• 1903 Serial Numbers To Avoid
• Rock Island 1903 Springfield
• Rock Island Arsenal 1903 Serial Numbers
• Rock Island Arsenal Model 1903 Serial Numbers
• Rock Island Arsenal 1903 Serial Numbers

Today we take a look at a personal firearm of mine, A rock island arsenal M1903 springfield rifle, a low serial number model that might prove more dangerous to you then the target. If you have a Rock Island 1903, it was made from 1906 to 1914 and was originally.30-06. They were used from that time through WWII in many cases, so saying it was a WWI-era gun would be correct. Serial Number/Barrel Date Lists: Springfield Armory M1903: Rock Island Arsenal M1903: Remington M1903: Remington M1903A3: Remington M1903A4: Smith Corona M1903A3: Steel Lot code / Bolt usage charts: Springfield Armory 1903-12 (S) Springfield Armory 1903-12 (M,B,C) Springfield Armory. Springfield Armory & Rock Island Arsenal Parts: 1917 Parts. Military M1903 Rifle: Rock Island Arsenal: Covering numbers: 1 - 445000. Please enter a serial number and click the submit button. Rock Island rifles BELOW Serial number 285507 are considered by many to be unsafe to fire due to heat tratment issues with the receiver. Value will be based on condition, orig inality,. Model 1903 Serial Number 1. The Model 1903 rifle was based on the design of the German Mauser, a bolt action, military rifle. Because it was designed and first produced by Springfield Armory, it. Model 1903 Serial Number 1. This site is sponsored by the Rock Island Arsenal Historical Society.

The U.S. M1903 and M1903A3 “Springfield” rifles are the greatest of all U.S. military issue bolt action rifles. This series of rifles was originally issued to the many proud and selfless Americans that answered freedom’s call during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.

The rifles continued to serve as ceremonial rifles by veterans’ organizations such as the VFW, AL, DAV and many others. We are pleased to offer these rifles for sale exclusively to members of CMP affiliated organizations.

These rifles have all seen considerable use. All have been rebuilt at one time or another and should be considered “mix-masters” as they have parts from all manufacturers. These rifles are all returns from veterans’ organizations. Complete rifles are functional. Appearance and overall exterior condition varies from fair to good, except for the barrels. These rifles have been used for ceremonial purposes for decades and probably have fired thousands of blank rounds. Bores may be dark with little or no rifling, pitting, and rust. Wood is sound, but may have minor cracks, dents, scratches and gouges that do not affect function. Metal finish may be worn in spots and minor pitting may be present.

Currently M1903 and M1903A3 models are not available and CMP is not accepting orders.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT EXPECT TO EVER AGAIN RECEIVE LARGE QUANTITIES OF THESE MODELS.

M1903*

WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” SPRINGFIELDS

M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous.

To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles.

In view of the safety risk the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all “low-number” Springfields. During WWII, however, the urgent need for rifles resulted in the rebuilding and reissuing of many “low-number” as well as “high-number” Springfields. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver.

Generally speaking, “low number” bolts can be distinguished from “high-number” bolts by the angle at which the bolt handle is bent down. All “low number” bolts have the bolt handle bent straight down, perpendicular to the axis of the bolt body. High number bolts have “swept-back” (or slightly rearward curved) bolt handles.

A few straight-bent bolts are of the double heat-treat type, but these are not easily identified, and until positively proved otherwise ANY straight-bent bolt should be assumed to be “low number”. All original swept-back bolts are definitely “high number”. In addition, any bolt marked “N.S.” (for nickel steel) can be safely regarded as “high number” if obtained directly from CMP (beware of re-marked fakes).

1903 Serial Numbers To Avoid

CMP DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WITH A ”LOW NUMBER” RECEIVER. Such rifles should be regarded as collector’s items, not “shooters”.

CMP ALSO DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE, REGARDLESS OF SERIAL NUMBER, WITH A SINGLE HEAT-TREATED “LOW NUMBER” BOLT. SUCH BOLTS, WHILE HISTORICALLY CORRECT FOR DISPLAY WITH A RIFLE OF WWI OR EARLIER VINTAGE, MAY BE DANGEROUS TO USE FOR SHOOTING.

THE UNITED STATES ARMY GENERALLY DID NOT SERIALIZE BOLTS. DO NOT RELY ON ANY SERIAL NUMBER APPEARING ON A BOLT TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH BOLT IS “HIGH NUMBER” OR “LOW NUMBER”.

Currently M1903 and M1903A3 models are not available and CMP is not accepting orders.

M1903 History

The Springfield M1903 can trace its design roots to the Spanish Mauser rifle so closely that many say that it is actually a Mauser design with only slight modifications. Despite these slight modifications, like a 2 piece firing pin, Mauser filed a lawsuit against the US government, which it won resulting in the payment of $3,000,000 to Mauser from the US.

The M1903, up until the United States involvement in World War I was produced by either The Springfield Armory (when it was federally owned) or Rock Island Arsenal and about 850,000 were produced up until that point. The M1903 was valued as a tool to the soldier because if its sheer power, high speed projectile and its accuracy. Also during this early time in the bolt action rifle's history, the introduction of the Pederson device (which was used to allow the M1903 to fire the .30 caliber pistol cartridge) occurred and modifications to the ammunition and sights were made.

During World War II additional manufacturers were added to the list of makers of the M1903, namely Remington and Smith-Corona (known for their typewriters). The Smith Corona M1903 rifle usually does not have any markings on the rifle, as many were produced in haste to fulfill the war demand.

By the time that the M1903-A4 was the Army's first standardized sniper rifle, but it was not well received mainly because optics were not evolved enough, with only low magnification and was prone to moisture gathering in the scope.

This rifle was mainly phased out of service before the Korean War in favor of the M1 Garand and M1 Rifles but is still used by honor guards and different drill squads.

Rock Island 1903 Springfield

M1903 Remington Serial Number Lookup:

Remingtons started production in 1941 with serial number 3,000,000, it was during this time that the finger grooved walnut stock was replaced by cheaper versions and the M1903-A3 was born. Visually they can be distinguished easily by the smaller aperture rear sight instead of the barrel mounted sight like previous rifles.

Serial Numbers by date (factory record book)

Rock Island Arsenal 1903 Serial Numbers

Rock Island Arsenal Model 1903 Serial Numbers

M1903 Owners Manuals Downloads :

Rock Island Arsenal 1903 Serial Numbers

From Remington M1903-A3