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    1903 Air Service Rifle on SRS?

    Does anyone know if the SRS tracks M1903 Air Service Rifles serial numbers? Can I post a serial number and if the rifle was built as an Air Service rifle and make a "hit"?
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    I don't know for sure, but here are my thoughts.

    Any ASRs that survived in that configuration at the end of WW I, were most likely subjected to re-inspection & refurbishment after the War. As a consequence, due to rapid technological advancements with machine guns and their application to aircraft, most all ASRs were rebuilt as a standard service rifles for inventory in armories. Therefore, very few, if any, existed for subsequent sale.

    DW

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    Any existing ASR would most likely have been purloined at some point. Mind you many 1903's were purloined, as evidenced by many examples of rifles that weren't sold in the configuration they are in presently.

    There are no Air Service Rifles listed as such in SRS.

    Jim

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Tarletonicon View Post
    Any existing ASR would most likely have been purloined at some point. Mind you many 1903's were purloined, as evidenced by many examples of rifles that weren't sold in the configuration they are in presently.

    There are no Air Service Rifles listed as such in SRS.

    Jim
    Jim, Look again, there are only three listed. See below


    860651 05 18PROOF TESTED
    860725AIR 012992SA SPAR 3988
    860825 05 18PROOF TESTED
    860881 052018DEEP BULLET SEAT TEST
    860921 010520RECEIVER SCRAPPED - C&R RIFLE
    860924AIR 012992SA SPAR 1060
    862054 050433NY STATE ARS GOVS ISLAND
    862069AIR 012992SA SPAR 1061
    862108 060618RECEIVER BATTLE SIGHT TEST

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    from what i read, most were in the 1918 serial number range. and had star gauged barrels.
    i belive RIA made a few as well, and has one on display at the museum.

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    Advisory Panel Jim Tarleton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Da CSPicon 1903shooter View Post
    Jim, Look again, there are only three listed. See below


    860651 05 18PROOF TESTED
    860725AIR 012992SA SPAR 3988
    860825 05 18PROOF TESTED
    860881 052018DEEP BULLET SEAT TEST
    860921 010520RECEIVER SCRAPPED - C&R RIFLE
    860924AIR 012992SA SPAR 1060
    862054 050433NY STATE ARS GOVS ISLAND
    862069AIR 012992SA SPAR 1061
    862108 060618RECEIVER BATTLE SIGHT TEST
    By gosh, I searched for "Service" and missed them. Thanks for the correction.

    Jim

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    The three listed are in the Springfield Armory Museum Collection. They're also mentioned and described in Brophy.

    I have the serial number and information on an Air Service rifle in a private collection. And it's in that same serial range.

    J.B.

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