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Old June 17, 2001, 02:50 PM   #3
James K
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Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
The rifle is the Model 1903A3, a WWII version of the Model 1903 modified to increase production. The various numbers and marks (on the stock, not the receiver) are inspector markings. The cutoff is, as you guessed, designed to allow the rifle to be fired single shot while holding the magazine in reserve for an emergency, which in the 1903 timeframe, usually meant a cavalry charge.

The knurled knob at the end of the bolt is intended to do two things. Its flared shape will deflect any escaping gas away from the shooters eye, and it also allows the bolt to be re-cocked on a misfire without opening the bolt and chancing a hangfire.

The original rear sight was a peep sight mounted on a dovetail on the rear receiver bridge. This dovetail was often ground down when a rifle was sporterized. Since the rifle has been drilled and tapped it has little collector value and seems like a good hunting rifle. Any competent gunsmith can mount a commercial peep sight if that is what you want. You could find and reinstall the original type sight if possible but it was a wartime expedient and is not a very good sight.

As to the serial number ending in three zeros, that happened every thousand rifles. It is not really unusual and adds no special value or interest.

Jim
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