1903 A1?

[woodchukhntr]

I picked up a 1903 rifle today in very good condition.  The serial number is 132xxxx and the barrel is marked "SA 3-39".  It has a pistol grip stock that does not have any cartouches.  The trigger is serrated, the butt plate is smoooth.  The stock nose cap is blued.  It does not seem altered in any way.

Can anybody identify it and give an approximate value?

Thanks

[Mikey]

This is probably a Springfield Rifle Model 03A3 - I don't recall there being a 03A1.  Your rifle was most likely rebarrelled in a military armory but may or may not have seen action during WWII. 

I would value the rifle at $6-800 depending on condition and if all numbers match.  HTH.

[Larry Gibson]

Your rifle is a M1903A1.  The "A1" refers to configuration with the replacement of the S stock (straight grip) with the C stock (pistol grip).  This was done down to unit armorer level.  Also SA sold through DCM a lot M1903A1 "service rifles" from 1932 -40.  You could also purchase the stock during those same years from DCM to upgrade a M1903 to M1903A1 configuration.  The M1803 and Mark I versions in the C stock became M1903A1s.  The M1903A3 was originally supposed to have the C stock also but since large quanities of S stock blanks were already purchased they went with the S stock.

Larry Gibson

[Mikey]

Larry:  thanks for clarifying that, that's good information to have.

[ChrisK]

Nice looking rifle

[Avyctes]

A quick way to spot an 03A3 is the rear sight.  It has a sight very similar to the Type II/III sight they installed on M1 Carbines, and is located at the extreme rear of the receiver, while the 1903, 1903A1 had a mauser style leaf type rear sight located on the barrel forward of the receiver. 

I love that 03A1, Woodchuck.  I need a 03A1 and a m1917 to flesh out my WW2 US Service rifle collection.  I saw a couple beautiful examples of each at the Salem, Va gun show last weekend.  Just can't swing it right now.  Very nice find.

[bubbadad]

I have had an 1903 mark I for about 20 years now.it was sporterized when i got it,has been further customized by me.it has the original 4 groove barrel,shortened slightly.most accurate rifle i own! wish it would have been stock when i got it, it was cut for the PEDERSON DEVICE !!!!!!!!

[Bigeasy]

Just wanted to mention that there was inferior heat treating on early 03's, I think to about ser. # 800,000 or so.  Most experts on the 03 agree these guns shouldn't be fired.  It looks like yours is well past that serial number range though.

Larry

[AtlLaw]

there was inferior heat treating on early 03's, I think to about ser. # 800,000 or so.

Hey Larry,  I believe that # is for Springfield Arsenal manufactured '03's.  The number for Rock Island '03's was different.  But since the "Chucker" said his was Springfield manufactured... did RIA make any A1's?... I just need to be quiet and go back to sleep... 

[Bigeasy]

Richard, I think you may be right.  I don't know much about 03's, other then I remembered the heat treat issue did effect two manufacturers.

Larry

[woodchukhntr]

The receiver numbers are 800,000 for Springfield and 286,506 for Rock Island Arsenal.  Check out this ling:  http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/

I had a low-numbered Springfield sporter that I never should have sold off.  It had a beautiful hand-made stock and a Lyman peep sight that was dovetailed into the rear of the cocking piece.  I only used it with "The Load" (13 gr. of Red Dot powder) with various jacketed and cast bullets.  It shot very well. When I sold it, I made sure that the buyer was aware that it was one of the low-numbered guns.  I would buy another low-numbered rifles to shoot, but would not any full-powered loads in it.

[cybin]

I made the same mistake just before I went into the Army back in 1969. I had a Springfield Armory serial number in the range of 125,000 --had a williams peep sight mounted at the rear--fajin stock--best shooting rifle a guy would ever want. I wanted a .243 at the time and didn't have enough money for it--so swapped with boot-----No longer have th e.243 either. When we are young--I guess we all make mistakes.

cybin

[Darreld Walton]

The rifles produced in the era that yours was are VERY interesting pieces.  The last that came out of Springfield Armory, and were assembled concurrently with Garand production, so output was fairly low.
Check the end of the muzzle for a 'star gauge' mark.  Looks like an asterisk, or turtle with six legs.  Is the bolt polished, and if so, does it bear the rifle's serial number etched into it?
The reason I ask about the barrel and bolt is that SA built up National Match rifles right up to the start of WWII, and those two items are the most obvious indicators of a match gun.  Values for one of those over a 'standard' rifle are several times more.
Even if it's not a match rifle, the DCM was still selling 03's through civilian sales, and quite a few are out there, purchased, left unused, stored, and now popping up here and there.
Post what you have over on Culver's and request that someone run the serial number to see how it was disbursed, and the original configuration.  Well worth the effort.

[woodchukhntr]

The rifles produced in the era that yours was are VERY interesting pieces.  The last that came out of Springfield Armory, and were assembled concurrently with Garand production, so output was fairly low.
Check the end of the muzzle for a 'star gauge' mark.  Looks like an asterisk, or turtle with six legs.  Is the bolt polished, and if so, does it bear the rifle's serial number etched into it?
The reason I ask about the barrel and bolt is that SA built up National Match rifles right up to the start of WWII, and those two items are the most obvious indicators of a match gun.  Values for one of those over a 'standard' rifle are several times more.
Even if it's not a match rifle, the DCM was still selling 03's through civilian sales, and quite a few are out there, purchased, left unused, stored, and now popping up here and there.
Post what you have over on Culver's and request that someone run the serial number to see how it was disbursed, and the original configuration.  Well worth the effort.

It was traded at a gunshop for something that I "needed".  It didn't stay on the rack for more than a day or 2.

[Barstooler]

Your rifle was manufactored in 1929

http://www.nps.gov/spar/historyculture/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=135789

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903
[Dated by calendar year: January - December]

1903‑1‑16000
1904‑16001‑67000
1905‑67001‑119000
1906‑119001‑269450
1907‑269451‑337861
1908‑337862‑358084
1909‑358085‑398275
1910‑398276‑456375
1911‑456376‑502045
1912‑502046‑531520
1913‑531521‑570560
1914‑570561‑595600
1915‑595601‑620120
1916‑620121‑632825
1917‑632826‑761757
1918‑761758‑1055091
1919‑1055092‑1162500
1920‑1162501‑1211299
1921‑1211300‑1239640
1922‑1239641‑1252386
1923‑1252387‑1261486
1924‑1261487‑1267100
1925‑1267101‑1270300
1926‑1270301‑1274764
1927‑1274765‑1285265
1928‑1285266‑1305900
1929‑1305901‑1338405
1930‑1338406‑1369760
1931‑1369761‑1404025
1932‑1404026‑1425933
1933‑1425934‑1441811
1934‑1441812‑1491531
1935‑1491532‑1496022
1936‑PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1937‑1496023‑1510387
1938‑1939‑1510388‑1532878
Total: 1340000.
Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN800000
Introduction of nickel steel at SN1275767.

Very nice looking rifle.

Barstooler

[woodchukhntr]

Barstooler,

Thanks for the dates.  I no longer have the rifle, but the dates will come in handy for future buys.