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The Finest Known Identified U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Bolt Action Rifle with Shipping Case Accesso

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
The Finest Known Identified U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Bolt Action Rifle with Shipping Case Accesso
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Dated "2-14" on the Springfield Armory barrel, this rifle comes with the original hardwood shipping case with original packing Springfield material, bearing the markings "1/ U.S. RIFLE CAL. 30 M.03/ STARGAUGED" on each side, the "flaming bomb" on each end, and a faded shipping label on the lid, along with the painted markings "From:/ Lt. C.H. Jones/ U.S.S GRESHAM/ Boston, Mass." and "To./ Lt. C.S. Root/ EAST BERLIN. CONN.". As the distinctive markings of the Star Gauge rifles were chiefly introduced post-1921, verifying this as the original case for this rifle is difficult. Research into the Lieutenants on the lid has produced few results, though the Gresham has been identified. Laid down in March of 1943 as the Willoughby, a Barnegat-class seaplane tender which was reclassified as a Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boat tender during assembly. Operating in the Pacific Theater, Willoughby participated in Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the campaigns of Luzon, Palawan and Borneo. Shortly after the war, Willoughby was transferred from the Navy to the Coast Guard, where it was reclassified U.S.S. Gresham. Serving from 1947 to 1973, highlights of the Gresham's career include transporting Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev during his tour of San Francisco Bay in 1959, and acted as flagship of Coast Guard Squadron Three during Operation Market Time, a joint Navy/ Coast Guard operation to cut down the costal arms and munitions traffic in Vietnam. The rifle is fitted with a hooded blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight, with a crisp "J.S.A." cartouche on the left side of the straight grip stock, milled components, and a checkered flat buttplate. Included with the rifle is a brown leather Rock Island sling dated 1908, a swiveling brass cleaning rod, a brown leather U.S. rifle cartridge box, a brown shoulder patch with "(rifle)/ A" in brown thread, and 2 bayonets, a 1911 dated Springfield (16" blade, 1911 dated leather Rock Island sheath) and a 1914 Springfield (15 3/4", leather tipped canvas sheath).
BBL: 24 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 30-06
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 593836
Condition: Near new, with a few minor handling marks on the 99% plus original blue finish, limited to some screwdriver marks on the trigger guard assembly and some brightness on the bolt. Stock is excellent, with some light spotting around the receiver, and a few small chips. Case is very good, with hinges and a lock mounted on the lid, scattered chips and dents. Bayonets are both excellent, and the leather goods are very fine, with mild scuffs. Mechanically excellent. As the headline stated, this is the finest. What is the best worth?