The Firearms Forum banner

1903 Springfield (not 03-A3)

8K views 81 replies 10 participants last post by  2A-Jay 
#1 ·
I just inherited a 1903 Springfield (Remington) Serial number 3253444 from my uncle. I was hoping one of the '03 experts could give me an approximate Manufacture date an possible Value (for insurance purposes) bluing appears to be about 90% good, (only worn on bolt handle, Safety Toggle and some on Front sight band. It has an original Leather Sling. though I an not sure how to measure the barrel length, I believe it is a 24" barrel.

Revolver Shotgun
Gun Rifle Shotgun Air gun Trigger
Gun Shotgun Revolver Wood Air gun
Gun Rifle Firearm Trigger Shotgun


Any information or help would be greatly appreciated.
 
See less See more
4
  • Like
Reactions: Bama1022
#36 ·
Went to the Casino last night. Slipped $20 in my favorite Machine. Pulled out $100. Cashed it out, put the ticket in my shirt front. Put another 20 in the machine. Turned this one into $200. Cashed it out. Went to the Cashier cashed in both tickets. Went to find wifey, she was out of her money so we left. I didn't say a word about the winnings. I still had another $40 in my pocket. Took wife to dinner, she asked me why I didn't share that $40 with her while we were at the Casino. I told her I was tire and hungry and wanted to get something to eat and go home. When we got home, I handed her a $100 bill. Then I told her I wanted to go to Cabela's tomorrow (now today) she said "You don't need anything there. Talk about Gratitude:rolleyes: And yes I am going to Cabela's today to get a set of roll pin punches and Mat for my bench. Might even get a Hornady X too:D Forgot to mention she doesn't know I have the other 200
:p
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Mak
#38 ·
Well we are going to the Commissary today, and I aim to get a load of Porterhouse steaks and some good Bone in Ribeye steaks as well. I also have to stop by the Provost Marshalls Office to Register my Rifles on base so I can take them to the Base Range. I really thought about just keeping it all (an 8 pound jug of power ain't cheap
 
#40 ·
We usually make the trip at least once per month, for about 150 we get all the meat, eggs, cheese and pasta we need for nearly a month.

And today meat is on sale too!
 
#41 ·
Just an update with new info. With the help of the Staff librarian at Military Surplus Forum, I have found that it is likely that the only parts not Original to my '03 are the butt plate and the sling. I found out that Remington stamped all their milled parts with the very small Capitol, Stylized R. Sometimes in very hard to locate places.
 
#42 ·
Having read up on Marine Corp weapons history during WWII, the Marines were still using 1903 Springfields in the early years of the war in the Pacific, even while the Army was using Garands. so it is possible that this Springfield actually could have seen Combat. Though given the condition of the stock, unless the stock was later replaced, it didn't see action in the South Pacific.
Marines on Wake Island and Guadalcanal were still using 1903's....
 
#44 ·
At the time when the Marines started evaluating the Garand, most of the senior infantry types thought the Garand was a Mickey Mouse Gun. The '03 was at the time what the Marine Sharpshooters were winning Awards with.
 
#45 ·
From the info I received today in '42 the 03 had a smooth butt plate, this one has a fin checkered butt plate. I haven't pulled the butt plate off yet. This rifle has little Stylized R's in the strangest places. There are 3 of them on the rear sight alone.
 
#47 ·
You piqued my curiosity. So I went and looked. It has a Stamp there as well, I never thought to look there. I actually found a couple of the Little R's before this. I knew from the Style of the letter it was the Remington R. The more Cosmoline I get cleaned off the more clear things are to see. This is all getting really interesting to me.
 
#49 ·
Yes it is indeed. I just pulled the butt plate. Found a bit of rust on the inside of the plate but no stamps anywhere. Cleaned the rust of with a brass cleaning brush. Then wiped it down thoroughly with a CLP Wipe and replaced it on the stock. I then pulled the floor plate spring and follower. The floor plate has the R stamp but the follower has a W stamp, so that might not be original (I don't know enough yet to make that call). Did Winchester make Springfields also?
 
#52 ·
The W stamp on the follower stands for Winchester, the follower also fits the M1917 which was made by Winchester. Also found out that some of the Butt Plates on the '42 manufactured '03s were Checkered some were not. The Drawings for the '03 dated 1942 actually calls for a checkered butt plate, but for the fact that this rifle had been in for a rebuild/reproofing the butt plate may have come from a different rifle. Also the fact that the bolt is stamped with an R but is not swept back indicates that it is an early low number bolt and may still be original to the rifle, leaving the Butt Plate, follower and sling as possibly the only non original parts of the rifle.
 
#53 ·
Also the fact that the bolt is stamped with an R but is not swept back indicates that it is an early low number bolt and may still be original to the rifle
Remington never made any of the low number M1903s - those were strictly Springfield and Rock Island Armories. The 'sweepback" - for lack of a better term - on the correctly heat treated M1903 bolts was only about 5 degrees - barely noticeable.
 
#54 ·
I looked up images of 1942 '03's the clearest view of the bolt like mine was a 1942 Remington '03 sold at auction a couple years ago, showed the bolt handle coming down closer to the front of the trigger guard, while other pictures of while other Remington '03's had the knob on the bolt handle visibly closer to the trigger itself. The US Army Booklet I down loaded dated in 1942 does not show a sweptback bolt handle at all. The person who referenced "Low Number" Bolts may have been referencing Low Number Remingtons. I have sent a message asking him if that is the case.
 
#55 ·
I Just got the bolt off the rifle looked at the handle again, it definitely sits at a 90 degree angle to the bolt. What appears to be the R is not a complete stamp (you can see the round top part of the R with what looks like the beginning of the legs of the R) but is followed after a blank space by a capitol letter A similar to the RA between the flaming bomb and the front Sight.
 
#57 ·
I have the AR issue with that story in it in my collection of AR magazines. I read that story first. Very Interesting indeed.
 
#71 ·
If you remember that issue AR month/year if you don't mind posting it I would be greatful.I've been following the thread....really interesting. Thanks Joe
 
#59 ·
Top item's a Paris-Dunn Mk.1 USN training rifle, followed by a high number 1918 barrel date SA M1903, and 12/43 Remington M1903A3. Bought the Paris-Dunn simply because it's like one my dad and uncles would've used in close order drills and whatnot back in '42. Bolt operates and "cocks" a spring loader striker, rear sight ladder can be raised and the elevation slide raised or lowered.
 

Attachments

#60 ·
Bottom one is what I carried in boot camp as a drill rifle, Barrel plugged with some kind of metal, don't know if it was a steel rod or what. could only stick a pencil about an inch or so into the muzzle.By the end of the second week of boot camp had to have learned the 16 count Manual at arms, bythe 5th week we hd to learn the Queen Annes solute as well. When Rifle Qualification came around we did Fam Fire with the '03 before moving on to the M1 to shoot for score.QUalified Expert, then got a chance to Qualify for a medal on the Expert Range. Same M1 Qualified for the Expert Rifle, then that afternoon I qualified Expert on the 1911.
 
#63 ·
Ok go ahead and confuse me again:rolleyes:, just kidding. This was an educational moment for me actually.

After reading some more articles, I found out that the Stamped Lower Band on my '03 is actually appropriate to the rifle, the 1942 manufactured Remingtons were what was termed M1903 Modified. Meaning to reduce production costs and time of these rifles the Government authorized Remington to reduce Milling operations and substitute some Stamped components, Like the lower Band, the elimination of the Lightening Grooves near the rear sight, the Finger Grooves on the stock, Stamped Butt Plates, Stamped Followers, and later in the Contract Stamped Steel Triggerguards and Magazine boxes. Where earlier in the contract the government made a change that called for a one piece Milled Trigger Guard/Magazine.
 
#65 ·
Now I see the difference. Thanks George. I knew that joining TFF was a good thing from the first day, sometimes when I get on here it is like School's In. I have learned much yet still have much to learn. And there is even a playground at this school:D
 
#66 ·
During my Cosmoline Removal efforts (yes today is gun maintenance day) I soaked the butt plate in WD-40 for a while (this stuff loosens Cosmoline pretty well) I discovered the R stamp on the interior surface of the plate. this makes one less part of the gun suspect, leaving only the Follower (which is a Winchester part) and the unconfirmed origin of the bolt as not original to the rifle.
 
#67 ·
the unconfirmed origin of the bolt as not original to the rifle.
Bolts without the swept handle were early issue and manufactured by both Springfield and Rock Island Armories. That said, I seem to recall reading - and can't remember where - that when the US Govt. ordered M1903s from Remington part of the deal involved shipping to Remington the machinery, gauges, tooling, dies etc. used by Rock Island Armory for the manufacture of M1903s. Being that RIA ceased '03 production in 1919 perhaps Remington simply picked up where they left off, manufacturing straight bolts using the tooling and whatnot provided by RIA. Just a shot in the dark guess.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top