New to me 1903 Springfield

[Slyy]

Hi the THR, not too new around here but don't post very often (mostly lurk for information). I recently received a few old guns from my Uncle including this Springfield rifle. My issue is that somewhere in its life it lost some pieces, the story I have heard was that it was going to be sporterized but never made it all the way through.

My dilemma is that I want to return it to as original as possible condition but I need to take assessment of what is missing. Please respond with whatever information you can give me. I am trying to familiarize myself with this piece of history but I know the people here are a valuable resource.

Thank You!

 

[Slamfire]

If the serial number is 866, XXX then it is a double heat treat receiver and safe to use with normal loads.

If the serial is 86, 6XX or 866x, (the serif is wrong for that low of a number) then you have a single heat treat receiver and should research what that means before you shoot it.

Your rifle is barreled with a 1932 barrel. Since a 866,XXX receiver is around 1918, the rifle has been rebarreled.

I can’t see your bolt, so I have no idea if it is correct for the receiver.

Who ever cut the stock at the lower band really did damage to a nice WW1 era stock. Early straight grip stocks with finger grooves are hard to find. Horrible to shoot as they are short and the straight grip just beats your face up, but still, not a lot of originals around any more.

You are missing the upper handguard, upper band, lower band and you will need a replacement stock to restore it to military configuration.

It might be worth it to do this.

 

[Slyy]

Thanks Slamfire for the response!

Yes the serial is 866XXX. I was pretty sure the stock was cut, so a little bummed about that. Certainly my intention is to restore it as best I can. This is a "family" gun so I have no intention to sell it or anything similar.

Here is a picture of the bolt as well, again thanks for the information!!

 

[Slamfire]

Looks like a smooth bolt, would need bolt root identification to determine age.

You can go to this web site and find a wealth of information on bolt markings and other Springfield data.

http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html

I have a collection of old American Rifleman magazines and you can see the post WWII advice of "Sportizing" in articles. Articles written by gunsmiths, which I believe was a way of drumming up business by getting their names in print, directing people to suppliers which they had business relationships, suggesting to the general populace that this was a “smart” thing to do.

About as smart as pounding a nail in your head from which to hang pictures.

Even at the time, anyone interested in collecting could compare the value of all original Civil War and post Civil War firearms, with bubba'd versions and understand that taking a hack saw to original military arms would in time greatly reduce the value. Incidentally back then, as now, adding a new stock, drilling and tapping for mounts, buying scope mounts, polishing and bluing, replacing the barrel, these things quickly brought the price of that old military rifle above that of a ready to go factory sporter.

Highly suggestible readers did not understand the profit motive behind the articles, took hacksaws to their all correct military rifles, lost parts, and here we are…

 

[dprice3844444]

cmp forum,cmp.org,http://northridgeinc.com/alias.cfm/springfield_1903_A3_parts/

google 03 springfield parts

 

[Dr.Rob]

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/Replacement-Stocks-1903-Springfield-s/50.htm

You'll still need the metal parts, but rather than buy a beat up military non matching stock... Boyds makes really nice stuff.

 

[Slyy]

Appreciate the wealth of information all, why I joined this forum! Hopefully I can post so
E restore pictures in the not too distant future!

 

[highpower]

Your bolt is the proper swept handle bolt for a high number receiver so it is quite safe to use. Once you find the stock, the rest of the metal parts aren't really all that hard to find.

One thing you might consider is to build it as a pre WW2 rebuild, since that is what it probably was before it was cut up. If you do that, it is "correct" as a arsenal overhauled rifle.

Here is a picture of a post WW1 rebuilt '03. This rifle has a 1905 receiver with the original early stock that has had the cross bolts added to it during the rebuild process. It also has a 1919 dated barrel and the stamps on the stock indicate that it was sent to the Philippines after it's overhaul.

 

[7mmsavage]

IMHO, those early 1903's, like highpower's, are one of the best looking mass produced bolt rifles ever built. I am often amazed that rifles like those and many others were built with the sole purpose of going into war.

 

[Kachok]

That is one fantastic looking rifle highpower.

 

[Slyy]

Okay another question I have, I may certainly be mistaken, but it appears my ruined stock has the cut out for the Pedersen device?

Though obviously the rifle itself has not been modified as such.

 

[HDCamel]

Horrible to shoot as they are short and the straight grip just beats your face up

Speak for yourself.
I never had trouble with my uncle's. In fact, a straight-stocked 1903 is on my short list because of how much I like the handling.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Great candidate for restoration. Places like CMP, surplus rifle forum and mil-surp collectors forum can be great souses for parts from fellow '03 lovers. Finding the correct stock and furniture should not be difficult at all.

The S stock with grasping grooves and two recoil bolts would be the most common found on that vintage rifle.

 

[Jim Watson]

Hmm. Brings up a point.
If it got a new barrel in 1932, it MIGHT have gotten a new stock, too.
I think the "C" stock is better looking and more comfortable to shoot than the original "S" type. And you can't say for sure that an overhauled rifle didn't have one. So it would be just as authentic as any other combination by now.

 

[Slyy]

Even though new, CMP seems to have what i'm after stock wise for a very decent price. I think that is my first choice and then I can always by a period stock for more at a later date.

 

[rklessdriver]

SARCO has stocks and bands... everything you need to put your 1903 in new shoes...

http://www.sarcoinc.com/springfields.html#cstk

Will