1903 Springfield "BushMaster"

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

awesome 22. im jealous..

X2...Kinda makes my little Ruger and Anschutz look boring...

[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.

You know, it didn't even click in the first time I read your post. Of course the front sight would have to be higher to properly regulate the rear sight elevation. I guess it pays to re read posts.

[sdh1911]

The actual Bushmaster had a longer stock on the bottom than the top and were built mostly on finger grooved stocks. I had talked to Bill B. about them in Connecticut in the 1980's he expressed the only true detector of that rifle would be discharge papers including the serial number. There are supposed to be examples? in Ft. Benning, Quantico and a very few other military installations whos names escapes me at this time, it was quite sometime ago. Not all of Bills Information in that book is written in stone, there are a few blatant mistakes in it, but, its still the best scribe on that topic.SDH

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

Going from Brophy's book, I know the original experimental carbine, from 1900 to 1902, had a longer stock (pg.83). But on the opposite page there are some photos with troops with the Bushmaster and the upper & lower stock appear flush to one another. I have misplaced by book by Canfield, so the only other reference I have right now is the Springfield Armory book by Robert Ball. The original carbine had a 20 inch barrel with no bayonet lug and a Lyman No. 48 rear sight modified to read yards instead of minutes. The sling swivels were also attached to the left side of the stock. The forward swivel being attached to the side of the band. The rear swivel appears to be the normal type.

[Danthe19Delta]

This is very interesting. I served in the 158th Infantry in 1958-60 when I transferred to the Regular Army and went to the 6th Infantry, Berlin Brigade.
In those days the 158th was part of the Arizona National Guard (as it was in 1940) They and the Okla Guard were activated together and sent to Panama, Then a number were sent to the Philippines and were part of Mac's force at Corregidor.

[DANCESWITHEMPTIES]

Just as a matter of interest, could you shed any numbers deployed to Panama? Or any good reference sites? Went to National Guard Site, found the history of the 158th. Unfortunately it was just a brief over view of the entire history of the 158, but nothing too detailed.

[sdh1911]

Excellent rifle!-SDH

[Jim K]

Well, there was no "shooting and being shot at" in Panama during WWII. Pics of the "Bushmaster in action" were PR photos taken during exercises.

Jim

[Danthe19Delta]

Yes, I can dig up a pretty detailed history of the 158th Inf. In fact they just got back from Iraq recently. (armed with different weapons though

[thelittlegreenguy]

Hi and sorry to dig up an old thread, just joined and was cruising thru the posts checking on some that pertain to weapons I have or want, when I saw this one.. I have a rifle that resembles the ones being discussed here.. never knew what it was just thought it was cool looking gun...

I have/had a nice 1903a1 rifle that I purchased when I was young ( 18 ) it was ok just a shooter.. nice stock and real clean but the reciver had a lot of pitting on it but it was refinished nicely.. I ended up selling it to a fiends wife, she knew he admired it and she wanted to get it for him for his B-day.. he was retiring from his job as a baliff so I gave in and sold it to her for a resonable price.. about $300.00 but this was back in 1999.. I had bought the gun for about $189.00 back when I was a kid.. figured it was fair.. but I had also picked up a 1903a3.. it's top stock is black plastic not wood, and the wood lower stock is glossy ( I figured someone finished it that way its not military ) it had a fixed rear peep sight on it, but it came with the correct rear militayr peep so I put that one back on.. it has a fromt sight shroud as well.. the front band doesnt have a boyonet lug.. I dont know if it was removed or if this is an aftermarcket front band.. I plan on getting a more correct one.. i dont hold any illusions that this gun has any great value beyond being a nice shooting .30-06..

now my last 1903 looks a lot like the picutres in the first post.. it has a "c" stock ( pistol grip type ) it has a shorter barell somewhere between 16-18" and the stock has been cut back and looks nice.. I will have to go get it out of the safe and look for a barell date ( if it has one ) I do remember the reciever is a Rock Island marked if that makes any difference I will get it out this weekend and take some pictures of it I will post them along with more information..

I wasnt really sure what it was or is.. have had it forever.. I never really shoot it much with the short barell and .30-06 cartridge it tends to clear brush in front of the muzzle when shot..and its LOUD.. otherwixe its interesting...