3526

U.S. Model 1903 Springfield "NRA Sporter" Bolt Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,600.00 USD
U.S. Model 1903 Springfield  NRA Sporter  Bolt Action Rifle
This is an excellent example of a early second year 1903 Springfield sporting rifle as manufactured in 1924. There were only a total of 4,496 sporting rifle were ever produced from 1923 through 1933 with only "94" produced in 1924. These rifles were all based on the superb, tried and true 1903 National Match rifle, which was also produced from 1921-1939. These all feature a National Match receiver with hand polished receiver rails, that have been fitted with a hand select "Star Gauged" National Match barrel with hand cut head space, and polished bolt. The top of the receiver is marked "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/MODEL 1903/1264951" and the barrel is marked, "SA/Ordnance Shell and Flame/6-24" for the month and year of manufacture, with the correct "Star-gage" mark on the muzzle. The stock was a sporter version developed by Springfield Armory that featured a "C" type pistol grip stock with smooth sides, a short forend, a single barrel band, two recoil bolts, with a NRA sporter style cupped butt plate. These stocks were all made of select straight grain dark walnut that were all hand fitted to ensure correct bedding of the recoil lug. For sights they were all fitted with the standard Lyman NM 48C micrometer rear sight that was machined for the clip slot cutout just like the standard 1903 NM rifles with a standard 1903 blade front sight. These rifle were all given a hand polished and rust blued metal finish with the NM bolt remaining "in the white", with the hand rubbed linseed oil finish on the wood.
BBL: 24 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 30-06
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 1264951
Condition: Very fine with 80% of the original blued finish overall with most of the blue loss confined to the exposed trigger guard and floor plate. The stock is very good with some minor handling marks and light pressure dents and dings from hunting or use in the field. The top of the receiver has been drilled and tapped for a one piece scope base (which is absent) and the bolt handle has been slightly altered by bending it low to clear a scope with a slight corresponding notch in the side of the stock. Overall the rifle is an excellent example of an early NM sporting rifle produced in 1924.