Rock Island Arsenal M1903

[bigduke6]

Picked this up yesterday at an arms fair, its nice condition better than the one i bought few months back.
anyone have any info ? with it being a low serial no 31197 is the receiver ok? barrel looked like new after a clean, it is a nice example, barrel dated 18, has had the stock replaced everything else looks ok have put some pics below will get more tomorrow camera run out of steam by the time it was charged had run out of light.

Information

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[stripper clip]

Looks like a nice M1903 with the pictures you attached. The low number Rock Island rifles can be safe to fire, but caution is usually the rule of the day. It has never been fully established that all low number M1903 receivers will fail at some point or other, and there is also the chance they might too. Therefore one is faced with pot luck. Although full power loads might be fine to shoot, a reduced load of powder might be a wise choice if the rifle will be fired. Good luck with fine Springfield.

[Jeff L]

Nice. Almost looks like a Remington stock though. My 2 cents.

-Jeff

[Lancebear]

Hey Big,

Always enjoy your posts. Looks like you found an interesting '03. Looks like it has fine rework park.

Is the barrel also RIA? Guessin' maybe SA? Is your Stock a straight one probably with no grasping grooves? Looks good so far.

Low number yes...and you will get a few posts about not shooting it at all. But if it is in good solid condition and you choose to shoot it with military surplus ammo or low power handloads, I'd do it. Up to you, only a handful ever blew and there were extenuating circumstances involved.

Funny that there appear to be no graduations on the rear fixed sight base.

Looking forward to seeing more pictures. You usually have a fine eye for the rifles that you purchase.

Can you inform us about the details of your "Arms Fairs"?

Journalism is dead in the U.S. so we have to ask if it is alive anywhere else.

Death to tyranny,

Lancebear

[bigduke6]

Thanks guys, See more pics in other thread.
Lance when i say "arms fairs" dont think they would compare to anything in the U.S.A.
They are more " Antique Arms and militaria" collectors fairs, the one in question was at Birmingham on sunday and i would say is one of the biggest in the UK and is on around 4 times a year, most stuff is Antique arms, de act weapons, medals, uniforms, bayonets etc, not many dealers with "live weapons " and was only by chance the dealer had this.
we have smaller local ones but these are not what they used to be, i try to get to any when i can, and its not often i walk away with nothing,
sunday was an expensive day,
i walked out with the M1903, 3 Martini Henry Mk 1V rifles, a Lee Metford bayonet, 2 cap badges and a group of medals.
The Martini,s were from Nepal and covered in storage grease, it was a lucky dip on what was underneath, i didnt do too bad (one had a cracked butt), first time they had seen the light of day for over a hundred years was sunday afternoon.(will put some pics on Martini section etc)

[Rick the Librarian]

I have a IMA Martini-Henry Mark II (Yes, I watched Zulu numerous times and just HAD to have one!!) and have been tempted to order one of the non-cleaned ones.

[Lancebear]

Hey Big,

Please disregard my stupid comment about the rear fixed sight base. I can be an IDIOT sometimes. Rick says Remington M1903 stock...gotta' like that. Luv them M1903's. Nice rifle.

Death to tyrants,

Lancebear

[bigduke6]

Dont worry Lance,
i am a great beleiver in the old saying
"the man who never made a mistake never made anything"