Calling all Springfield 1903 experts

[whytea]

I have a Springfield 1903, circa 1934 according to the serial numbers. It was in the process of being sporsterized at some point in the late 60s, and has been sitting in pieces since. I had planned to restore it back to original configuration (which will cost more that it's worth I'm sure)as a gift to my father in law, whose late uncle the rifle belonged to. It has the barrel cut and crowned already, but while cleaning it up I noticed these holes in the side of the receiver.(see photo) Are these original, or are they for some sort of side mount for a scope mount. If it's been drilled, if will never look right, so I may just finish the sporster build and have a 30-06 hunting rifle for him on the cheap.

What say you, masters of the 1903?

[smoothy8500]

The drilled holes are for a Lyman 48 or Redfield micrometer sight. They were very accurate iron sights. You can put small headless "grub" screws to fill the holes (cost effective) or have them spot welded to fill.

[Rustybore]

It has been drilled and tapped

It has been drilled and tapped for a scope.
You could fill the holes with threaded rods and with careful blending and refinish it could be acceptable, but it will never look original.

D.

[smle-man]

Many match rifles of the day had Lyman 48s installed on them. Just put plug screws in the holes. Is the front edge of the receiver ring rounded? If so it may have been an NRA sporter rifle at one time. I don't remember the date range on them.

[ElvenSoul]

How about this fix...find a set of Lymans and mount them on the rifle.

[whytea]

The Lyman sights seem to be fit the pattern, the holes are 5/8 on center. That being the case, what's the hole towards the front of the receiver? I have seen pictures on the web both with the front hole and without.

Looks like it might stay a sporter. I noticed that since the barrel was cut down, there is no front sight. If I manage to find the Lyman 48 to mount up, what could I do about a front sight?

[smle-man]

The Lyman sights seem to be fit the pattern, the holes are 5/8 on center. That being the case, what's the hole towards the front of the receiver? I have seen pictures on the web both with the front hole and without.

Looks like it might stay a sporter. I noticed that since the barrel was cut down, there is no front sight. If I manage to find the Lyman 48 to mount up, what could I do about a front sight?

It is a gas relief hole for a ruptured case.

[kendog4570]

The Lyman sights seem to be fit the pattern, the holes are 5/8 on center. That being the case, what's the hole towards the front of the receiver? I have seen pictures on the web both with the front hole and without.

Looks like it might stay a sporter. I noticed that since the barrel was cut down, there is no front sight. If I manage to find the Lyman 48 to mount up, what could I do about a front sight?

Double check the hole spacing in the bridge. The Lyman 48 used a .600" hole spacing, not .625". The horizontal centerline of the two rear holes should be .656" from the bottom flat of the receiver, and the vertical CL of the front of these two holes should be .230" from the safety lug seat on the receiver.
The hole in the ring is a gas-escape hole.

CMP has decent barrels. (Criterions, AKA button-rifled Kriegers) Wont be "original", but it will shoot.

For a few bucks you will have a shooter for life. You will forget about the expense long before the novelty of these rifles wears off.
Nice of you to fix it up for your father-in-law.