Low serial # sporterized 1903

[GeauxTigers]

Hello all, here is my issue.
My grandfather has given me a sporterized Springfield manufacture 1903 that has sat in his garage for a long time. Today I took the scope mount off and found the serial number: 556270. The rifle has been rebarreled with a slim contour blued barrel that inexplicably has a front sight bead even though it was scoped and there is no rear sight?!? Anyway the receiver has a blue that matches the trigger guard and barrel. The bolt assembly appears to have been chromed and the finish on the bolt handle is flaking. The bolt handle has been modified to accommodate the scope. The scope is a Weaver K4 60-B that is in good condition. The Monte Carlo stock was some mildew and the glued on end cap has fallen off. Here are my questions.
1. This is a low # Springfield, why would a gunsmith at some time probably in the 60's do the work on a low # rifle like this? The heat treating issue had to be well known at the time.
2. What can I do with this piece? Despite the low probabilities involved in the receiver failures, will anyone do work on this rifle?
Thanks.

 

[xtarheel]

Liability issues are viewed differently today that in the 60's (more hungry lawyers). While it is hard to believe that a gunsmith at that time was unaware of the heat treating issues, a small percentage of receivers actually failed. Many of these rifles went throught the first World War and wore out the original barrel. Possibly, this was a rebarrel picked up cheap and sporterized. The receiver may lasat forever, or it may fail on the next shot. Is worth the risk, I think not.

I have a low number Rock Island in my collection that I wouldn't shoot.

 

[Big_R]

The hardness can be tested. A local machine shop should be able to help. It may be able to be re-heat treated. What caliber was it barreled to?

The front sight bead may have been used with a rear sight that mounted on one set of the scope mount holes?

Ryan