Scott Duff * PO Box 414 * Export, Pennsylvania 156321-724-327-8246 E-Mail sdufforder@alltel.net 1-724-327-4192 Fax
This page was last updated on 26 August 2008
In the descriptions of rifles, "TE" indicates the Throat Erosion Gage with M1903 Spacer reading and "MW" indicates the Muzzle Wear Gage reading of the barrel. Both gages are available on the Shooter Accessories & Tools page of this website.
WARNING: I have noted that many collectors are becoming interested in the M1903 Rifles for the first time. With that in mind, I feel it is worth reminding all that certain low serial numbered M1903 rifles may be unsafe to fire. The receivers of some early rifles are of questionable strength due to through hardening causing brittleness and resulting in receivers which may shatter! According to U.S. Army reports as published in Hatcher’s Notebook, Chapter XVIII (available from this website and very interesting reading) Springfield Armory M1903 rifles below serial number 800000 and Rock Island
M1903 rifles below serial number 285507 may be unsafe to fire. Firing these low serial numbered rifles has
caused serious injury as detailed in Hatcher’s Notebook! M1903 rifles with serial numbers below those previously stated should be considered as collectibles only and should not be fired!
!!SOLD!! 288-R1126. M1903, Springfield Armory, s/n 378717 (late 1909). This
is an honest example of a late 1909 production service rifle that is in
well-used condition. All exposed metal surfaces have light rust spots. The
original SA 11-09 barrel has a dark bore with TE = 3.0 and MW = 2.0. The
trigger is the early smooth type and the butt plate is also smooth. The
lettering on the safety and cut off are with serifs. The single stock bolt
stock has clearly visible J.F.C. cartouche, faintly visible proof P, and large
BU over 55 stamped on the right side near the butt plate. The hand guard is the
proper concave type with sight groove and reinforcing clips; this is about the
earliest you will see this type of hand guard. The stock has been repaired with
small pieces inlaid at the receiver to repair damage. Sale
includes a good condition M1907 leather sling with brass hardware. Please
see the warning at top of this webpage, SA M1903 rifles below s/n 800000 should
not be fired as they may be unsafe. - $695
!!SOLD!! 288-R1127. M1903 Heavy Barreled Match Rifle, Type T, Springfield Armory, s/n 1314463 (1929). This is an
excellent condition example of a scarce ’03 variant. This serial number is
listed in the Springfield Research Service (SRS)
database as a Type T. Overall the rifle is in excellent condition with
beautiful original bluing on all expected components. The 30-inch barrel has a
bright and shiny bore, TE = 4.0-, MW = 0.75. The bolt is polished nickel steel,
the cocking piece is the correct headless type, the rear sight is the proper
Lyman 48 type and the front sight is the
proper globe type. The original Springfield Armory installed scope blocks are
present. The NRA type stock is in excellent condition. More information on the
Type T Heavy Barrel Match Rifle is available on pages 129 to 131 in Lt. Col.
Brophy’s book The Springfield 1903 Rifles. This is a very scarce variant
of the M1903 rifle that is in excellent condition. - $8,995
!!SOLD!! 288-R1128. M1903, Springfield Armory, s/n 1412445 (1932) USMC M1941
look-alike. This rifle was assembled by a collector to be a representative
example of what a USMC M19141 Sniper Rifle looks like. It is not a real
one. All metal components of the rifle are Parkerized with some finish wear on
the lower band, trigger guard, and floor plate. The Sedgely barrel has the
typical S in a circle and is dated 10-43 with a bright and shiny bore, TE = 1.25,
MW = 1.0. The Parkerized bolt has a swept back handle and is not marked NS for
nickel steel. The trigger is smooth and the butt plate is the fine checkered
type. The excellent condition C-stock is unsanded with only a small s and 8
stamped in the cut-off cut out, drawing number D1836 stamped on the underside
of the stock forward of the rear sling swivel, with no cartouche, proof P, or
rebuild stamps. The blued finish scope is a USMC 8x, J. Unertl, serial number 2415
is in very good condition; the optics are clear with good crosshairs and only
one very small fleck near the intersection of the crosshairs. The sunshade is
included. If you have been watching the auctions you know that over half of the
price of this rifle is in the telescope. The mounts may be civilian. This is a
nice looking example that would display well. - $4,995
288-R1129. M1903A3, Remington Arms Co., s/n 4145763 (Dec. 1943). This is an excellent condition rebuilt
M1903A3 rifle. The RA 10-43,
2-groove barrel has a bright and shiny bore, TE = 1.0, MW = 1.0. The metal
finish is in excellent condition and is a uniform flat black Parkerizing
with some blued components. The scant grip (semi
pistol grip) stock is in very good condition with no cartouche, Ordnance
emblem, proof P, or rebuild stamps.
This is a very nice looking rifle. - $750
!!SOLD!! 288-R1130. M1903A4, Remington Arms Co., s/n 3423908 (Dec. 1943). This is a nice looking example of a World War
II sniper rifle without scope or rings. The Parkerized finish is in very
good condition. The RA 3-44, 2-groove barrel has a bright and shiny bore, TE = 1.0,
MW = 0.5. The Redfield scope mount has a Parkerized finish. The stock is a C-type with full pistol grip and
is in very good condition with an RIA over EB rebuild stamp (Rock Island Arsenal/Elmer
Bjerke) and two proof P in a circle stamps. This is the first ‘03A4 that we
have been able to offer in quite a while. Combat use of M1903A4s in
World War II and the Korean War are well documented. Collector interest in the
M1903A4 rifle has risen dramatically over the past several years; they have
become one of the most popular U.S.
sniper rifles of the WWII era. - $2,750
168-R1099. M1903, Springfield Armory, s/n 104984 (1905/190?). This is an early production rifle that
was originally either a rod bayonet type or M1905 caliber .30-03 type and was
rebuilt at Springfield Armory to its current configuration. There is no way to
determine if it started out as a rod bayonet or M1905. This alteration process
is described in depth in the out-of-print book Springfield
Model 1903 Service Rifle Production and Alteration 1905-1910 by C.S. Ferris
and John Beard. This rifle is original to its period
of overhaul and has all expected features of the period. The metal is nearly
devoid of finish, with only about 20 percent finish remaining. The bore of the
SA 3-06 barrel is dark and rough in the throat area, which is typical of most
‘03 rifles of this era due to the nature of the powder of the day, TE = 3.0 and
MW = 2.0-. The trigger is thin early type, the butt plate is smooth, the
windage knob is the proper smaller diameter type, and the hand guard is the
early type with no sighting line clearance cut or spring clips and has a small
s stamped on the top at the rear end of the hand guard. The early single-bolt
stock has the high profile at the receiver, with faint but visible script cartouche
and proof P, and there is a small s stamped on the end of the stock. The stock
has a somewhat shiny finish. Stamped on the left side of the stock, near the
butt plate are the letters USWV and on the top of the stock near the butt plate
tang is stamped UTAH. I am not
certain of their exact meaning, but they certainly are an interesting addition
to an already interesting rifle. It is a nice looking early ‘03 that shows
honest use and wear. Original M1903 rifles of this era and configuration are
scarce. Please see the warning at top of this webpage, SA M1903 rifles below s/n
800000 should not be fired as they may be unsafe. - Reduced to $1,895!
168-R1100. M1903, Springfield Armory, s/n 546055 (1915). This is a nice looking original rifle.
The finish has turned a uniform brown. The bore of the SA 5-13 barrel is dark
and rough in the throat area, which is typical of most ‘03 rifles of this era
due to the nature of the powder of the day, TE = 3.75, and MW = 2.0. The
trigger is the serrated type and the butt plate is the fine checkered type. The
lettering on the safety is with serifs and the cut off is sans serifs. The
single stock bolt stock is in good condition with no visible cartouche and faintly
visible script proof P. There is a small s on the end of the stock. The hand
guard is the proper concave type with sight groove and reinforcing clips.
Original pre WWI ‘03s have become tough to locate. Overall, this is a nice
looking rifle. Please see the warning at top of this webpage, SA M1903 rifles below s/n
800000 should not be fired as they may be unsafe. - Reduced to $1,295!
447-R1038. M1903, Springfield Armory, s/n 257806 (1906). This is a substantially original early
production rifle that is in good condition. The original finish is generally
good with some areas thinning to gray and having turned brown. The bore of the
SA 05 barrel is ever so slightly dark and speckled in some areas, which is
typical of ’03 rifles of this era due to the powder of the day, but the bore is
in far better condition than is usually found on this era ’03 rifle, TE = 3.75+,
and MW = 2.0-. The trigger is the thin early type, the butt plate is smooth,
the windage knob is the proper smaller diameter type, and the hand guard is the
early type with no sighting line clearance cut or reinforcing clips. The stock
is a “small s”, altered rod bayonet type with no reinforcing bolts, is high
profile at the receiver, and faint script JSA over 190? cartouche, and proof P.
I am unable to make out the last digit of the date. This is a scarce and
interesting stock. The only part that I see that is not original is the front
band, it has a Parkerized finish instead of blued. The price reflects this
part. The only The Original M1903 rifles of this era and in this condition are
scarce. Please see the warning at top of this webpage, SA M1903 rifles below s/n
800000 should not be fired as they may be unsafe. - Reduced to $1,595!
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