Rarity of Original Pre-WW1 Service Rifles

[browningautorifle]

Exactly. Some seemed even morso.

[EdwardB]

Yes, beautiful rifles! And in great condition - especially the first example.

[Salt Flat]

Rick, I totally get it---The crisp finger grooves, beautiful color of the stocks and the metal work were done by people that would not compromise on quallity. These rifles are a pleasure to look at and to hold. I have a few rifles like that and I take them out occasionally just to to do so. It makes me think of all the people that worked on these rifles and of all the engineering and processes required to produce them. Fantastic! Salt Flat

[rayg]

Ricks rifes are top shelf. Here's the all original 4 digit one I have, All correct early issue built up by the arsenal using RB and 30-03 parts. Ray

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[Fred G.]

Wow, all Fantastic rifles guys! I'm green with envy...
I've got one four digit rifle that has been restored back to original configuration and so isn't in the same category of never being altered, even though it's in correct form now. However that doesn't count.

[RCS]

This rifle came from a very old gunsmith's estate sale in KY some years ago. Springfield s/n 160963 with a SA 2-07 dated barrel (nice bore too) all original nothing changed and still with the original no bolt stockAttachment 59886Attachment 59887

[Fred G.]

Great photos! Man, early no stock bolt rifles are tough to find. I'll bet the rest of that rifle is something to see too. Got any more photos?

[RCS]

Fred, I have a few but almost out of photo space. Attachment 59892Attachment 59893Attachment 59894

[Fred G.]

Wow. Even the trigger guard is an early one of the Rod Bayonet type.

[rayg]

There is something classic/majestic looking about the earliest 03's with their 1st pattern parts, boltless stocks and high profile hand guards. The Krag has that look to me also.

Anyway I can't resist not posting my early first year 03 again which was one of the first RI 1903 rifles produced after the Rod bayonet rifle that came off the line in normal production where the receiver and barrel dates match and was not assembled from RB and 30-03 parts but with mostly newly manufactured components. Everything is as it should be for a rifle coming off the line in the 1st few months of normal RI production of an 1903 rifle including a 1908 cartouched stock that's only cut for the split leg rear sight band. Here's a page from the "Springfield Model 1903 Service Rifle" by John Beard and C.S. Ferris as you can see the rifle serial number fits in there for 1907. It has a trials 1907 sling on it dated 1905. Ray

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