Question on Rock Island 1903 receiver color

[RCS]

Back in 2011, I bought an early (s/n 3576) Rock Island 1903 receiver from the CMP Auction.
I was able to restore the receiver to a pre WW1 era rifle with early parts & wood. My question is about the receiver blue color.

1) Could this blue color receiver be original ?
2) was this receiver re-finished by the militarty or some group such as the VFW or American Legion ?

Thanks RCS

Information

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[John Beard]

Answers are as follows.

(1) No.

(2) Yes.

Your rifle's receiver was originally issued as part of a 1905 modification rifle in .30-'03 caliber. Sometime between 1907 and 1910, the 1905 modification rifle was returned to Rock Island Arsenal for alteration to .30-'06 caliber. If the receiver exhibited wear from those three years of service, then it was lightly buffed and blued. Your rifle's receiver fits that description.

Thanks for sharing!

J.B.

[Jim Tarleton]

I have RIA SN 3122 with RIA 12-05 bbl in a no-bolt high wood stock with CN 08 cartouche. Maybe they are sisters, Bob !

[RCS]

Jim, you have a really nice early Rock Island and with a 12-05 barrel quite rare to find.

Back in 2011 when i bought my RIA s/n 3576 receiver, also bought another Rock Island receiver s/n 3670 in about the same condition as the first one plus a blued receiver too.
I was able to find a SA 6-10 dated barrel and Rick borecky found a single bolt stock for me at the CMP North. This stock was an altered 1905 stock plus it had something that I never saw before on a 1903 butt plate, unit markings. Ed Byrns told me the markings are Troop H, 8th Cavalry, Trooper #18

[togor]

An original early RIA receiver finish is blotchy.

[RCS]

Rock Island serial number 3576 was refinished as outlined in post #2

here are two more "blotchy" originals

[P0H0]

Rock Island serial number 3576 was refinished as outlined in post #2

here are two more "blotchy" originalsAttachment 129726Attachment 129727

They are beautiful rifles — RCS, is the previous upper band hole from its original rod bayonet configuration? I believe the blotchy appearance is due to faded case hardening and oiled rust/patina— same as the Krag. When the rifles were rearsenaled/updated prior to WWI the process may have included “browning”/rust bluing some of the case hardened parts and sometime in 1918 the process was changed to parkerization.

[browningautorifle]

“browning”/rust bluing

That must have taken ages in the original factories to complete. Sure looked like artwork though.

[P0H0]

That must have taken ages in the original factories to complete. Sure looked like artwork though.

I thought so too, but in reality the process was improved for mass production by use of large tanks and steam chests — certainly slower than a modern bluing process, but still improved enough to allow for mass production of tens of thousands of rifles or rearsenaled finishes annually.

You can actually use an accelerated rust bluing with a humidity box and steam pipe in your garage to conserve these firearms — same as when rearsenaled.

I’d recommend taking a rifle out of the stock for cleaning and inspection after several years in — a lot of deterioration can be going on under the wood if not cared for. While it’s out, it’s a good idea to do a heated ultrasonic cleaning if needed. From there apply your preferred protection — long term or active use.

[RCS]

The early "no stock bolt" CCV cartouched stock was not modified, no second hole in the fore-end tip and without the rod hole in the inside channel. This is an early 1906 stock, with a SA 2-07 dated barrel . I was told it was a rebuild from 30-03 cal which could well be, but both a new 30-06 barrel and new 1906 stock were used, bolt has the small s stamp. This rifle came out of an estate sale and was well taken care of with an exc bore.