Help With M1903 Stock Cartouches

[WW2Buff]

Yeah, I get that Ron, but it sure feels like there is strong evidence that this rifle and its stock stayed together through that process. My Garand and Carbine, not so much - they are total mix masters.

You guys can correct me, but this stock has the appropriate pre-1914 Springfield stamps, correct for a 1912 receiver. The Springfield rifle was then re-barreled at Rock Island in 1918, and the stock has the appropriate 1918-dated Rock Island Otto H. Armstrong inspection stamp. Seems like it would take one heck of a coincidence for some other rifle's stock to have all of these same, and correct, cartouches.

[Rick the Librarian]

Your stock has the remnants of a "script" stamp, which dates it back to the early years of Springfield production, probably ca. 1904-1906. It is not the original stock. It would be hard to tell when the stock was installed, but it was after the rifle was produced.

I have a M1903 which was originally produced about 1907-1908, which was rebuilt before U.S. enter into WWI. The stock is a one-bolt stock which started out as a Rod Bayonet stock with the "script" stamp. As can be seen in the picture below, it was "overstamped" with a JSA (J. Sumner Adams) stamp, probably from the date of the overhaul.

[WW2Buff]

Really appreciate the feedback. I see the clipped corner rectangle in the background, but I sure can't see the early script inspector's stamp. You can see that? I'm using Poyer for guidance, and he isn't clear on when the clipped corner rectangle was retired.

So, assuming the rifle was re-stocked at some point early in its life, isn't it clear that from its 1918 re-barrel at RIA, the rifle and stock have been together? Maybe the re-stock took place at RIA in 1918 and coincidentally it inherited an S stock?

[Rick the Librarian]

Could have been....

I can see the "sweep" of the script letter just below the "P" in "POD".