U.S. Springfield 1903 Bolt Action Service Rifle. (f 398)………….SOLD

A Good M1903 Bolt Action Service Rifle from the First World War Period

Serial number 1234956 marked on the action which puts production in the year 1921.  This is the early pattern U.S. service rifle in .30-06 with a five shot internal magazine.  The rifle has the ability to function as a repeater or as a single shot weapon, by the turning of a mechanical switch at the rear of the action.  The switch acts on the bolt and restricts the distance back the bolt will travel, so restricting loading to single shot or enabling feed from the magazine.  The magazine can be “stripper clip” fed from above, the clip is held in a guide on the front of the rear action bridge and five rounds are pressed into the rifle in one movement.  The whole set up is basically Mauser in that the bolt cocks on closure and has a flag safety on the rear.  The flag safety will also lock the rifle in a closed position, or in the upright setting allow for the with-drawl of the bolt  in a position which is easier to strip.  The flag is marked “READY” and “SAFE”.  The round cocking piece can also be pulled to the rear to cock the rifle if required.

This early pattern of rifle is basically quite small and light in weight.  Overall the rifle measures 43.1/4″ in length.  The round barrel is 23.5/8″ in length and the “pull length” is 12.3/4″ to the centers.

Fully stocked in american black walnut, the rifle also has a wooden hand guard with a “hump” to protect the rear sights.  There is a slight chip missing from the tip of the fore-end as it disappears under the nose-cap.  In the for-end of the stock there are finger groves which help the user grasp the rifle.  The stock is a two cross bolt type with a central band and fore-end nose-cap with bayonet lug.  Fitted with an early smooth steel butt plate with flip-up trap for the cleaning equipment to be stored within the butt.  The stock is also fitted with two sling swivels and a stacking hook at the front end.

The receiver is marked as follows;  “U.S.  /  SPRINGFIELD  /  ARMORY  /  MODEL 1903 / 1234956,”  below which is the Hatcher gas escape hole on the RHS.  The leaf sights are graduated to 2850 yards  and have a total of five aiming points.  Windage is effected by a hatched turn screw at the front of the unit which “twists” the bed and allows for very effective windage adjustment.  The sights can be used in a upright position or set “lying down”.   The sight collar has the correct early “lightening” cuts on the barrel collar.  The finish on the rifle is mainly original with little indication of refinishing.  The action is starting to turn plum-brown with high edge wear indicating  fairly strong usage within the military.

The barrel is marked just behind the single blade fore-sight as follows; ” S A  /  flaming bomb /10 – 21.”   This indicates the barrel and action have stayed together from the day it was made.  Finish on this portion of the rifle is heavily worn, turning to a light grey.  Underneath the rifle, incorporated in the trigger guard is a magazine floor plate which can be opened to “drop” the rounds if needed.  The stocks are in excellent condition and show the patina of age in the form of a semi-polished finish which has built up over the years, however, this stock still retains the light colour of it original issue.

The bore is good, with slightly soft, uninterrupted rifling. There is light misting within the grooves.  It has the normal four-grove right-hand twist rifling.  The action is mechanically fine.  A considerable quantity of these rifles were converted to take the Pederson Device, this one has escaped that  occurrence and has remained as originally designed.  A fine representative example of the U.S. service rifle from just after the end of the First World War, in good, original condition.

Stock No’  f 398

£1050……….Sold

Comments Off on U.S. Springfield 1903 Bolt Action Service Rifle. (f 398)………….SOLD