1911 made 1903 NRA Sales rifle questions

[ralfus]

Our store recently took in a customized 1903, serial number 480557. NRA marked trigger guard. Lyman 48 first variation sight with long slide. J1 bolt. Replacement star gauged barrel, marked SA 4-22, marked "6041" in small numbers on the underside ahead of the rear sight. Unertl bases on barrel and receiver ring. Still retains the original rear sight. Marbles bead blade applied to front sight base.

Has a very nicely made custom stock. Reminiscent of a Griffin and Howe style stock of the 20's or 30's. Problem is the wood was allowed to badly dry out at some point and is badly checked plus a piece of the schnabel tip is busted off. Inletting appears to be done all by hand and must have been a beautiful stock when new. Wrap around point pattern checkering in decent shape. The stock has many issues but still begs to be reinforced and fully restored.

I took pics but left the camera at work. I will post the pics tomorrow.

Would SA have replaced the barrel in the 20's or was it most likely supplied by a gunsmith? How loose was the supply of star gauged barrels back then??
Was this likely originally a NRA sales rifle?

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[eb2151]

The 1903 SA you are talking about probably started out as an "NRA",I have one very close to that serial number.
A barrel replacement for a shooter 12 years + later is plausible. SA was always willing to do work on your Springfield ,for a fee.
Pictures would make it easier as you stated.
Ed Byrns

[Calif-Steve]

SA sold those barrels to the shooting public. Not sure, they may have mounted it, as well. JB will know more then me. A nice barrel for a nice rifle, fits to me. Not sure who could/would be right to help. Chuckindenver is my go-to guy. Good luck.

[ralfus]

[Michael Petrov]

I do not recognize the maker but well worth restoring. Not many folks left on the rear sight collar and sight after the teens. An interesting early custom sporter worth saving.

[Calif-Steve]

High-end rifle. Well worth saving. You need Michael Petrov to recommend the right guy.

[John Beard]

Your rifle was definitely once an NRA sales rifle. The replacement barrel was almost certainly installed by a private gunsmith. Springfield Armory would not likely re-barrel a rifle which had been significantly customized.

Michael Petrov is our resident authority on high-end custom sporters. I defer questions on those matters to him.

J.B.

p.s.,

Does a small alphabetical letter appear adjacent to the star gauge number? Please identify if so. (it might be a sideways "s"). Thanks!

[Calif-Steve]

JB- question. Did SAsell star gaged barrels mail order? Was it a problem to buy one at the Perry during the matches? Just wondering.

[John Beard]

JB- question. Did SAsell star gaged barrels mail order? Was it a problem to buy one at the Perry during the matches? Just wondering.

I can't be certain, but I believe that the DCM did indeed sell standalone star-gauged barrels via mail order. And assuming that they did, then the barrels were most assuredly available at Camp Perry.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Johnny Peppers]

I don't believe it was until the mid 1920's that Springfield advertised every part for the NM rifle through the DCM, but that is not to say that they didn't sell those parts previously.