RIA Serials That Might Have Seen WW1 Service

[paratrpr]

Wondering what RIA serials might have seen WW1 service... I have RIA 311,xxx... my research shows it was manufactured in 1918, treaty was signed in Nov., was wondering if early '18 manufacturing might have made it over...thanks

Information

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[Jim Tarleton]

Pershing requested very early in 1918 that all troops be deployed armed. The thought was that is was a lot easier to ship weapons in the hands of troops than to ship each individually and mate them in France. The trip to France was approximately 10 days followed by weeks of training in most cases. It wouldn't take long for a rifle to get to a replacement and be shipped overseas. Probably a month to six weeks. Some divisions never made it to France, and many that did saw little or no combat.

There is a group at Redstone Arsenal that will trace the military issuance by unit of a 1903 throughout its military life. I think it costs $60 for the service, and the address is on the Springfield Armory website.

Jim

[Calif-Steve]

I thought troops were being armed with the M1917. Were they shipping M1903's to France in 1918?

[kragluver]

Most of the "regular Army" were armed with 1903s. My G-Grandfather served in the 3rd Artillery, 6th Division and they were armed with '03s - he shipped out in May 1918. The Guard and National Army (draftees) were primarily armed with the '17. Had the war lasted into 1919, most of the troops would have probably been armed with the '17 as they had far more 1917s available than 1903s. As it was, approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of the AEF were armed with 17s.

[John Beard]

Wondering what RIA serials might have seen WW1 service... I have RIA 311,xxx... my research shows it was manufactured in 1918, treaty was signed in Nov., was wondering if early '18 manufacturing might have made it over...thanks

Your rifle's receiver was serialized in July, 1918. RIA, however, was assembling only about 10% of their production - just enough to maintain validation of interchangeability. The balance of their production was turned into Ordnance Stores as unassembled spare parts.

If your rifle's receiver was one of the "lucky few," it would have been assembled to a complete rifle in late August or early September, 1918. So, it's problematical whether your rifle made it to France before the war ended. Statistically speaking, it didn't.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[paratrpr]

Thanks for all the info gentlemen. Regardless of whether it made the trip or not, I thinks it's cool to own a rifle that might have seen action in both wars or was at least in service during both conflicts. It's a WW2 re-arsenal that I've discussed in the past on this sight and received some great information as to whether or not it might be a Marine Corp re-build due to the sights, stock, Sedgley barrel, stippling, hatch hole and stamps... whether it is or isn't is incidental to my great admiration for the weapon and who ever carried it over it's 90 year history... what's really amazing is I won a John J. Pershing Memorial Springfield Match (WW1 Contemporary Rifle Category)... I shot okay, but the rifle shot amazingly. Real honor to own, hold, and fire such a piece of American history.

[John Beard]

Thanks for all the info gentlemen. Regardless of whether it made the trip or not, I thinks it's cool to own a rifle that might have seen action in both wars or was at least in service during both conflicts. It's a WW2 re-arsenal that I've discussed in the past on this sight and received some great information as to whether or not it might be a Marine Corp re-build due to the sights, stock, Sedgley barrel, stippling, hatch hole and stamps... whether it is or isn't is incidental to my great admiration for the weapon and who ever carried it over it's 90 year history... what's really amazing is I won a John J. Pershing Memorial Springfield Match (WW1 Contemporary Rifle Category)... I shot okay, but the rifle shot amazingly. Real honor to own, hold, and fire such a piece of American history.

If you have a Marine Corps rifle, then the odds of it being assembled and shipped to France just went up dramatically! Whether it got there in time is anybody's guess.

J.B.