Rock Island Arsenal

[ArtPahl]

What ever happened with Rock Island Arsenal. I read an article in the American Rifleman magazine about the International Harvester Garands and it was noted that a main reason the contract was awarded to them was to spread out the production of rifles from the east coast. Rock Island is certainly in the mid-west.

I know they quit producing 03's in the early 1920's but it was an extensive facility: Was it dismantled by the 1950's?

Information

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[Fred G.]

The Rock Island Arsenal 1903 making machinery and tooling were acquired by Remington for their production of the 1903 rifle.

[Flying10uk]

I have a WW2 dated 1903A3 with the stock marked R.I.A., WW2 style of stock. I assumed that the stock was made in the Rock Island Arsenal factory or did Remington still mark the stocks R.I.A. even when they were produced elsewhere in another Remington factory? I don't think that the receiver has this mark but has another marking; I will have to check on the rifle as I haven't looked recently.

[RCS]

Attachment 68062Attachment 68063

It is my understanding that the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island Illinois is still in operation by the US Army, please feel free to correct me

Photos show a few early four digit rifles manufactured by Rock Island

[ArtPahl]

I was aware that the 1903 rifle manufacturing equipment was transferred to Remington in the 1940's.

I guess my question becomes: If Rock Island is/was a going concern (or had that potential) in the late 1950's, why was it not tasked with the manufacture of Garands rather than awarding a contract to a farm equipment manufacturer?

[Calif-Steve]

Rock Island makes artillery pieces and has an impressive museum on post. I think they wanted commercial production of the rifles. It would have been too easy to have RIA go into production, but that was not done. Springfield did stay in production and helped International Harvester with their numerous production problems.

[JGaynor]

I have a WW2 dated 1903A3 with the stock marked R.I.A., WW2 style of stock. I assumed that the stock was made in the Rock Island Arsenal factory or did Remington still mark the stocks R.I.A. even when they were produced elsewhere in another Remington factory? I don't think that the receiver has this mark but has another marking; I will have to check on the rifle as I haven't looked recently.

More than likely it was a post-war rebuild inspection stamp. Did the mark also include the initials "FK" or "EB". I believe Reminton manufactured some A3 stocks themselves and obtained most of the other from subcontractors like Keystone, American Bowlng Pin and Milton Bradley.


In 1913 rifle Production was shutdown at Rock Island. However great care was used in storing the machinery and tooling even to the point of wiring cutters and tools to the relevant machines and preserving samples of each piece as it looked before a operation was performed and also immediately thereafter. WW1 Production was resumed at RIA but a major problem was rehiring the skilled machinists and tool makers.

Springfield Armoury, Rock Island and Remington were all relatively old-fashioned plants that derived there motive power from overhead shafts powering tools with leather belting. By WW2 more modern machines had to be acquired for M! production and to produce A3's at LC Smith Corona Typewriter.

[Randy A]

Post war RIA rebuild, stamp should be on the left side of the butt.

[Rick the Librarian]

RIA/FK is a WWII rebuild or inspection stamp - Frank Krack (FK) was the chief of small arms inspection.

From 1946-58, Elmer Bjerke held a similar position and inspected rifles were marked RIA/EB.

[Detroit-1]

I have been to the Rock Island arsenal and it is still running. It's on a island on the mississipi river. Great museum.