1903 Springfield "BushMaster"

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

During 1942 the 158th Infantry of the Oklahoma National Guard were stationed in the Canal Zone of Panama with this carbine style of 03. The mods were done by the ordnance shops in Panama, & did not have Parkerizing capability, so all the barrels were blued after being cut down to 18 inches. (Reference was from 'The Springfield 1903 Rifles' by Lt. Col. William S Brophy)
Does anyone know how many of these rifles were produced? Other than the obvious barrel and forward stock modifications, were there any other alterations done to this rifle. The book entitled 'Springfield Armory/Shoulder Weapons 1795-1968' by Robert Ball have some great pics of this rifle as well, but not much info. Any info would be appreciated. Here's a pic of a copy I found on the net:

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.

[Jim K]

Brophy is the source of most of the info out there, but he doesn't say how many were altered. We can't even determine a figure from the strength of the regiment, since there seem to be no evidence of what percentage of its troops were issued the shortened rifle.

Supposedly, they were all called in and converted back to standard rifles. Since the military generally did not miss many on a recall like that, and since a counterfeit would be easy to make, any "Bushmaster" for sale at a premium price should have solid documentation of its provenance.

FWIW, some folks feel that issue of those rifles means that there was a carbine version of the Model 1903, as there was with the trapdoor and Krag. But others (including the present poster) feel those were locally made and in no way a formally adopted "Model 1903 carbine."

Jim

[Chuckindenver]

said rifle was used in Combat, and givin its own model, you can find serveral combat pictures of this rifle, one is in the National rifleman in 1943 shows a troop aiming it in the brush.
stock used on the ones iv seen pictures of were grasping grooves, and the rifles had not sight covers. with a taller front sight.
there is a nother 1903 carbine. that never made production, i have a few pictures someplace, the sling swivle is set in the side of the stock, and the front swivle is also modified for the side, 18" barrel, with special sights.
the one o saw a picture of, had a brass plack on the side discribing it as 1903C carbine. experimantal trials rifle. or something to the effect, the RIA museum has a version of this rifle as well on display.

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

I do agree that any of these rifles sold as original had better come with documentation from a creditable source, as so with a lot of the variants of the 03, as their were a lot of copies made & past off as originals. A very healthy dose of skepticism should be used when purchasing any of these types of rifles. I don't believe this rifle could be called a variant of the 03 as well, as it was only modified & issued for the one purpose to the 158th. None the less, it would be nice to have at least a copy of this rifle if the 'spare parts' are found to assembly such a rifle.

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

said rifle was used in Combat, and givin its own model, you can find serveral combat pictures of this rifle, one is in the National rifleman in 1943 shows a troop aiming it in the brush.
stock used on the ones iv seen pictures of were grasping grooves, and the rifles had not sight covers. with a taller front sight.
there is a nother 1903 carbine. that never made production, i have a few pictures someplace, the sling swivle is set in the side of the stock, and the front swivle is also modified for the side, 18" barrel, with special sights.
the one o saw a picture of, had a brass plack on the side discribing it as 1903C carbine. experimantal trials rifle. or something to the effect, the RIA museum has a version of this rifle as well on display.

I didn't realize that their was an experimental model as well. Any pics?

[Chuckindenver]

i have a pic someplace, might take me a while, search the Cody museum, i think they have it on display,
as far as i know, all the busmaster carbines were destroyed, might be a couple floating around, but without a letter from Restone Ars, id say no.

[Jim K]

There were a few experimental 1903-based rifles made up at Springfield from time to time, and ten times that number that Springfield never saw. Every chopped up, bubbaized, hacksaw job at a gun show is either an experimental (usually a "super secret" one), an "air service rifle", or one of the "rare Bushmasters."

There are several pictures of the "Bushmaster", and Brophy shows three of them. I have never seen any credible evidence that they were used in combat, though some realistic "combat" pictures were taken during exercises in Panama. There are reports of one being used in Europe, but the evidence is slender.

Jim

[Chuckindenver]

hmmm, when shooting at and being shot back at, isnt that combat?? no matter the length..
i know they called some a police action, or security force op, but combat is combat.
ask the guys that were in the mix, ill bet they tell you it was combat. just my take on it.
i agree, alot of POS rifles sold on the net, gunshows , auctions being sold as a secret one off model, trying to fetch big bucks..i just chuckle and walk away.
every now and then, a real peice of history comes out of the woodwork.
thats how i found the 1922 SA in 22 Hornet, no story with the gun, just a price.
he had 2 Hornets, and a few other rare bits of history, if i was rich, they would be in my collection.

[A square 10]

id love to see more on these , id heard but dismissed the story as being a rareity id never see like the pederson device , do post anything you can find , this is an interesting discussion ,



as an aside wonder if this might show up with a 'gunshow' story after im dead ?




just so the ruemer doesnt start here - its not some experimental springfield , i converted an M1903A3-4gery to 22cal , it had issues , now its shootable , thanks to roy boones great machining of the insert , and an M22 bolt

[Chuckindenver]

awesome 22. im jealous..