Grooved -vs- Non Goved Milled Lower Barrel Bands (Springfield 1903)

[usabaker]

Been awhile since I've been on the forum (803 Unread Posts long) went back to school and its been eating up my play time.

Anyhow, I was wondering around the old books on the 1903 and noticed that these show 1903, and 1903A1 rifles feature *milled* lower barrel bands with a grove (Privates Manual, Dated 1910, Chapter VI, pg 100 and on page 50, TM 9-1270, 20 Jan 1944)

At what point in time did they start using *milled* solid lower bands?

Hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year so far!

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[m1903rifle]

Been awhile since I've been on the forum (803 Unread Posts long) went back to school and its been eating up my play time.

Anyhow, I was wondering around the old books on the 1903 and noticed that these show 1903, and 1903A1 rifles feature *milled* lower barrel bands with a grove (Privates Manual, Dated 1910, Chapter VI, pg 100 and on page 50, TM 9-1270, 20 Jan 1944)

At what point in time did they start using *milled* solid lower bands?

Hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year so far!

They never did. The M1903A3 bands were with out the grooves, but were stamped....not milled.

[usabaker]

They never did. The M1903A3 bands were without the grooves but were stamped....not milled.

Really? What got me curious I just before Christmas I was looking at a buddies 1903A1 and his band is milled bands with no groove; when I told him I'd never seen smooth milled bands, he had no clue either. So I'm guessing he's got an Enfield Lower Band? or something else on his rifle.

m1903rifle Thank you for the info (he's not going to be happy when I tell him, the rifle is his baby)

[browningautorifle]

So...post #1 doesn't even mention 1903A3 rifles but that's what #2 refers to specifically...and in #3 you answer back like it was what you asked... Did you guys actually read what was written?

[RCS]

concerning the grooved band on the 1903 and 1903A1; early rod bayonet band was solid, the U is without serfs on the Rock Island models - from what I remember

[m1903rifle]

So...post #1 doesn't even mention 1903A3 rifles but that's what #2 refers to specifically...and in #3 you answer back like it was what you asked... Did you guys actually read what was written?

Did you read what I wrote. The original question was when did they make M1903 bands w/o grooves? My answer was....... They never did. I could have gone into the M1917 Enfield band being used on some ersatz put together M1903 rifles by Bannerman ( but I didn't ).

[Chuckindenver]

many collector or gunshow buyers, will use a 1917 or P14 band rather then a 1903 band,
as many dont know or dont care about the difference

[usabaker]

So...post #1 doesn't even mention 1903A3 rifles but that's what #2 refers to specifically...and in #3 you answer back like it was what you asked... Did you guys actually read what was written?

Yes, He said [1903, a1] never did, then he's said 1903A3's were stamped. I understood what he said exactly. At least that's how my brain interpreted it; was I wrong?

---------- Post added at 10:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 PM ----------

early rod bayonet band was solid, the U is without serfs on the Rock Island models

RCS, I'll have to look at it again when I go back to his house; I don't recall seeing any markings on the band at all. THanks.

[Rick the Librarian]

I'll bet it's a P14/M1917 lower band - I had one on one of my M1903s back in my early days when I didn't know the difference.