03 Springfield for the experts..... (please)

[TJ2]

The information is for a good friend that is thinking about buying the rifle described. The price is still "negotiable", but I think the owner is pretty proud of it. Don't have the rifle in front of me, but the description is below. Any comments or help very much appreciated. Please feel free to post, or to email me [email protected]. THANKS!!

Ordinance mark (bomb) and number 18 behind front sight (assume that 18 is year and tha there is a number in front indicating month also??)

Barrel is currently blued (being touted as original finish)

Springfield marking behind front sight

serial number in 800k - 1.2m range

Stock Markings: FA (Frankfurt Armory?)
RIA (Rock Island Armory?)

[Harley Nolden]

TJ2:
Maybe this information will detemine which 1903 he is wanting to buy. Some wer milled, some were stamped, some wer sniper (star on muzzle) etc.

M 1903 Specifications:
Mfg: National Armory Springfield
Introduced: 1903
Ctge modified: 1906
BARREL: Inches
Bore: 0.30"
Ext. Muzzle Dia: 0.619"
Ext. Breech Dia: 1.14"
Chamber & Bore Length: 23.79"
Bbl. Length: 24.006"
Bullet Travel Bore: 21.697"
Chamber Dia. Rear: 0.4716"
Front: 0.442
Dia: Chmbr neck Front: 0.3405"
Rear: 0.3425"
Chamber Length: 1.793"
Chamber Shoulder: 0.16:
Neck of Chamber: 0.396"
Total Chamber Length: 2,3716"

RIFLING:
Grooves: 4
Twist: Right
Rate: 10.00"
Groove Width: 0.1767
Land Width: 0.0589"
Groove Depth: 0.0004"
Height Fnt Sight Fm Bore Axis: 1.05"
Sight Radius: 22.1254"

STOCK:

Length: 40.166"
Dist. bore axis to butt: 2.089"
Length of Pull: 12.74
Length of complete Weapon: 43.212"
Sngl Div. on Wind scale: 0.0267"

WEIGHTS:

Bbl: 2.79#
W/rear site base,
and fnt site: 3#
Butt Plate: 0.26#
Receiver: 0.98#
Bolt: 1#
Mag. 4 T-Guard: 0.44#
Mag. & Flr. plate: 0.17#
Bayonet: 1#
Stock: 1.58#
Hand Guard: 0.13#
Fnt,Rear bands & swivels: 0.25#
Rear Sight (No base) 0.20
Total Metal Parts: 7.30#
Oiler & thong Case: .19#
Total Wt w/Bayonet 9.69#
w/o Bayonet: 8.69#
Trigger Pull: 16-18#
Other Springfield Models:

U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30 M1903A1:

In December of 1929 the stock design was changed from the straight stock to a pistol grip stock. The fore-end was also modified by removing the finger grooves. The buttplate was checkered to give better support on the shoulder, and the trigger was modified with serrations to prevent slipping of the trigger finger.

U.S. Rifle Caliber .30 M1903A2:
The design of this rifle was not for firing from the shoulder but rather modified to attach to the cannon tube of a tank to be used for sub-caliber practice.

M 1903 Specifications:
Introduced: 1903
Replaced by Garand 1936
BARREL: Inches

Bore: 0.30"
Ext. Muzzle Dia: 0.619"
Ext. Breech Dia: 1.14"
Chamber & Bore Length: 23.79"
Bbl. Length: 24.006"
Bullet Travel Bore: 21.697"
Chamber Dia. Rear: 0.4716"
Front: 0.442
Dia: Chmbr neck Front: 0.3405"
Rear: 0.3425"
Chamber Length: 1.793"
Chamber Shoulder: 0.16:
Neck of Chamber: 0.396"
Total Chamber Length: 2,3716"

RIFLING:

Grooves: 4
Twist: Right
Rate: 10.00"
Groove Width: 0.1767
Land Width: 0.0589"
Groove Depth: 0.0004"
Height Fnt Sight Fm Bore Axis: 1.05"
Sight Radius: 22.1254"

STOCK:

Length: 40.166"
Dist. bore axis to butt: 2.089"
Length of Pull: 12.74
Length of complete Weapon: 43.212"
Sngl Div. on Wind scale: 0.0267"


WEIGHTS:

Bbl: 2.79#
W/rear site base,
and fnt site: 3#
Butt Plate: 0.26#
Receiver: 0.98#
Bolt: 1#
Mag. $ T-Guard: 0.44#
Mag. & Flr. plate: 0.17#
Bayonet: 1#
Stock: 1.58#
Hand Guard: 0.13#
Fnt,Rear bands & swivels: 0.25#
Rear Sight (No base) 0.20
Total Metal Parts: 7.30#
Oiler & thong Case: .19#
Total Wt w/Bayonet 9.69#
w/o Bayonet: 8.69#
Trigger Pull: 16-18#


Model 1901
Experimental Infantry Rifle
Mfg: National Armory
Springfield Mass
Year of Mfg: 1901
Quantity: 100
Caliber: .30 Rimless
Action: Turnbolt
Length: 49.25"
Weight: 9.47lb
Barrel Length: 30"
Groove: 4 RH concentric
Magazine: Box 5 rind
M-Velocity: 2,300fps
The bolt mechanism of this rifle was unique to the USA, though many war-surplus rifles were used elsewhere after 1945 and others were supplied through Military Aid programs into the 1960's.

Experience in the Spanish American War showed that Spanish Mausers were superior to the Krag Jorgenson. Convening a board of officers at Springfield, testing began on the 1901 rifle. Using the best attributes of the Mauser and the Jorgensen the 1901 experimental rifle was developed.

For reasons which seemed right at the time, the US Army had adopted the Krag-Jorgenson rifle in 1892, but within a very short period the Krag's limitations were known and the Ordnance Dept. had to begin looking into a replacement. After thinking what designs available at the time, together with some painful lessons from the Spanish-American war where the 7mm Mausers. The Ordnance Dept. decided that the Mauser system had the most to offer and entered into agreements with Mauser to build a modified Mauser rifle under license in the USA.

In its original design, the rifle was built around a blunt nosed bullet rimmed, known as the .30" M1900, based upon the Krag- Jorgenson rifle cartridge. This bullet was disposed of in a
short time when it became obvious that the Mauser magazine did not respond well to rimmed cartridges, and the rimless .30" M1903 still using a Krag bullet. After more trials the case was
lengthened from 60 to 63mm and a new blunt bullet was developed, the result being the .30" M1903 round and this became the first service issue cartridge. However Germany developed the pointed or "spitzer bullet and the M1903 round was rapidly converted, by developing a suitable pointed bullet, into the .230 M1906. This cartridge and the millions of rifles chambered for it came to be called the .30-06. This new cartridge was developed, some 150,000 M1903 rifles had been issued and all were called back and re-chambered for the new round.

1903A3:
Originally introduced in May of 1942 for use in WWII. It basically consisted of improvements to simplify mass production. It features an aperture sight and various small parts that were fabricated from stamping, this includes the trigger guard, floor plate and barrel band. It was mfg’d by Remington and Smith Corona.

[James K]

The barrel date is 1918, which is probably close to the manufacture date, but the full serial number would help determine that. In that serial number range, the receiver and original bolt would be double heat treated.

The inspection cartouche FA/RIA could indicate either that the stock was originally on a rifle made at Rock Island or was rebuilt at Rock Island. I don't show an "FA" inspector in my lists, but it would be an inspector's initials, not a reference to Frankford Arsenal.

More information would help.

Jim

[TJ2]

Serial number is 1,004,942. What other information would be of help? Also, what would be a good way to go about finding further information?

Thanks for the info already posted, and Again, all help appreciated!

Cheers!
Tim

[James K]

Hi, Tim,

That serial would date to 1918 so the barrel is likely original. The barrel color at that time would have been a black Parkerizing, not bluing.

I suspect the stock is not original, though. If it is, there should be a cartouche with an inspector initials and the letters "SA" for Springfield, and a "P" under the pistol grip. A stock made by RIA would be on a Springfield only as a replacement, although RIA rebuilt many rifles and marked the stocks to indicate the rebuild.

It sounds like it is an early rifle but one that was rebuilt or has a replacement stock. You might go to www.gunandknife.com and post on their 1903/A3 forum. Some folks might have better info and an idea of value.

Jim

[TJ2]

Jim, Thanks very much for your response. I appreciate the information, and the link.

Best Regards,
Tim