M1903 late SA 12-36 serial

[cplstevennorton]

I used to think it was a trait of Match rifles as well, but the more I investigated it, it's present on all late Springfield Receivers, match or not. LT1 is correct on that. I think now it was just a hardness test on the receiver, done by Springfield.

The weird thing is, I've seen many of them on Low Number and RIA Marine Rebuild Rifles as well. Some have been very early serials. So I also think the Marines or Navy might have done it for a short period of time somewhere probably around WWII when all those changes were happening.

[Hambone]

I think it is present on my RIA / SA receiver build SA/JFC. I think it would be great if someone could find out definitively what those punches meant and who did them. We know that on certain German rifles smaller punches indicate assembly or rebuild.

[Randy A]

I don't think the barrel is late for the S/N. my 1475333 came with 6 or 7-36 barrel, (can't remember, on is a spare I got for it years ago) I also ran across another 1.47 rifle locally that had a 4-36 barrel on it.

[Rick the Librarian]

M1903 rifles in the 1930s were pieced together, as needed and the barrel would often not be a perfect "match" for the receiver.

[Hambone]

M1903 rifles in the 1930s were pieced together, as needed and the barrel would often not be a perfect "match" for the receiver.

Rick, if a rifle, such as mine posted, was not listed on a DCM sales list, would that possibly indicate that it was assembled for service use? All of the parts are consistent with a late 30s assembly, except the bolt which is a BF 38. All of the parts are consistent in condition and age and look like they've been together from the "beginning". Could it be a rifle originally intended for perhaps a NM assembly (polished rails) but which was finished with a parkerized bolt for service use? Did polished bolts matter in service? I know that the Germans required a blued bolt, to the extent that captured rifles (e.g., Vz.24s) with bright bolts got their bolts blued as a matter of course. I'm not trying to bamboozle myself or engaged in wishful thinking (I would like this to be a service rifle).
thanks,
HB

Edit: Picture of the barrel markings / drawing no.:

[Rick the Librarian]

Keep in mind these rifles have been out of service since the end of WWII. Chances are you will never know the true story - all we can do is guess, based on observation. A lot could have happened in 70+ years.

[Plain Old Dave]

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=51357