3687

Exceptional Pre-WWI Springfield Model 1903 Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Exceptional Pre-WWI Springfield Model 1903 Rifle
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Estimate: $4500 - 6500
This U.S. Springfield Model 1903 rifle was manufactured in 1916. The rifle has a blued barrel, barrel bands, rear sight, base, bolt, trigger guard, floor plate and buttplate. The receiver, cocking piece and magazine cut-off have a casehardened finish. The case colors on the receiver are a very attractive charcoal-gray with darker gray stripes that is only found on the low production, pre-war M1903 rifles. The rifle has a pre-war "S" stock with grasping grooves, single reinforcing bolt and ''high hump'' handguard with rear sight relief cut and spring clips. The folding rear leaf sight has a bright face and 2850 yard volley notch. The rear sight binding screw is the second pattern with concave face and no groove in the knurl. The rear sight windage screw is the third pattern with .575 inch concave face and no groove in the knurl. The buttplate has fine checkering. The trigger is serrated with cross-hatching at the tip. The magazine cut-off and safety lock have the block letter markings used on M1903 rifles manufactured at Springfield Armory after 1914. The receiver is roll-stamped: "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/MODEL 1903/633006" in block letters in five lines. The barrel is roll-stamped: "SA" behind the front sight above the Ordnance ''Shell & Flame'' insignia and the date "11-16". A block "H" is stamped on the bottom of the bayonet lug. The right side of the lower barrel band is stamped with a block letter "U". The underside of the bolt safety lug is stamped with the steel lot code "6 I" reading toward the face of the bolt. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection mark that consists of the letters "D.A.L." in a rectangle. An encircled, script "P" proofmark is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard (pre-war Springfield M1903 rifles are found with both block and script "P" proofmarks. The cut-off recess is stamped with an "R" sub-inspection mark.
BBL: 24 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 30-06
Finish: blue/case-hardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 633006
Condition: Excellent. The rifle retains 95% of the original high polish blue finish. Nearly all of the original finish is present on the barrel, barrel bands, rear sight base, rear sight and bolt. The blue finish on the bottom of the trigger guard shows some sling wear but more than 90% of the original blue finish remains intact. The receiver has at least 98% of the striking variegated casehardened finish. The safety lock and magazine cut-off have 98% of the original finish with strong case colors. The buttplate has 90% or more of the original blue finish. Screw heads show minimal wear. The bore is bright. The stock and handguard are in excellent plus condition. The edges of the grasping grooves and cut-off recess are sharp. The final inspection mark and proofmark are extremely crisp. The stock and handguard are free from scratches and handling marks. This is an exceptional example of a completely original, late pre-WWI M1903 Springfield rifle in excellent condition. Pre-WWI Model 1903 rifles in this condition are very difficult to find.