[Snowdog]

Many years ago, my grandfather was showing me a 30-06 bolt action rifle used for elk that I believe he said was made by Springfield. He told me it was a "Star Gauge", which made it somewhat more valuable. When I asked him what that meant, I became somehow distracted and didn't pay close attention to his answer.
I do recall him saying it had something to do with being pulled off the assembly line and carefully inspected for quality purposes, then stamped as being a Star Gauge, though I may have misunderstood the jargon I thought I heard.

Now I wished I had paid more attention. He sold the gun years later, then died (I understand that's what can happen when you sell your guns).

In retrospect, I believe he meant that the rifle was a 30-06 Springfield caliber, as I'm not sure they made hunting rifles.
It was definately a sporting/hunting type commercial rifle, nothing like the '03 military format. I believe he may have purchased this rifle in the 50's or 60's. Any info on the elusive "Star Gauge" would be appreciated.

[Steve Smith]

Just so happens that the latest edition of American Rifleman has a rifle in in that was "star guaged." You ARE an NRA member, right?

Based upon the article, it (the star gauge) was a crude way of insuring bore consistency from chamber to muzzle. The tool looked like a star. Air gauging is the modern equivalent but is obviously much more accurate.

[Snowdog]

Member.... well, uh....

I failed to renew in time, and that was almost a year ago.
Procrastination has always been my primary flaw.

So, the process you describe is called "star gauging"?
Was there a particular brand that did this, or was this an industry standard?

Did the article mention any additional value for these rifles?

Thanks.

[Steve Smith]

I am not at home at the time. I'll look later tonight.

It might actually be in NRA Shooting Sports...I get both. I'll look tonight.

[cracked butt]

The rifle was probably an '03 springfield. I've seen barrels made by military contractors for the the 03 springfioled that were star guaged- which I'm guessing went into National Match rifles and maybe sniper rifles.

[dfariswheel]

Star gaging was a Springfield Armory test for 1903 National Match rifles.
The barrel was checked with the gage to insure it was uniform, then a Star was stamped on the end of the muzzle.

If you have a 1903 30/06 barrel with a Star mark on the muzzle it was intended to be used on a National Match rifle. Many barrels were "robbed" from NM rifles after they were considered shot out, and put on other rifles. There are also a number of counterfit Star-marked barrels out there.

As far as I know, the Star gage with Star stamp was exclusively a Springfield Armory 1903 "thing".

[Art Eatman]

Also, supposedly, barrels made with new or nearly-new cutters. This meant sharper edges on the lands and grooves.

Art

[Jim Watson]

And if you have the complete package, as a match shooter would have gotten when the rifle was new, there is a yellow card with the star gauge measurement for each inch of the length of the barrel.

Unfortunately, there are people with blank cards, a star gauge stamp, and a vibrotool to etch the serial number on the bolt as was also done to match and sporter Springfields. For a reasonable fee, you too can have a star gauge rifle. I know of no records to check against to catch such fakes.