1903 SPRINGFIELD
A friend suggested I ask the pros so here goes:
Ser. # 883xxx
RIA over flaming bomb at top of barrel
2-19 below flaming bomb
U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1903 on the reciever
Very nice Parkerized finish on the metal.
Stock has the following markings:
224 stamped on the top of the handguard, forward of the rear sight.
Just above the triggerguard are two stampings, both enclosed in boxes. First one reads W.J.S. and the second is S.A. over S.P.G.
Any information greatly appreciated.
Ser. # 883xxx
RIA over flaming bomb at top of barrel
2-19 below flaming bomb
U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1903 on the reciever
Very nice Parkerized finish on the metal.
Stock has the following markings:
224 stamped on the top of the handguard, forward of the rear sight.
Just above the triggerguard are two stampings, both enclosed in boxes. First one reads W.J.S. and the second is S.A. over S.P.G.
Any information greatly appreciated.
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#916xxx date of mfg. please anyone. 0 -
UNREX-- That's a low number Springfield which many people these days would reccommend not to use as a shooter. Don't know about the value. The NRA magazine (The American Rifleman) has published much info about these guns. You'll probably get many more informative comments on these rifles from others. 0 -
SN 800,000 and above are the heat treated(safe for modern ammo)ones. The value based off your description right now would propably be $450.00 or less.
Guns! Guns! Guns!0 -
unrex,
Try this site www.jouster.com
They have a forum on 1903 Springfields.
Obviously a low number w/ Avis barrel. 1010 -
Your Model 1903 Springfield was reberrled with an Avis barrel in December of 1918. There is some question as to wehether Avis just roughed the barrels out and they were finished by Springfield or if Avis did the whole job. In 1918 Avis was located at 198 Brown Street,West Haven,Connecticut. From the serial number on the receiver of your rifle,it was made sometime in 1906. Serial numbers for 1907 start with number 269,451. Serial numbers for 1918 start at number 761,758 and end with number 1,055,092. The serial number on your rifle and it's date of manufacture place it in the low number single heat treatment class and should not be used for high pressure loads. This plus the fact that it has been rebarreled and therefore not original would detract from it's collector value. 0 -
Traditional knowledge would say "don't shoot it" however...
CMP has been selling these with no warnings. Springfield told someone I know who called them that the warning was stupid, that the problem came from poor ammunition in WW1 and only a few rifles ever blew up. So I say shoot it but don't go with any heavy loads, and make sure the barrel is clear.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
CMP includes a booklet entitled "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1903 READ THIS FIRST!" with every M1903. Page 4 states:
quote:WARNING!
A serious safety risk is associated with "low-number" receivers. DO NOT FIRE any Springfield Rifle with a "low number" receiver. Such rifles should be treated as valuable and historic items, not "shooters."
I don't think that CMP could be any clearer. There have been enough documented blowups of low number receivers that I would not fire one; I certainly wouldn't recommend that others do so.
Neal0 -
Huh. News to me. I didn't see a warning on their web page or in their catalog so I didn't figure they were issuing one. Seems stupid to let someone unknowingly buy a gun without this info.
Still, the gun has the same heat treatment the Krag did and people shoot those, with just one locking lug. Which is why I still suspect that it is safe with weak loads.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
Jonk and I have been through this topic before,about a year or year and a half ago. Enough early 1903 rifles blew up and enough people were hurt to cause the Government to change both the makeup of the steel and the heat treatment procedure starting at serial number 800,000. You can not compare the .30-40 Krag which operates at a chamber pressure of 42,000-45,000 P.S.I. to the .30-06 that operates at a chamber pressure of 50,000-55,00 P.S.I. Also, the Krag has only one locking lug on the bolt,but the rib that the bolt handle is attached to acts as a second locking lug. The decision as to shoot or don't shoot is up to you,but for me I would err on the side of safety. 0 -
THE TWO LOW # SPRINGFIELD THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE CMP HAD THE FIRING PIN TIPS GROUND OFF AS WELL AS THE WARNING LISTED ABOVE. 0
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