M1903 dating 1915 with scope mounts

[Promo]

Find attached of my newest purchase, a 5 - 15 dated SA M1903. The rifle is equipped with scope mounts for the Winchester A5 scope (which will arrive hopefully soon, as I had it shipped seperately for security reasons). Please also note the carved trigger and the polished rails. Barrel is additionally marked "M40" and "P" hidden under the wood, front of stock is marked with a big S. Also, the mounted Lyman rear sight is the rarer 1000 yard version. Hidden under the wood the original finish is nearly perfect, see the pictures. Oh yeah, and the barrel of course is shiny blank .

According to the SRS list, this rifle is only 450 digits away from a block of 1915 dated Infantry Rifle Team M1903 NM rifles (with the last one 605.347, dated 24.11.1915). Could this be that there is any connection to those rifles (maybe a private purchase?) since all modifications on the rifle appear definately not new-age and the finish matches perfectly everywhere. Let me know your opinion on it!

ATB,

Georg

PS: For those who might ask themselves - sorry guys, it indeed came from the US as I couldn't pass up this one ..

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

It's also only 617 numbers from my 1915 National Match rifle!

[Mike Haas]

Rick - Thank you for not using your "Afgan" backgound with your pictures. Promos "Red Velvet" turned my "transitional" glasses into "welders goggles"

Nice rifles..

[Jim Tarleton]

Is that a CN1913 cartouche? Barrel date?

Nice find!

jt

[Promo]

RTL, how can one identify such an early M1903 as NM, except for the SRS list?

Mike, Sorry for the quality (or the background). I'll add some better pictures today when I get my Canon EOS back.

Jim, that is indeed a 1913 dated CN cartouche. The barrel date is 5-15, as described in my starting post.

[Rick the Librarian]

Open the bolt and look in the "raceway" (the track that the left bolt follows - a NM rifle should have it "in the white". Here's a picture. Naturally, after 97 years, the raceway is a little faded, but it should stand out. Also, the follower "rib" (if original) should be polished, as well.

[Claven2]

Intersting - I didn't know they built these on SHT receivers...

[JGaynor]

Intersting - I didn't know they built these on SHT receivers...

Well they didn't change the manufacturing process until well into 1917. The controversy over the safety issue raged on into the 20's. So not surprising that an early requirement for sniper rlfles would have been filled with low numbers. The near universal condemnation would not be part of the shooting experience for years to come.

Regards,
Jim

[Promo]

Sorry, took me quite some time to finally make better pictures of the rifle. But let the pictures speak for themselves.

[Rick the Librarian]

Just for fun, look on the front tang (just ahead of the floorplate) of the trigger guard. There isn't an "NRA" and ordnance "bomb" stamp0ed there, is there?