+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Late Model 1903 barrel dates

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member cpc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 03:19 PM
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    100
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:55 AM

    Late Model 1903 barrel dates

    Hello, I have come accross a very late M1903 SA SN 1535XXX .. don't know the rest of the serial number because the pictures received were very blurry. owner states it has a X-41 SA barrel. He cannot read the month... the rifle is in very good condition so I have no reason to believe it is not in the original condition he received it in in the 60's. I've checked my old stand by references but 41 appears to be to late of a date for the rifle .. any comments/advice to look for. My guess it should be about an 8-39 but I expect that there are exceptions to any rule during this time frame. I intend to take a look this weekend. I know the seller and all of the firearms sold in the past have been mint and very collectable - so this is not a recent CMPicon/humped up rifle.

    regards,
    CPC
    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.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member Mike D's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 07:18 PM
    Location
    South Carolina
    Age
    48
    Posts
    825
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:55 AM
    Very late, indeed. Could have been a spare receiver and not assembled until later. Would be cool to own just 'cause of the serial #.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Advisory Panel
    Rick the Librarian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Last On
    04-09-2023 @ 08:59 PM
    Location
    NW Washington State
    Age
    74
    Posts
    2,301
    Real Name
    Rick Slater
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:55 AM
    Some very late receivers were kept as "spare parts" and assembled after the start of World War II at one of the arsenals. If you can share any other markings or features. we might be able to tell you more. I agree owning a rifle would be interesting because of the high serial number. The highest documented Springfield M1903 was in the 1,536,000 range.
    People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

    --George Orwell

  6. Thank You to Rick the Librarian For This Useful Post:

    cpc

  7. #4
    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    10-01-2023 @ 12:52 AM
    Posts
    2,508
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:55 AM
    Rick is right. The last receivers were produced in 1937-1938(?) and held in reserve. A 1941 barrel is unusual, so the deal depends on price.

  8. #5
    Advisory Panel
    Rick the Librarian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Last On
    04-09-2023 @ 08:59 PM
    Location
    NW Washington State
    Age
    74
    Posts
    2,301
    Real Name
    Rick Slater
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:55 AM
    Close, Steve - Fiscal Year 1939 IIRC.
    People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

    --George Orwell

  9. #6
    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    10-01-2023 @ 12:52 AM
    Posts
    2,508
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:55 AM
    Rick: Quick question. Did Springfield actually make receivers in 1939 or did they finish forgings from stock? At some point (1938-39?) Springfield had to convert over the '03 forge line into the Garandicon forge line. These late finished receivers then went to various Depots for their use, as Springfield was effectively out of the '03 business by 1939. Correct?

  10. #7
    Advisory Panel
    Rick the Librarian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Last On
    04-09-2023 @ 08:59 PM
    Location
    NW Washington State
    Age
    74
    Posts
    2,301
    Real Name
    Rick Slater
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:55 AM
    Steve,

    I hauled out my copy of William Brophy's Arsenal of Freedom: The Springfield Armory, 1890-1948 (which is what I should have done in the first place) and found the following:

    Fiscal Year 1939 (July, 1938-June, 1939): Springfield Armory produced 7,740 "receiver assemblies" for the M1903.

    Fiscal Year 1940: 8601 "receiver assemblies" for the M1903, plus another 1426 NM assemblies.

    Now, the "catch" in all this is that the description says, "...the following items have been manufactured and altered. You would be left with an incomplete idea of what had been (apparently) rebuilt. I'd be willing to bet that most of the "receiver assemblies" if newly manufactured, were in the 1939 end of the fiscal year, not 1940.

    All sources I have read state that Springfield continued receiver (not rifle) production for the M1903 through 1939. They continued to make replacement parts at least through 1944, so the Armory wasn't "out of the M1903 business" until then.

    According to Brophy's book, the first year that NO M1903 receivers were made was FY 1941.

    Although slightly off the subject we are discussing, many people firmly state that Springfield made no more M1903s after 1927. Yes, and no: They continued to make thousands of receivers and other parts through 1939 (for receivers) and 1944 for other parts. A large number of these parts were assembled into rifles, either at Springfield or at the other arsenals.
    People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

    --George Orwell

  11. #8
    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    10-01-2023 @ 12:52 AM
    Posts
    2,508
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:55 AM
    This deserves a whole new string. Springfield halted SERVICE RIFLE in 1927 but made many, many NM rifles nearly until the 1940's. Huge debate over this entire matter. However, not many 1939 or 1940 barrels are around and the rifle in question appears to have that going for it.

  12. #9
    Advisory Panel
    Rick the Librarian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Last On
    04-09-2023 @ 08:59 PM
    Location
    NW Washington State
    Age
    74
    Posts
    2,301
    Real Name
    Rick Slater
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:55 AM
    Actually, the number of National Match rifles, as a percentage of receivers manufactured was relatively small. For example, one of the fiscal years I quoted, 1939, Springfield made 7,740 "receiver assemblies" and only 710 NM rifles. In FY, over 29,000 receivers were manufactured.

    The real disagreement seems to be how many spare receivers were "on hand" at the start of U.S. entry into WWII. Some, like Clark Campbell, insist there were something in the neighborhood of 200,000 spare receivers. Others, such as John Beardicon (to which I would add my agreement), say the number of spare receivers was relatively small.
    People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

    --George Orwell

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Very late Eddystone Model 1917
    By eldowerks in forum Pattern 1913/1914 and M1917 Rifles
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 04-15-2010, 01:46 PM
  2. Does anybody else like late model features?
    By truckboy in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 35
    Last Post: 10-21-2009, 11:38 AM
  3. Correct Inland receiver and barrel dates
    By shamrocks in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 03-11-2009, 09:12 PM
  4. Late Inland barrel band- JI
    By Bufordm1 in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-10-2009, 10:34 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks