1903 Serial Numbers

[bandook]

Brophy's book indicates that no new rifles were made after 1927. I assume that this means new rifles for the US Army regular corps.
The same book indicates that rifles were made through 1935 and after.
This confuses me a bit, as I have a rifle with a 1426xxx serial number which came in a scant stock marked RA-P. It has a 1-33 barrel date. The bolt and hardware all appear to be pre-WW2 according to what I have read. (As I shoot it, I have it currently in a type C WW2 stock cartouched OGEK).
Were rifles in this high serial number series put together at arsenals or facilities other than Springfield, possibly during WW2?
Information on this site seems to indicate that high serial numbers of this type appear on rifles owned by ROTC or University military organizations. I do not believe this was a civilian sale by Springfield, and I have owned it longer than the current block of CMP sales have been going on.
I have always been curious as to its origins, so I thought I'd ask.
Thanks

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.

[mark1]

No new receivers were manufactured after 1927. But due to the overage in stock the rifles were still assembled after that date.

[Calif-Steve]

Oh boy on this one. I thought SA stopped making new rifles as an adequate supply of rifles were on hand. However, new receivers were made for replacement, match competition needs and for sale. The Arsenal did not shut down but did indeed continue to make all parts for immediate use and for stockpiling needs. Perhaps John Beard could weigh-in on this topic.

[Rick the Librarian]

A fair number were made as low numbered receivers were scrapped.

[John Beard]

Brophy's book indicates that no new rifles were made after 1927. I assume that this means new rifles for the US Army regular corps.
The same book indicates that rifles were made through 1935 and after.
This confuses me a bit, as I have a rifle with a 1426xxx serial number which came in a scant stock marked RA-P. It has a 1-33 barrel date. The bolt and hardware all appear to be pre-WW2 according to what I have read. (As I shoot it, I have it currently in a type C WW2 stock cartouched OGEK).
Were rifles in this high serial number series put together at arsenals or facilities other than Springfield, possibly during WW2?
Information on this site seems to indicate that high serial numbers of this type appear on rifles owned by ROTC or University military organizations. I do not believe this was a civilian sale by Springfield, and I have owned it longer than the current block of CMP sales have been going on.
I have always been curious as to its origins, so I thought I'd ask.
Thanks

(1) Springfield Armory suspended assembly of new rifles in 1927. None of the military services, including the Army, had any further need for new rifles. But Springfield continued to manufacture almost all parts of the rifle, including receivers, as spare parts for use in overhaul. Newly-manufactured receivers were used to replace the receivers of low number rifles turned in for overhaul.

(2) The last receivers were manufactured in 1940 and exhibited serial numbers through S/N 1536285.

(3) Springfield re-tooled and launched production of the M1 rifle in 1937. As a result, they progressively suspended M1903 overhaul over the next several years and most M1903 overhaul work was transferred to other arsenals and depots in the Ordnance system. Springfield continued to manufacture spare parts, including receivers, but most of those parts were shipped to the other arsenals and depots.

(4) When the U.S. entered WWII, several thousand receivers bearing very high serial numbers remained unassembled in the Ordnance system. These were systematically assembled to complete rifles over the next year and issued for service. Your rifle was not likely one of those. The serial number is too low. A more likely explanation is that your rifle is a common arsenal overhaul or repair from the WWII period.

Hope this helps. Happy Holidays!

J.B.