ROCK ISLAND mfg date

[jerrbear]

Looking for mfg date of a R. I. rifle. Serial no. 326957. Between Bowar's & Old Guns I am getting confused. Any help would be great! Thanks

Information

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[RCS]

Do not know if this will help you, I have Rock Island 331695 from Oct/Nov 1918, barrel is dated RIA 11-18 and bolt is R10

[jerrbear]

Where did you get your serial no info from. The list I looked at says after 1919 and my serial number is lower than yours. Barrel date R.I. 10-18

[RCS]

you are correct, it is in early 1919

[Rick the Librarian]

Rock Island serial numbers are a little hard to nail down because quite a few of them were made as "parts kits", rather than complete rifles until well into 1918. I would say the OP's serial number was from mid-1918 - certainly not early 1919. However, due to the fact they were assembled at differing times, the barrel dates will differ somewhat widely as well. I have a 278,000 range RIA with a 5-18 barrel which I have no doubt is original ... to the time they assembled the rifle.

[jerrbear]

Thanks for the replies. A little confusing at times. By the way "Thanks Rick" for the info in a recent e-mail I sent to you. Took your advice and found this one. Cheaper and I am much happier. Thanks for your insight. (AGAIN)!

[Rick the Librarian]

Glad to help and glad something better worked out.

[Vi Shooter]

Key dates in RIA serialization:

RIA 285507 First Double HT Receiver in May, 1918
RIA 319921 (First SN of August, 1918 - Hatcher's Notebook pg 220) First Nickel Steel (NS) receiver made soon after
RIA's last serial number was 430742, which was struck on 31 July 1919

Interprolate from those. In a little over a year, RIA went from 285507 to 430742.

HTH,
Art

[BEAR]

Vi Shooter!!!! You're alive!!!! I haven't seen you post anywhere for years so I thought you had gone to the great M1903 museum in the sky. Welcome back and I look forward to more posts from you.

BEAR (BDY)

[Rick the Librarian]

Me, too! Good to have you back! Recommend your website ALL the time!!