Altered M1903 Serial Number?

[highpower]

And one other thing, that stock is a WWII replacement "C" stock. Not that it matters with that serial number being altered. Also the barrel is a '44 High Standard replacement.

I think that it is one of the many, many low number Springfields that were refurbished as war reserves during the war and then sold off in the sixties. After it went into civilian hands, someone decided to enhance the value.

[God Bless America]

Ask Bill Ricca.

[jmax]

I pulled my 03 out of the safe yesterday that has a 1.3 million S/N and it is centered

[loademup]

I've studied the way the leading "1" has been struck on a lot of 1903 serial numbers shown on the web and my own 1903. Some are struck in a manner that looks like a carrot shape ...thin on the top and fat on the bottom. The serial number you displayed on the 1903 in your thread looks like one with the leading carrot "1". There are so many examples on web that I cannot believe they are all fake. They are all struck rather uniformly and in alignment with the other numbers in the serial numbers. I've found that the number "1" has been struck in a number of different ways, maybe depending upon when the rifle was made.

[rdfact]

Looks like somebody bought it - it's no longer for sale on the website.

[kendog4570]

I've studied the way the leading "1" has been struck on a lot of 1903 serial numbers shown on the web and my own 1903. Some are struck in a manner that looks like a carrot shape ...thin on the top and fat on the bottom. The serial number you displayed on the 1903 in your thread looks like one with the leading carrot "1". There are so many examples on web that I cannot believe they are all fake. They are all struck rather uniformly and in alignment with the other numbers in the serial numbers. I've found that the number "1" has been struck in a number of different ways, maybe depending upon when the rifle was made......

This.
Ones, lower case "l's", and "I's" always cause spacing issues with all sorts of printing. Also, has anyone here actually tried to stamp a 1903 or A3 receiver with a hand stamp? Or try to find the exact font used? Not so easy. The number on the gun in question looks legit, the rest of it looks a tad rough, or "put together" for $950

[huntingsocal]

I don't think Allan would knowingly sell something humped. He's a long time sponsor over on gunboards and FWIW I've purchased from him recently and found him very easy to work with and extraordinarily accommodating for CA buyers. (purchase was non C&R)

[rdfact]

I don't think Allan would knowingly sell something humped. He's a long time sponsor over on gunboards and FWIW I've purchased from him recently and found him very easy to work with and extraordinarily accommodating for CA buyers. (purchase was non C&R)

I certainly didn't mean to imply the seller was being dishonest. I was just asking the brain trust here that are more knowledgeable than me. If the SN had been altered I assumed the seller was unaware. But as many have pointed out, it appears to be legit.

[allanschisel]

I purchased it from a very reputable dealer who I trust 100%. Not being an expert on 1903s, I'll leave it up to the long time collectors here to make that determination of the serial #. Seems like it's legit? As for the stock, we knew it was a WWII replacement.
Allan Schisel