National Match 1903 rifles

[sakorick]

The National Matches started in 1873 at the National Match range at Creedmore, Long Island. This makes this competition one of the oldest continuing sporting events in the U.S.(discounting the war years). The National Matches were moved to Camp Perry in 1907 and the 1903 replaced the Kraig in 1908. In 1909 the new classification system opened the match to all Officers. A friend recently found a document in the National Archives that approved Officers to purchase National Match rifles in 1919. These rifles were to turned in each year and rebuilt at the Springfield Arsenal, tolerances checked and reassembled for the following year. The DCM sales started in 1921 by congress after pressure form the thousands of Doughboys who learned how to shoot in the Great War. The Military supported this effort. Most people then assumed the National Match rifle program started up in 1921. However, we know the program was alive and well in 1919 and 1920 and suspect that National Match rifles were also available prior to 1917.

So then the question is, how to you tell a National Match rifle 1920 and earlier since they had no star gauge or inspection number? Thanks to John Beard and other seasoned collectors this is what I am passing on the the forum. National Match rifles appear in a serial number block....not always as there are exceptions. NM rifles have a finely checkered buttplate, no 2850 yard notch, in-the-white bolt with a swept handle and in 1919 and 20, a serrated trigger. Serrated triggers were started circa 1910 and replaced by smooth trigger with the Mark I and lasted until 1923 when serrated triggers were resumed.....Only NM rifles had the serrated trigger until 1923. Early rifles also were treated with Asphaltum. Asphaltum was applied at Springfield Armory and was part of the original finish. It usually (not always) appears on the barrel and upper band, floorplate, front and rear sights and trigger guard. Be especially careful not to use aggressive solvents on these parts as they will remove part of the original finish!

Anyone having additional information by all means, chime in.

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