Scott Duff * PO Box 414 * Export, Pennsylvania 156321-724-327-8246 E-Mail sdufforder@windstream.net 1-724-327-4192 Fax
This page was last updated on 25 January 2010
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!! 010-R1326. This is a grouping of three early 1960s DCM sales firearms
all sold to the same person with documentation on each, they are: M1903A3
Remington Arms Co. s/n 3854371; M1 Carbine Inland s/n 5083297; M1911 Colt s/n
394029.I received these three firearms
from the collector who purchased them directly from his elderly neighbor
several years ago. Remember, back in the 1960s each qualified individual was
only permitted to purchase from the DCM, one of each model firearm. This is the
first time we have been able to offer three different types of firearms
purchased over 45 years ago by the same person, with original documentation.
This is an outstanding grouping. Each is detailed below. They will only be sold as a group. – The price
for all three is $3,895
M1903A3 Remington Arms Co. s/n 3854371 (Aug. 1943). This is an excellent condition arsenal
overhauled rifle. The RA 6-43, 2-groove
barrel has a bright and shiny bore, TE = 2.0, MW = 1.0. The Parkerized metal
finish is in excellent condition. The Remington stock is in excellent condition
with 3 GM-K rebuild stamp on the left side where the original cartouches were,
with original proof P in a circle, and faintly visible typical stamps
forward of the trigger guard floor plate. Included
is a front sight cover. This rifle appears to have been unissued after
overhaul. Included are the original NRA mailing envelope and three
original documents dating the sale to 1961. This is a very nice looking rebuilt
M1903A3 rifle.
M1 Carbine Inland s/n 5083297 (late summer 1944). This is an
excellent condition rebuilt World War II carbine. The Inland 3-44 barrel has a
bright and shiny bore, MW = -1.0. Featured parts include: DuLite finish flat
bolt, early type operating slide, smooth-face push-button safety, M on face mag
catch, stamped adjustable rear sight, and type 3 front band with bayonet lug.
The stock is in very good condition with Q-RMC stamped in the sling cut out,
small Ordnance emblem on the right side, and an RIA over EB rebuild cartouche
on the left side. The 2-rivet hand guard matches the condition of the stock. This
carbine appears to have been unissued after rebuild. Included are the original
NRA mailing envelope and three original documents dating the sale to 1964. This
is a very nice looking rebuilt M1 carbine.
M1911 Pistol Colt s/n 394029 (Aug. 1918). This
is a M1911 pistol that was originally manufactured by Colt in August of 1918
and rebuilt during or after World War II. The Parkerized finish is in very good
condition with only slight finish wear at the front edges of the slide and
frame. The slide is a Remington UMC, which
is fairly scarce. The blued HS barrel has a bright and shiny bore. The hammer
is the wide spur type, the trigger is the long M1911 type, the main spring
housing is smooth and flat with lanyard loop, and included is one original
World War II blued magazine marked with an R. Also included is the original
NRA/DCM shipping box and paper dated May
24, 1963. This is a nice looking rebuilt M1911 pistol.
010-R1327. M1903 Springfield Armory NRA Sporter, s/n 1295721 (1928). Between 1923 and 1938,
Springfield Armory manufactured 5,538 M1903 NRA Sporters for civilian sales
through the DCM and NRA. They are a version of the National Match rifle, but
equipped with a sporter-type stock and butt plate and Lyman 48 rear sight. This
rifle is an excellent specimen. The star gauged SA 8-28 barrel has a bright and
shiny bore, TE = 2.75, MW = 0.5. The stock is marked with a proof P in a
circle. These rifles did not have cartouches as they were civilian sales and
not accepted for the military. The craftsmanship used to manufacture these
rifles places them in the “artwork in wood and metal” class; they are beautiful
and clearly show the quality of pre-World War II workmanship! - $3,295
!!SOLD!! 010-R1328. M1903A4, Remington Arms Co., s/n 3411083 (Jun. 1943). This is a nice looking World War II sniper
rifle. Overall, the rifle is in very good condition with the expected mix of Parkerized and blued components. The
metal components and stock exhibit uniform condition and finish wear. The original
RA 4-43, 4-groove barrel has a bright and shiny bore, TE = 4.0, MW = 2.5. The
Redfield scope mount is of dark gray Parkerized finish, the scope rings are
also dark gray Parkerizing. The scope is an M73B1 with cross-wire reticle with
no electro-pencil etched serial number. The blued finish of the scope is in very
good condition and the optics are sharp and clear. The type C (full pistol grip) stock is in very good condition with a FJA cartouche, RA stamp, Ordnance emblem, proof
P in a circle, typical stampings forward of the trigger guard floor plate, and BA
over JPL rebuild (re-inspected?) stamps. BA is Benicia Arsenal in California. At the rear of the trigger guard, on both
sides, there are three inch long cracks (see photos). They cannot be twisted to
open and may have been glued. These cracks are reflected in the price. Sale includes a khaki WWII M1 web sling. We have
only occasionally been able to offer a M1903A4 with an M73B1 scope as most of
the ‘03A4s encountered are found with a Weaver 330 or M84 scope. 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. This is a very nice looking example with a very
desirable scope. - $3,495
!!SOLD!! 010-R1329. M1903A4, Remington Arms Co. s/n Z4002727 (Jan. 1944).
This is a nice looking example of the fairly scarce Z series M1903A4 rifle. The
rifle was rebuilt and re-Parkerized and has a uniform gray Parkerized finish
throughout. Overall, the rifle is in
very good condition. The RA 9-43, 2-groove barrel has a bright and shiny bore,
TE = 1.75, MW = 1.75. The Redfield scope mount is of Parkerized finish
as are the scope rings. The scope is a Weaver Model 330 with cross-wire
reticle and is electro-pencil etched TELESCOPE M73B1 over SERIAL NO. 9383. The original blued finish of the scope is in very good condition with
some finish wear on the edges and sharp and clear optics. The stock is the scant grip type (semi pistol
grip) and is in very good condition with FJA cartouche, RA stamp, Ordnance emblem, proof
P in a circle, typical stampings forward of the trigger guard floor plate, and
RIA over EB rebuild stamp. 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. This is a very nice looking example of a scarce
sub-variant (Z series). - $3,595
010-R1330. M2, Springfield Armory, s/n 18059. This is a very good condition M2 rifle. The
barrel is an SA 8-42. The flat black Parkerized finish is in very good
condition. The bolt is an M2 and marked NS for nickel steel. The rear sight is
the proper Lyman receiver sight and the front sight is the standard service type.
One magazine is included. The military finger groove stock is in very good
condition and has the proper course-checkered butt plate. There is what appears
to be a short (1 inch long) crack in the stock to the rear of the trigger guard
(see photo), but I am not certain that it is actually a crack as I cannot get
it to open up. It may be nothing more than a mark in the wood. I’ve priced it
assuming that it is a small crack. Sale
includes a very good condition M1907 sling marked BOYT -44-, which is easily
worth $150+. This is a very nice looking example. - $1,495
449-R1320. M1903, Springfield Armory, s/n 1182053 National Match (1920). This is a very rare
early Model 1903 National Match rifle. The metal finish is in very good to
excellent condition. This early example pre-dates the use of the star-gauged marking
on the end of the barrel. The SA 1-20 barrel has a bright and shiny bore, TE =
4.5, and MW = 1.0-. Featured parts and NM modifications include: bolt (J6 heat
lot) is polished, bolt raceways of the receiver are polished, polished
follower, bright barrel breech, barrel marked W188 under the hand guard, free
floated front band, proper RIA cutoff (not SA Mark I of the period), rear sight
leaf is the type without 2,850-yard notch, serrated trigger, and fine-checkered
NM-type butt plate. The finger-groove S-stock is in excellent condition with DAL
cartouche and proof P in a circle. Sale
includes a period modified M1907 leather sling and an email and notes from
M1903 authority John Beard identifying this rifle as a very scarce 1920 NM
rifle. Overall, this is a very nice looking NM rifle. - Reduced to $3,795!
299-R1261. M1903 National Match Special, Springfield Armory, s/n 1267344 (1925). This is an
undocumented, no Springfield Research Service (SRS)
letter or DCM sales information, rifle that matches the description of a
National Match Special as detailed in text and photographs in The
Springfield 1903 Rifles by Lt. Col. William S. Brophy on pages 203-205.
According to Brophy, these National Match Special rifles were available through
the DCM from 1924 through 1928. He describes this model as a National Match
grade rifle fitted with Model 1922 pistol grip stock with military forend. The
stock has a pistol grip of the type found on the Style T and NRA Sporter, has
an all-steel shotgun type butt plate, and full-length military forend without
finger grooves. Featured parts and NM modifications include: the bolt and
extractor are polished and the full serial number is etched on the bolt, headless
cocking piece, reversed safety, serrated trigger, the rear sight leaf is the
type without 2,850-yard notch, a Lyman receiver sight, and the front sight is a
gold bead Marbles. Overall the metal finish is in very good to excellent
condition. The bore of the star-gauged SA 9-24 barrel is bright and shiny, TE =
4.0+, and MW = 2.25. The stock and handguard are in excellent condition. As
described by Brophy, there is no inspector’s cartouche and there is a proof P
in a circle stamped on the pistol grip. The full serial number of the rifle is stamped
forward of the rear sling swivel and the drawing number D28179 is stamped on
the handguard. This is a rarely seen’03 NM variation as not many were made. The
Standard Catalog of Military Firearms, 4th edition lists the price of this
rifle at $6,500 with documentation; as we do not have documentation on this
rifle the price is about 20-percent lower. - Reduced to $4,495!
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