SA 42 barrels

[rice 123]

I was told that in 1942 SA produced the SA 42 barrels so they could produce new 1903s using up left over 03 Receivers and parts. any truth to this? I always thought that the SA 42 barrels were produced for facilities like Ratain to overhaul existing 03s. I would think that in 1942 the only thing SA management would be thinking about would be putting out M1s as fast as they could. If it is true that SA did a run of new 03s in 1942 it would make a interesting variant

Information

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[Midmichigun]

Rice,
I have a barrel to prove that SA 42 barrels existance.
Don't know about producing additional 1903's. Interesting!!

[Mike D]

No new receivers produced, but there was plenty need for new barrels. Getting the new M1 rifle out might have been high priority, but during the war years ('42-'45), Springfield Armory produced parts for .50 and .30 caliber Browning machine guns, M1 Carbines, BAR's, M3 grease guns, and M1903's. Also, barrels for M1911-A1 pistols. They also rebuilt thousands of various small arms.

[Rick the Librarian]

Some M1903 sources have reported as many as 200,000+ M1903s assembled in early WWII, but others (of which I am one) feel this figure is MUCH too high - that most of the receivers were used during the inter-war period.

[Johnny Peppers]

With all the expertise that Springfield Armory had, they had a hard time producing replacement 1911/1911A1 barrels during WWII. The rejection rate was very high on barrels shipped out to the 1911A1 manufacturers and ordnance depots. On some lots virtually every barrel had to be returned for additional machining to fit correctly. In 1943 Ordnance transferred replacement barrel production from Springfield Armory to Flannery Bolt Company.

[Calif-Steve]

Springfield was very involved in M1 production in 1942 and no new M1903 receivers/rifles were produced. Springfield got out of the M1903 business around 1939. Two tool packages existed, one (RIA) went to Remington. The other tool package (SA) went off to Smith-Corona. Again the Garand was paramount and Springfield was busy making M1 Garands.

[John Beard]

I was told that in 1942 SA produced the SA 42 barrels so they could produce new 1903s using up left over 03 Receivers and parts. any truth to this? I always thought that the SA 42 barrels were produced for facilities like Ratain to overhaul existing 03s. I would think that in 1942 the only thing SA management would be thinking about would be putting out M1s as fast as they could. If it is true that SA did a run of new 03s in 1942 it would make a interesting variant

The last M1903 rifles assembled at SA were the 1940 NM rifles. No new receivers were made after 30 June 1940.

The SA 42 barrels were made as spare replacements for use in overhaul at arsenals and depots throughout the Ordnance system (plus the Navy and USMC).

J.B.