1903 Springfield new find.

[tubesaft]

Just aquired a 1903 Springfield ser# 1463498. Barrel is HS 5-44. No cartouche on stock. Has a regular rear sight along along with a Lyman 57SME peep. I can see a circle 7 and a R on the bolt. I know its not much to go on but I see no other marks. Stock and park are in very very nice shape, on a regular gun I would give it 90%+. Any ideas what I have? Thanks, Stretch

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[Lancebear]

Hey Tube,

Congrats...but if you want comments from the world's foremost M1903 experts, I'm not one but they are here, we need photos. Sounds like an interesting rifle, is there a mark on the barrel crown? What kind of stock do you have? See what I mean.....

Death to Tyrants,

Lancebear

[tmark]

Tube,

The barrel is a replacement made by High Standard. HS is a good barrel. The R on the bolt is probably Remington. The 7 most likely a subcontractor or inspector mark.

Is your rifle an O3 or an O3A3? USGI O3A3s have a rear peep sight (not to be confused with the commercial Lyman peep sight) towards the rear of the action. An O3 has the rear open sights just ahead of the receiver.

My guess is you have a mixmaster. Stock is most likely a replacement.

Thomas

[Rick the Librarian]

From the serial number, Tubeshaft has a 1934 M1903. The Lyman sight is a post-military add-on. Such modifications were normal when M1903s were common and relatively cheap.