1903 Springfield question

[JWarren]

Hiya.

I was in a pawnshop yesterday while waiting for my mother to get out of another store.

I saw a 1903 Springfield that I was curious about. Can any of you give me any pertinent information about it?

Here's the run-down:

Manufacture: Springfield
Serial Number: 675,XXX

It had a stock that appeared to have a bit of a curve to the grip area.
The bore was a little dark, but the rifling as perfect, and there was zero pitting or frosting.
No dings whatsoever on the stock, and the bluing was 95% (only wear was a bit in the moving parts.)


What was I seeing here? It was priced at $599.


Thanks to all the gurus out there on this one. The rifle was a beauty to behold.


If I left anything out that would help, I'll try to answer it. I didn't notice how many grooves there were in the rifling.


-- John

 

[Al Thompson]

Peep sights or the ladder on top of the receiver and just back from the barrel/receiver junction? As you probably know, O3-A3s have peep sights.

 

[JWarren]

Al,

Thanks for responding.

I seem to remember a ladder rear and blade front.


So no A3, it seems....


-- John

 

[USSR]

John,

Please be aware it's a low-number Springfield, and therefor not recommended for shooting regular ammo due to the possibility of an improperly heat treated receiver.

Don

 

[JWarren]

Don,


Thanks for mentioning that. That was one of the questions I meant to ask.

I have always loved the Springfield, but I am no expert on them. (been meaning to getting around to learning more.)

I was wondering if this one qualified as one of the low numbered ones that had the "softer" metal receivers.

For a low number one, it was REALLY in good shape-- practically NO throat erosion.

I have to start wondering if this one was refinished. The stock was perfect and it had 95% bluing.


The owner of the shop said someone pawned it....



-- John

 

[rklessdriver]

Any Springfield 1903 under 800,000 is considered suspect. Here is the info:

http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/

That said I have one in 447,XXX range that is great shooter, very accurate. It was re built at SA in 1942. I don't shoot it very much and when I do its only with M2 ball. It'd be a shame to destroy such a peice of history trying to proof load it with modern hunting ammo but I don't see how a nice group of 10 rounds of good old US surplus is going to hurt every year or so.

$599 is a fair price if the rifle is as you described even if its WW2 rebuild. You didn't list the barrel date, or if it has the Hatcher hole in the reciever which is a dead give away. If its WW1 orginal barrel or an interim barrel (mid 30's) it's a real good deal.
Will