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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    Stupid Question?

    I guess it must be a stupid Question because no one has answered it over in the 1903 section, so I'll try here...

    Why didn't the Springfield rifle have a bolt numbered to the rifle ?
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Legacy Member 22SqnRAE's Avatar
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    mrC303,

    I'd not call it a 'stoopid question' at all. The US way of doing things is considerably different form the Commonwealth way.

    US M1917 rifles, M1icon Garands, M1 Carbines and M14s did not have matching numbered bolts, either.

    My guess is that the US saw the bolt as a replaceable assembly in maintenance and therefore didn't 'match' the bolt and receiver/action. If the bolt was found unserviceable, it was replaced as a maintenance unit. Unlike the .303 cartridge, head spacing for the 30-odd is less finicky and more forgiving.

    Happy to be 100% wrong, but there's my thoughts from research and observation.
    Trying to save Service history, one rifle at a time...

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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    Cheers mate, I didn't give this any thought until I bought a Springfield. I was genuinely surprised by the lack of SN, it just seems like sensible housekeeping to me...

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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    General issue 1903 rifles did not have bolts numbered to the receiver - but many National Match rifles and USMC rifles did have electric pencil numbers on the bolts to match the
    serial number

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    Legacy Member Eaglelord17's Avatar
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    The Americans weren't the only ones to not number the bolts to the rifles either. The Italians didn't number the bolts of there Carcano rifles (except for early rifles a practice that was dropped quickly), and the Austrian-Hungarians didn't number the bolts on there M95s, M90 and M88 series rifles.

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    Legacy Member twh's Avatar
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    US manufactured arms were made with completely interchangeable parts so no need to serial number everything. The serial number being stamped on everything is more of a European thing. Special rifles like National match and target rifles initially had no numbered parts either but on later production when special modifications to parts began to be allowed the bolts, stocks and even trigger groups on the Garands were numbered because the parts were specially gauged and fitted to each rifle. Very simplistic answer to an involved question but gives you the gist anyway.

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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    Thanks for the responses guys, I guess the same is true of your current issue M4, only numbered on the lower receiver?

    Come to think of it, of all the US military firearms that have passed my way in the past, its only been the M1icon Thompson that had S/N numbered upper and lower receivers.

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    Legacy Member emmagee1917's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mrclark303 View Post
    Thanks for the responses guys, I guess the same is true of your current issue M4, only numbered on the lower receiver?

    Come to think of it, of all the US military firearms that have passed my way in the past, its only been the M1icon Thompson that had S/N numbered upper and lower receivers.
    And the only reason for that was because they were fitted together then parted ways for final finishing . Strictly for good looks . Same as fitting a buttplate , then sending the stock to be stained and the plate to be finished , then mating them back together .
    Chris

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    Legacy Member Ridolpho's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by twh View Post
    US manufactured arms were made with completely interchangeable parts so no need to serial number everything. The serial number being stamped on everything is more of a European thing.
    So, how did that work out? Are M1917 and m1903/03A3 bolts generally interchangeable between rifles from same or different manufacturers? Mosins are an interesting case as the bolts are numbered but the easily removed/ lost bolt heads which control headspace, are not. However, I've measured a great many Mosin boltheads with a micrometer and they are very, very close in dimension unless visibly worn on the locking surfaces.

    Ridolpho

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    Legacy Member twh's Avatar
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    Generally the answer is yes as they were designed to be fully interchangeable and it's not uncommon to find an 03a3 bolt being used in a 1903 and vice versa even though produced decades apart. There were interchangeability issues with early 1917s which as I recall led to some of the early production rifles being limited to stateside issue only but the problems were worked out in later production. As I recollect the issue had to do with Winchester proceeding with production prior to a set of standardized drawings being produced because there was a war on which led to interchangeability issue with Remington and Eddystone rifles.

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