a brand new, never issued 1903 Springfield.

[tark]

This gem resides in the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. It is in 100% "N.I.B." condition. It is a R.I.A. gun (obviously) and it is a high number, double heat treated receiver. At least I think it is. It could be nickel steel, as the Arsenal was making the change over in 1918. For a brief period they were producing both. I wish I could get a clearer picture but the reflections on the glass from the museum lighting makes that difficult.

Whichever one it is, all I know is that I want it...and I CAN"T HAVE IT!!

 

[Mk-211]

I would like a diagram of the 1903 in your pictures.

 

[tark]

Google it. You can find all kinds of them.

 

[Mk-211]

I looked, still haven't found that particular version. I did find a few others that were kind of neat.

 

[CapnMac]

it is a high number,

Dunno, from potentially fickle memory, Springfields are "high number" if greater than 800K, the RIA were like 300-something thousand. I'll have to go dig my references out. So, that one looks very legit.
Now, the "in GI service" ones often have that been oiled often stock appearance (and aroma) that is hard to replicate (and might would be a thing to annoy curators)

 

[tark]

I looked, still haven't found that particular version. I did find a few others that were kind of neat.

That version if from an Arsenal tech sheet, or something or other, that was probably done up just for the museum. I could be a one-off; but I really don't know. I'll ask our Archivist if he knows anything about it.

Dunno, from potentially fickle memory, Springfields are "high number" if greater than 800K, the RIA were like 300-something thousand. I'll have to go dig my references out. So, that one looks very legit.
Now, the "in GI service" ones often have that been oiled often stock appearance (and aroma) that is hard to replicate (and might would be a thing to annoy curators)

The cutoff for the S.A. rifles was around 800,000. For the RIA guns it was 285,507. I don't know if that number is set in stone, or if it is an approximation. It kinda looks like a "set in stone" number.

 

[tark]

Mk-211 Our Archivist says that he has no idea where that diagram came from. Same from the Museum Director. I'll try to get a better pic for you this coming week.

 

[MEHavey]

See https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/03/26/first-hand-are-low-number-03s-unsafe-to-shoot/
First-hand/recent low-serial number experience.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I thought nickel steel came along later.

 

[tark]

I thought nickel steel came along later.

Rock Island started using nickel steel at serial# 319,921. This was in April, 1918. The 03 in my post is nickel steel.