Rock Islan Armoury 03

NorwegianViking · 12-16-2010, 03:51 PM

I was just looking around the interwebs and found a site that was selling a Rock Island 1903. This is what the description says: Decent condition 03, with an electric pencil numbering on the bolt that is different from the serial number - 141830. Rifling is sharp, action is crisp. Milled floorplate and trigger guard assembly. Barrel is a Springfield Armory June of 1942.

The price is 595 USD. Should i buy it or is it overpriced?

Jim K · 01-08-2011, 11:50 PM

If the serial number on the receiver is 141830, I would not buy that rifle. Rock Island receivers below 285,000 had the old single heat treatment; some turned out to be very brittle and a few have burst on firing. I strongly recommend not firing those rifles.

In addition, that rifle has been rebarrelled, and the bolt is not original. Plus it has been in possession of another country, since the US never numbered M1903 bolts in service.

A nice original Rock Island rifle would have considerable collector interest, even if a low number, since RIA didn't make as many M1903 rifles as Springfield did, but that rifle as is has near zero collector interest.

In short, I recommend against buying that rifle.

Jim

12-16-2010, 03:51 PM	#1
NorwegianViking Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1	Rock Islan Armoury 03 I was just looking around the interwebs and found a site that was selling a Rock Island 1903. This is what the description says: Decent condition 03, with an electric pencil numbering on the bolt that is different from the serial number - 141830. Rifling is sharp, action is crisp. Milled floorplate and trigger guard assembly. Barrel is a Springfield Armory June of 1942. The price is 595 USD. Should i buy it or is it overpriced? -->

01-08-2011, 11:50 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Rock Islan Armoury 03 If the serial number on the receiver is 141830, I would not buy that rifle. Rock Island receivers below 285,000 had the old single heat treatment; some turned out to be very brittle and a few have burst on firing. I strongly recommend not firing those rifles. In addition, that rifle has been rebarrelled, and the bolt is not original. Plus it has been in possession of another country, since the US never numbered M1903 bolts in service. A nice original Rock Island rifle would have considerable collector interest, even if a low number, since RIA didn't make as many M1903 rifles as Springfield did, but that rifle as is has near zero collector interest. In short, I recommend against buying that rifle. Jim