Got a 'nother '03

[highpower]

Nice find.

This was at the Reno Crossroads show? I quit going to those, between parking and the entry fee, you were ~$20 in the hole before you walked in the door.

It did come out of that show. I still like going there as I have pulled a couple of good deals out of there. I nearly bought a 1898 Krag engineers carbine (very rare) but I need to put a new motor in my truck, so I had to pass on it.

[Crusader]

Very nice looking M1903, congrats!

[cmichini]

Question: Does the drawing number on the handguard denote is as national match?
Wondering what made you conclude the handguard was off a NM rifle.

Thanks

[Father Ted]

Drool

[highpower]

Question: Does the drawing number on the handguard denote is as national match?
Wondering what made you conclude the handguard was off a NM rifle.

Thanks

Yes. Only NM handguards and stocks had the drawing number stamped on them.

[56tchr]

turtle

Nice find,,, does it have the "turtle" on the end of the barrel/muzzle ?

[2761377]

Yes. Only NM handguards and stocks had the drawing number stamped on them.

can you cite a source for this info? best I can find is that NM 1903's from your rifle's time frame had the rifle's serial number stamped on the bottom of the stock in front of the swivel. not so much about drawing numbers.

here's something I found on handguard drawing numbers-

"The D28179 marked handguard was produced for both NM and non-NM M1903s in the late 1930s."

linky-http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=63751

[highpower]

can you cite a source for this info? best I can find is that NM 1903's from your rifle's time frame had the rifle's serial number stamped on the bottom of the stock in front of the swivel. not so much about drawing numbers.

here's something I found on handguard drawing numbers-

"The D28179 marked handguard was produced for both NM and non-NM M1903s in the late 1930s."

linky-http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=63751

I got my info from what is considered the bible on 1903 rifles, "The Springfield 1903 Rifles" by Lt. Col.William S. Brophy Page 62-64


From observed rifles, the drawing number on the handguard seems to be most prevalent on NM rifles produced between 1934 and 1936. The practice was discontinued after it was found that too many handguards were cracking during the stamping process. I have no doubt that a great many were bought separately and installed on various other rifles.

Nice find,,, does it have the "turtle" on the end of the barrel/muzzle ?

See post #13

[Cato]

MMMM... lucky!

Congrats!

[iluvmycolt]

Nice pick up, OP.

[Enfield47]

That is interesting about the silver line on the rear sight. If it was a civilian target rifle, that makes it an even better find in my opinion. It may not make it any more valuable, but it may possibly shoot more accurately than a wartime model. I too like the fact that it still has it's original barrel.

[Flyin Brian]

Yes. Only NM handguards and stocks had the drawing number stamped on them.

I got my info from what is considered the bible on 1903 rifles, "The Springfield 1903 Rifles" by Lt. Col.William S. Brophy Page 62-64


From observed rifles, the drawing number on the handguard seems to be most prevalent on NM rifles produced between 1934 and 1936. The practice was discontinued after it was found that too many handguards were cracking during the stamping process. I have no doubt that a great many were bought separately and installed on various other rifles.



See post #13

I'm no expert on 1903s or the english language, but doesn't the word "prevalent" in this text mean something like "commonly seen on" or something like that? I don't see how that confirms your statement about it only being seen on NM rifles.

I'm not trying to hammer anyone here, just trying to learn something about these that I was not aware of.

[highpower]

I guess I was being a little too general. The handguards with the drawing number are seen on NM rifles that are known to be original. They have been observed on non NM rifles like mine, but on my rifle, for instance, there is no way to determine if any of the parts on it are original to the rifle AS MANUFACTURED. The hand guards and stocks with drawing numbers, are considered to be National Match pieces. You can debate semantics all you want, but I will stand by my original statement.

I hope this helps.

[Jarhead]

Mausers, Mosins and Arisakas have nothing on 03's

[2761377]

the question regarding NM handguards is spurious. whether or not the handguard on this rifle was only (whuch is doubtful, given the evidence) manufactured for NM rifles, this rifle is not a NM. Having a so-called NM handguard on it does not increase the value or serviceability.

actually, the value of the rifle would be improved if the owner took the line handguards with drawing numbers were used on service rifles as originally manufactured in the mid-Thirties.

additionally, during my online research of this subject I came across info that receivers in this serial range were assembled into barreled receivers for use as spare parts. given the decision in the late '20's about low-numbered receivers, such spares would have been used to replace these dangerous receivers.

whatever, "ONLY" cannot be substituted for "seems to be most prevalent".

that's not semantics, it's diction.