Over there, over there.........
- Thread starter Trooper224
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Really nice collection. A 1903 Springfield is missing from my collection and now they are becoming scarce and very expensive. Nice 1911 as well. 
Nice!
That rifle starred in sone of my favorite movies (The Sand Pebbles and The Professionals)
Has yours been through a rework? I'd love to own an unaltered US Model 1903.
That rifle starred in sone of my favorite movies (The Sand Pebbles and The Professionals)
Has yours been through a rework? I'd love to own an unaltered US Model 1903.
One of my great gun trade regrets is having traded off a very nice '03 with the scant stock back in the late 80s. I wouldn't have traded to anyone except the guy I let have it - he was my next door neighbor, a retired Pueblo County, Colorado deputy and armorer, who was a real friend and mentor to me as a young shooter. He really wanted that '03, and now I don't even remember what he traded me for it.
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Trooper224
Member
A rework of sorts. I restored it about fifteen years ago. The original barrel from 1918 was still in place, but it was a sewer pipe. The stock was the same vintage, but it was a Mk1 stock. It was also done as a shooter and was really only fit for kindling.
I found a collector in Arkansas with an NOS Springfield barrel with a '42 date, still packed in grease and cheese cloth. I talked him out of it, then had the barrel swapped. I made the stock, using the original as a guide. I also obtained several small parts in better shape than the ones on the gun: butt plate, magazine floorplate, etc. I was lucky on that, a lot of '03 parts have pretty well dried up since then. Finally, I had some antique brass sling hardware that I had Turner Slings mount on one of their slings.
All in all, I'm thrilled with how it turned out, and it's quite the shooter too.
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Trooper224
Member
The '03 has been my favorite rifle since I first saw Sergeant York when I was seven years old. The movies you've mentioned are faves as well.
DWalt
Member
I have a (nearly) original ‘03 Springfileld. Barrel stamp is 5-17, and the bore is in pretty good shape. It had a non-original bolt with the swept-back bolt handle when I bought it. I did find an original bolt body and transplanted the firing pin assembly and extractor. Headspace seems OK, and if anything, it is slightly tight. The original handguard was longitudinally split, but I found a new-condition replacement that appears identical to the original except it is in noticeably better cosmetic condition than the stock. I also stained the handguard a little darker to better match the shade of the stock. The stock is not bad but does show service use and wear. BTW I also have a 1918 Colt M1911 to go with it. Plus a Colt M1917. I once had a M1917 Enfield, but sold it long ago.
Joe Poyer’s book, “The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle” contains every detail you would ever need to know about the original ‘03s, their variations, and also the WWII versions, plus bayonets and all accoutrements. Highly recommended.
The consensus opinion is that Sgt. York probably had a 1917 Enfield, but there are differences of opinion on that point.
Joe Poyer’s book, “The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle” contains every detail you would ever need to know about the original ‘03s, their variations, and also the WWII versions, plus bayonets and all accoutrements. Highly recommended.
The consensus opinion is that Sgt. York probably had a 1917 Enfield, but there are differences of opinion on that point.
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Trooper224
Member
I'm in the camp that York used a '17, but Gary Cooper didn't.
My '17 has some advantages, but it's a pig of a rifle compared to the '03. Plus, it isn't nearly as cool.
DWalt
Member
Personally, I believe the 1917 Enfield was a far superior battle rifle in several respects. Certainly the sights were vastly better than the '03s and it could be fired more rapidly. After WWI, the U. S. Army very nearly adopted it as being the sole U. S. military rifle based on its excellent performance in the trenches. But that did not happen.
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Trooper224
Member
A friend's father began collecting guns before I was born, and decided to unload his collection. Before he sent them to the auction house, he allowed some of his son's friends to come and buy some things out of the collection. I was trying to get one of every type of US service rifle back to the Civil War, and there was a US 1917 rifle made by Winchester, and the period correct bayonet. I grabbed those for what was a good price back then (probably at least 20 years ago) and I still have them. Our local American Legion post has a mannekin of a WWI doughboy in uniform, and my plan is to leave them the 1917 rifle and bayonet to complete the display.
Really nice photo and composition, Trooper224.
I have a late 1918 Springfield that has a 2-44 HS replacement barrel and a scant stock with BAWL stamp. It sits in the safe next to a late 1943 Remington 1903A3 with a 10-43 RA flaming bomb barrel and a well sanded crossed cannons, FJA, RA stamped straight stock. The 1903 was a GB find and the 1903A3 was a CMP rifle.
I have a late 1918 Springfield that has a 2-44 HS replacement barrel and a scant stock with BAWL stamp. It sits in the safe next to a late 1943 Remington 1903A3 with a 10-43 RA flaming bomb barrel and a well sanded crossed cannons, FJA, RA stamped straight stock. The 1903 was a GB find and the 1903A3 was a CMP rifle.
DWalt
Member
Back in the DCM days, I bought two 03A3s. Both today would be considered unusual, if not rare, 03A3 variations. Of course, I sold both of them cheap long ago. I had a friend who got the sniper version 03A4. It is also very rare and highly desirable today. Because it did not have sights, he sold it for about what he paid for it. Hindsight is always 20/20.
LVSteve
Member
Mine is unaltered...except for where some joker chiseled either the gun's rack number or the last four of his social into the stock.
I have new a scant stock for it, but the original shows the sort of indignities these warhorses suffered in and out of service.Attachments
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