tark
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Guess I should have mentioned in my earlier thread title that the Rifle in question is 100% and was never fired before going to the museum. It wasn't even proof tested. If I had a box to put it in it would be N.I.B.
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did I mention that 03 in my earlier post is un-fired
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tark
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Indeed it is, but the rifle was never intended to be issued. Like 03 #1, as the first one made with the new mods, it was taken directly off the production line and taken to the museum. Because it was never in the Army's inventory, it missed the recall that would have rechambered it from 30-03 to an 06. Its barrel is a full 24". The converted barrels ended up at 23.79" .
03s with the 1905 modifications that are still chambered on 30-03 are the rarest of the rare. Only a handful exist . They are scarcer than the rod bayonet rifles. One sold at the R.I.A. Company a couple of years back for well into five figures and it was pretty beat up. The one in the museum is....well....about as new as new can get. It is priceless.
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tark
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Simplest thing in the world. For starters , the museum records state that it was never proofed or function tested. Standard procedure was to fire one 70,000 PSI proof round followed by five standard service ball rounds and then re-check headspace.
Once this was done, a stamp consisting of a P within a circle was stamped into the underside of the grip area, just behind the trigger guard. Neither this rifle or #1 have that stamp.
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