heat treating.
Did gunsmiths that went to R.F.Sedgley only want to anneal the SHT actions so they could machine them for customers requesting custom work. And then decided not to re-harden.
I cant get a grip on the why NEW Springfield Actions needed heat treating
It is apparent that a consolidation of this information is needed, but that undertaking would be a monumental project.
Thank You
Rudy

[Cosine26]

SHT =Single Heat Treatment (Low Number)
G&H did not re-heat treat, they evidently used either DHT or Nickel Steel actions.
Re Heating was designed to correct the defects of the SHT process and make the actions mored like the later DHT actions.
Armory would not install new barrels on SHT actions, so the alternative was to buy the barrel through the DCM and have Sedgley install it after re heatreaing the action.
I do not intend to enter the SHT discussion. That dead horse has been beat long enough.
FWIW

[reddogrun]

Thank you for the clarification and the upgraded steel
And I agree,The heat treat is a dead horse