1903 Mark I Purchase

[fitch10]

Hello,

I bought my first Milsurp rifle a couple weeks ago and have questions about the bolt and the overall rifle.

My main worry is that the bolt may not be safe to shoot. The only marking I see on the bolt is under the safety lug. It's an S marking. It's also a straight bolt.
The s/n of the rifle is 10572xx (is it OK to post the full s/n?).

The barrel is marked SA 7-30.

Someone removed the rear sight and installed a Redfield peep sight. I believe it's the Hunter model.

I'll try to post some pictures.

Thanks

Information

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[Mike D]

Hello,

I bought my first Milsurp rifle a couple weeks ago and have questions about the bolt and the overall rifle.

My main worry is that the bolt may not be safe to shoot. The only marking I see on the bolt is under the safety lug. It's an S marking. It's also a straight bolt.
The s/n of the rifle is 10572xx (is it OK to post the full s/n?).

The barrel is marked SA 7-30.

Someone removed the rear sight and installed a Redfield peep sight. I believe it's the Hunter model.

I'll try to post some pictures.

Thanks

The bolt is an easy fix, if your really concerned. Although there was never a "recall" on early bolts, you can easily ease your fears by locating a cheap M1903A3 bolt. Yours could be from a rod bayonet rifle.

Mike

[fitch10]

The bolt is an easy fix, if your really concerned. Although there was never a "recall" on early bolts, you can easily ease your fears by locating a cheap M1903A3 bolt. Yours could be from a rod bayonet rifle.

Mike

Thanks for you input Mike. I just want to make sure it's safe to shoot as my son really want to shoot it too.

[Rick the Librarian]

The bolt is an easy fix, if your really concerned. Although there was never a "recall" on early bolts, you can easily ease your fears by locating a cheap M1903A3 bolt. Yours could be from a rod bayonet rifle.

Mike

Actually, according to John Beard's bolt i.d. charts, the bolt body dates to the 1909-1912 era.

[Mike D]

Actually, according to John Beard's bolt i.d. charts, the bolt body dates to the 1909-1912 era.

Rick, the way I'm reading the charts, bolts with an "S" on the bottom of the safety lug were used from 1903-1912.

The "in the white" body and blued handle also resembles RB bolts. It could just be finish wear, though.

Mike

[fjruple]

Fitch10--

From I can see the rifle may have been rebuild at least twice. First in the 1930's at which time the Mark I parts were probably stripped off (From the 1930 barrel date, originals would have a 1918-1920 barrel date) and probably in WWII judging from the sant replacement stock. It is still a fine rifle to shoot!!

--fjruple

[fitch10]

Thanks for the responses. I bought the rifle as a shooter for the military shoots at the club and also because it's the rifle we carry in my American Legion post.

I have not shot it yet but the gunsmith I asked to safety check it did and he said it shot "beautifully".

It seems like it's probably OK to safely shoot but I'll keep my eye out for a newer bolt. On this note, if I do buy a replacement bolt, is it OK to buy just a stripped bent bolt or buy the complete assembly?

[Rick the Librarian]

Rick, the way I'm reading the charts, bolts with an "S" on the bottom of the safety lug were used from 1903-1912.

Mike

Sorry, I got in too big a hurry and was reading the first barrel date (in the serial numbers quoted). 1903-1912 it is.

[mercman]

Set up for the Pederson device I believe.

[fitch10]

I have a couple more pictures I'm curious about. Can someone tell me if this is a punch mark? It's under the bolt handle. I read somewhere that it signifies that it correctly passed arsenal hardness testing.