"The Owner of the Vessel Could Not Give a Satisfactory Answer...."

[John Beard]

From: Commandant.
To: Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army

Subject: Springfield Rifle model 1903. Serial No. 470,868.

1. The Coast Guard has located Springfield rifle #470,868 on a civilian owned vessel which was boarded by a Coast Guard officer. The owner of the vessel could not give a satisfactory answer as to how he obtained this rifle, and it is believed it may have been stolen. The Coast Guard has no record of this rifle. It is requested that this office be advised whether there is any record of it in the War Department files.

By direction,

L.C. COVELL
Assistant Commandant.

CNH/hsp

Copy to:

ACUSHNET
Norfolk Div.

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.

[John Beard]

O.O. 474.1/6444
ORD-463

1st Ind.

ELK/etc

War Department, Ordnance Office, Washington, D. C., March 15, 1935 -
To: Commandant, U. S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.

1. You are advised that there is no record in this office of Springfield rifle, Cal..30, M1903, serial number 470868, which was located by the Coast Guard on a civilian owned vessel.

2. The serial number of the rifle referred to is being circulated to the various corps areas and major depots and the result of this inquiry will be communicated to you at a later date.

For the Chief of Ordnance:

A. S. Buyers
Major, Ord. Dept.
Assistant

[John Beard]

ELK/etc

April 4, 1935

Subject: Springfield Rifle, Cal..30, M1903,
Serial Number 470868.

To: Commandant
U. S. Coast Guard
Washington, D. C.

1. Reference is made to 1st Indorsement from this office under date of March 15, 1935, file O.O.474.1/6444-ORD-463, concerning the identification of Springfield rifle, Cal..30, M1903, serial number 470,868 which was located by the Coast Guard on a civilian owned vessel.

2. You are advised that an inquiry of the various corps areas and major depots does not reveal any information in regard to this rifle, and the records of this office do not indicate that it was legally disposed of by the Government.

3. It is requested, if possible, that the rifle in question be forwarded by express collect to the Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory, Springfield, Mass.

For the Chief of Ordnance:

A. S. Buyers
Major, Ord. Dept.
Assistant

Copy furnished:
C.O., Springfield Armory
Springfield, Mass.

[Jim Tarleton]

Wow, fishing with a 1903. Now that is versatility!

Jim

[John Beard]

ORD-463.

18 April, 1935.

From: Commandant.
To: Commanding Officer, ACUSHNET.

Subject: Springfield rifle #470868.

Reference: (a) Your letter to Headquarters, 1 March, 1935 (463).
(b) Headquarters letter to Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army, 7 March, 1935 (ORD-463).
(c) Headquarters letter to ACUSHNET, 18 March, 1935 (ORD-463).
(d) Letter from War Department, Ordnance Office to Headquarters, 4 April, 1935 OO-No. 474.1/6456

1. In connection with the finding of one U.S. rifle Serial #470868 mentioned in reference (a), the War Department advises that an inquiry of the various corps areas and major depots does not reveal any information in regard to this rifle, and the records of the War Department, Ordnance Office, do not indicate that it was legally disposed of by the government.

2. In accordance with Section 1317 of U.S. Code Title 10, any military equipment found in the possession of any person not a soldier of the United States may be seized by any officer, civil or military, of the United States, and shall, thereupon, be delivered to any quartermaster or other officer authorized to receive the same.

3. It is directed that you cause the arm referred to in paragraph 1 hereof to be seized and forwarded to the Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachussetts.

L.C. COVELL,
Acting.

Copies to:
War Dept. (Bu. of Ord.)
C.O. Springfield, Armory.

SAK/bsp

[John Beard]

OO-474.1/6456
SA-474.1/620

1st Ind.

CJW/gmm

Springfield Armory, Mass., Sept. 4, 1935.
To: Chief of Ordnance, War Department, Washington, D.C.

1. The firearm referred to herein has not been received by the Armory to date, and the matter is referred back to your office for any further action deemed necessary.

T. J. SMITH,
Lt-Colonel, Ordnance Department,
Commanding.

[John Beard]

O.O.474.1/6456
SA 474.1/620

2nd Ind. (on copy)

ELK/etc

War Department, Ordnance Office, Washington D.C. Oct.12, 1935 -
To: Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory, Springfield Mass.

1. No further action is considered necessary.

By order of the Chief of Ordnance:

A. S. Buyers
Lt. Col., Ord. Dept.
Assistant

[Bill Hollinger]

JB, these letters you post are the greatest! Seeing the time span between these letters sure makes a guy happy about computers, FAX machines and email. Thanks and please keep 'em coming!

[Bob Womack]

It is fascinating that the matter doesn't seem to be resolved and had to be referred back to C of O at the War Department, who seems to have relieved Springfield of responsibility for further action and dropped the issue.

Bob

[Rick the Librarian]

It looks to me that it was pretty dangerous to have possession of a M1903 if you couldn't explain where you got it. Woe be it if you got the rifle innocently from a legitimate non-government source (pretty normal in those days) and didn't have the paperwork!!