Is this a real national match Springfield?

[Patrick Chadwick]

I have no special knowledge of these rifles, but according to my info. the receiver dates to 1933. NM rifles from 1921 on had a star-gauged barrel that was so marked on the muzzle. So no star gauge marked muzzle = not an NM barrel.
The slightly dinged muzzle crown shown here looks very ordinary.

I wouldn't go by a butt-plate, as that is a simple part to swap.

As Jim pointed out "...it shouldn't look like that." And the body behind the cut-off lever seems to be bent (???) or seriously worn.

It really shouldn't look like that.

As an "03 ignoramus, I shall simply stick to the basic criterion that applies to all old equipment: if the parts haven't worn together, then they wern't born together.

I.e. inconsistent wear patterns = mixture.

Mind you, over here a Model 1903 will fetch 4-figures without any NM pretensions.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[JT76]

The barrel is star gauged.

the butt plate is checkered, more coarsely than on another 1930s springfield that i own. I can't remember is the rails were polished, but i don't think so. I opened the action to look at the bore and i feel if they were polished it would stand out to me. I don't have the rifle in my possession to look.

[Patrick Chadwick]

The barrel is star gauged.

OK, that must be what I thought was a ding on the crown!

[RCS]

besides the star gage muzzle stamp and heat lot code there should also be a star gage card number stamped on your barrel (like my photo above)

[RCS]

This 1903 rifle serial number 1,373,022 has a star gaged SA 7-29 dated barrel. Besides the small star gage stamp on the muzzle, there is a heat lot code and star gage (when the bore was gaged) number on the barrel.

Also of interest is part of a letter received from John Beard " Your rifle is indeed a 1931 National Match rifle. It's not listed in the records of the Springfield Research Service because, like most National Match rifles, it was retain in military service and not sold."Attachment 90501Attachment 90502Attachment 90503Attachment 90504Attachment 90505