1903 Springfield (circa 1929) Help with hieroglyphics please

[sigp220.45]

I did a little horse trading and now have this old soldier.

I could use a little help with the various markings.

The serial number tells me its from 1929, and the barrel marking must mean it got a new Springfield barrel in 11/44. I recognize the FJA as the mark of Frank J Atwood, who was a WWII Ordnance Officer.

Any help on the rest?

It seems to be in nice shape. The stock isn't sanded down at least. The bore is a little rough, but the rifling is strong.

The sling is unmarked except for a small anchor on the underside of the metal adjustment tab.

Also, if anyone has access to the Springfield Research Service and can take a look for this serial number I would appreciate it greatly.

Those are definitely sights for young eyes, though.

 

[Muley Gil]

AA is Augusta Arsenal and RA is Remington Arms.

 

[ssgmac]

1903

Great rifle you have! Arsenal refurbed to put into action during WW2 of course! Many of these rifles were in use in 44-45 for rear echelon troops, earlier at the outbreak of WW2, this was the standard rifle and even into late 1942 in the pacific, many Marine units didn't receive the M1 rifle until 1943....
If you sell or trade for smith's let me know I collect WW1 and WW2...

Regards
Sean

 

[DWalt]

There is a book covering all variations of the '03 Springfields in fine detail, available from the North Cape Publishing Co. I have a copy, but I can't find it. I don't remember if it provided guidance into the various stampings used.

 

[us2]

I am a member of CMP Forum. Those guys know 03 Springfield the way these guys know SW. Its a great forum just like this one. Anything you want to know about 03's M1's or M1 Carbines.

 

[tndrfttom]

RA could be Remington Arms or Rairitan Arsenal but in this case I think its Remington. Remington used the geometric shaped inspectors marks located just forward on the trigger guard assembly. Also you will note the wood removed from the inside of the stock where the barrel and receiver meet. This allowed for installation of the handguard retaining ring on the M1903-A3. Stocks were made with this cutout and also a cut out for the M1903 barrel-mounted rear sight so the stocks could be used on either the M1903 and M1903-A3 rifles. AA stamps point to this going thru the Augusta Arsenal. That may be where a Remington stock got on a Springfield rifle.

 

[Wyo]

The AAH1 mark is an Augusta Arsenal overhaul and rebuild mark.

 

[jdlii]

The stamps in front of the floor plate are also rebuild stamps that were added at the time the major rebuild was performed. You are probably aware of the accuracy of these rifles but, if not, please take the time to shoot and enjoy exceptional accuracy from a service rifle!

Good luck and good shooting!

 

[deadin]

Te OP's M1903 has really seen a lot of various arsenals! (according to all of the stamps.)


I have one (serial 1274271 circ.1926) that has an 11-28 SA barrel, so probably original? The only cartouche I can find is an ICC in a rectangle on the left wrist and a round unreadable one on the belly of the butt stock. Nice bore but I haven't shot it yet. Came with a bandoleer of DEN 42 in stripper clips. (Definitely corrosive, so I probably won't be shooting them....)

 

[DWalt]

My only '03 at present (I have owned several others in the past) is a fairly pristine Springfield from early 1917 (pre-US entry into WWI), apparently all original and complete. The only thing I did was get a later bolt for shooting use, as some of the earlier bolts are suspect. Of course, I still have the original bolt. There is considerable fiction out there about how dangerous the early "Low Number" Springfields are, due to poor heat treatment of the receivers. In fact the Army never considered them dangerous, and never pulled them out of service. "Hatcher's Notebook" contains a lengthy discussion concerning the "Low Number" Springfields, concluding most of the blowups were more likely the result of bad ammunition and attempts to fire 8mm Mauser ammunition in them. I once had a friend who owned a very early '03, I think from around 1905 or thereabouts, and I have fired it a fair amount with military ammunition without consequences. My main complaint about the '03 is that I consider their sights an abomination. I am not sure how the '03 draws such honors for its accuracy. The M1917 Enfields, also from the WWI era, have vastly better sights, as do the WWII 03A3s. Had I been a WWI Doughboy, I would have greatly preferred being armed with the 1917 Enfield. Allegedly, that is what Sgt. York used.

 

[cmansguns]

THE book on 1903's, A3's and even A4's!

As Dewalt posted above, in my opinion, THE book on everything 1903 Springfield's (and all variations) is the book by Joe Poyer, as pictured below (sorry...cell phone pic only).

Mine is the 4th Edition which really added and updated a tremendous amount of info on these fine rifles.

My last 03-A3, a Remington all correct, not arsenal overhauled has long gone to another collector but the book remains in my library..just because you never can tell what may still come my way

According to Poyer Springfield serial number assignment at the start of 1929 was 1305901 and at the start of 1930 was 1338406 so your 1307511 is for sure 1929.

The book is really invaluable as a reference tool if you are serious about collecting and properly identifying the multitude of components, cartouches, etc. including the National Match variations in both 30-06 and 22.

That's a beauty you have there....enjoy it.

 

[Muley Gil]

DWalt said,

"My main complaint about the '03 is that I consider their sights an abomination. I am not sure how the '03 draws such honors for its accuracy."

Those sights didn't hinder the Marines during the First World War. The Germans were amazed that their men were getting picked off at 600 yards.

I think youth, good eyes and lots of practice, none of which I possess anymore made those sights effective.

 

[SRG]

Looks like a nice M1903 that has been through arsenal rebuild at least once after 1944. The stock on your rifle is from a Remington 1903A3. All of the markings on the stock, with the exception of the AAH1, are original to the Remington M1903A3. Also it has the WWII era pins instead of the earlier recoil bolts in the stock. Originally the 1903 did not have recoil bolts in the stock. The rear recoil bolt was added circa 1910 or so and the forward recoil bolt was added during WWI era. During WWII the bolts were replaced by the pins as a cost savings and production time saving measure.

 

[RCL-09]

Some of this is obvious/redundant, but here it goes.

Cross cannons and [FJA] in a box IS a "Frank J Atwood" acceptance mark from between 1941-44

AAH1is a rebuild check or test mark used between 1920 and 1955

RA is a Remington Arms stamp used on 1903a3 and 1903a4s.

The stamps in front of the trigger guard/magazine well are all Remington assembly inspection marks

as tndrfttom posted the void in front of the receiver is a handguard ring cut which would be used in 03a3 and 03a4 wooden handguard retention.

The squared off cut out for the barrel band retention spring indicates Remington as the Smith Corona was rounded.

The presence of recoil pins (the brass pins through the stock) instead of bolts would indicate a stock from either 1942 through 1944.

All that tells us that it is a Remington stock used for a Springfield rebuild. Which is not uncommon. It also coincides witht he 11-44 barrel date.

I cannot make outthemaek on the bolt handle but I would venture to say it is original to the gun unless there is a R stamped on it.

All hardware seems to be original to the Springfield make (again, unless there are "R" stamps on the parts).

Overall an original Springfield where the stock was replaced at some point in the 1944.

Beautiful piece of history.

 

[jimmyj]

IIRC (?) the USMC kept using their low number M1903s until replaced by Garands

 

[S&WIowegan]

IIRC (?) the USMC kept using their low number M1903s until replaced by Garands

Yes and they used their '03s to great effect on Guadalcanal!

 

[LVSteve]

You are probably aware of the accuracy of these rifles but, if not, please take the time to shoot and enjoy exceptional accuracy from a service rifle!

Good luck and good shooting!

I would add a few words of caution here. The 1903 is capable of great accuracy, along with many other military bolt guns of that era, of that there is no doubt. However, the 1903 is not immune from being abused, shot out, cleaned hard from the muzzle and a host of other bad things that can destroy accuracy. I've been on enough milsurp forums over the years to have read several threads where the OP is wailing that his 1903 does not shoot well. Well, it can happen.

 

[LVSteve]

DWalt said,

"My main complaint about the '03 is that I consider their sights an abomination. I am not sure how the '03 draws such honors for its accuracy."

Those sights didn't hinder the Marines during the First World War. The Germans were amazed that their men were getting picked off at 600 yards.

I think youth, good eyes and lots of practice, none of which I possess anymore made those sights effective.

^ That right there is the key. I also say the same regarding the Mauser 98K and its derivatives, because I find the standard barleycorn setup just plain awful. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the only really usable irons on a Mauser are on the Swedish 1896 and 1938 rifles.

While on the subject, the Model 1917 and Enfield No.4 peeps are so much better than the SMLE irons it's not funny. Pre-1940 Mosins had quite usable irons, but after that they went to a very shallow and narrow rear notch much like the 98K. Useless. Carcano sights are just weird as they require you to put the tip of the front sight in the bottom of the big rear notch. Small wonder many Americans think they shoot very high.

I have discovered that it is possible to screw up a rear peep setup at the design stage. The Egyptian FN-49 has a ludicrously small peep aperture that is unusable in certain light.

Sorry for the thread drift.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have a 1903 that was worked on and had a custom stock put on it.

It is a great shooter and no way will I ever get ride of it.
The iron peep sights on the back are good to 1,000 yards, if you
have good eye sight and 180 or 200gr BT bullets and are shooting
at a big 55 Gal. water barrel.

 

[Muley Gil]

I have a 1903 that was worked on and had a custom stock put on it.

It is a great shooter and no way will I ever get ride of it.
The iron peep sights on the back are good to 1,000 yards, if you
have good eye sight and 180 or 200gr BT bullets and are shooting
at a big 55 Gal. water barrel.

Sounds like good shooting to me.

I doubt I could even SEE a 55 gallon barrel at 1000 yards anymore, let alone hit one using iron sights.