Low S/N 1903

[LiamH]

I am cleaning up a 1903 low S/N 81619 which places it in 1905 Mfg. barrel is marked RA 1917. The bolt is stamped "B" It appears to be in pretty good shape except I think the barrel is leaded up a bit. The stock is original except it has been sporterised, sling and band hardware removed and the holes plugged, upper hand guard removed, and the butt plate replaced with a padded one. The gun belonged to friend who passed away several years ago and left to his wife. I would like to know if it is considered safe to shoot, and what it might be worth if sold.

Information

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[Milsurp Collector]

Some low number M1903s are safe to shoot, some have receivers made from brittle steel that can fail catastrophically if you have an unusual event such as a case failure or an overcharged round. There is no way to tell if your receiver is OK without risking destruction of the receiver. Therefore, many people choose not to take the risk, since there are many high number M1903 available to shoot.

The quote below is from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) sales page.

*WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” SPRINGFIELDS
M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous.

To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000, and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles.

In view of the safety risk the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all “low-number” Springfields. During WWII, however, the urgent need for rifles resulted in the rebuilding and reissuing of many “low-number” as well as “high-number” Springfields. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver.

CMP DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WITH A ”LOW NUMBER” RECEIVER. Such rifles should be regarded as collector’s items, not “shooters”.

http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/rifles.htm

If the metal on your rifle hasn't been altered it would be worth restoring by obtaining a replacement stock and handguard, with the associated metal.

[Rick the Librarian]

The barrel was made at Rock Island, and if you take a closer look, should be marked "RIA".

[Calif-Steve]

The barrel is worth more then the receiver. I would keep it as a "parts kit". Good receivers are around.

[RCS]

I have a few low numbered receivers with early barrels, wood and parts, all rebuilds nothing of value except to me. I would never fire these rifles with 30M2 or reduced loads/lead bullets.
I have used the 32 acp/32 S&W sub caliber chamber insert to shot some of these rifles at the local pistol range, some were very accurate !

[browningautorifle]

There are many here that laugh at someone chasing a serial number. I'm one that also buys because of low numbers. Or more to the truth, I have. I don't have them now. I think the old ones are special and even though they've been re-built and probably shot after I think it's retirement time for the old soldiers.

[RCS]

When I was an armorer, the lowest serial numbers always went to the 1st Sgt on down, always easy for them to remember their rifle number

[LiamH]

Thanks, The Barrel is stamped RIA, I just got in a hurry when writing about it without a closer look. It cleaned up pretty good I guess it had been stored dirty for Quite a while. I know it has been fired many times in the past without ill affect. Anyway it does not belong to me so I will pass on the suggestions to the owner.