SRS Check

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Any information on what I have would be appreciated.

M1903 SA Receiver Ser #1032532, Barrel SA 11-18, zinc butt plate with Scant Stock.

I was stationed at MCB, Camp Pendleton, CA, 88-91, and showed the rifle to MGySgt Gus Fisher, who was Chief Armorer, SNOIC at Edson Range. Gus and I were at a local gun show at the time, and he checked the bore and said it measured less than a 1, and that it had not seen much use. The barrel is not stamped as star gauged on the crown. It has the Hatcher Hole on the left side of the receiver, and it appears to have been drilled since you can feel a wire edge to the hole. Crown is near perfect and rifling is crisp. There are no cartouches on the stock, only an "S" stamped where the cut off it located.

History as I know it:
Was given this rifle by my CID Chief Investigator MGySgt M.G. Spain in 1989, while I was working for him at CID MCB Camp Pendleton, CA. (Worked for MGySgt Spain at both Camp Lejeune and Pendleton as a CID Agent). He knew I was setting up at gun shows in Southern Ca, and said if I would help him liquidate several of his Dad's rifles, this one was mine. Sad thing was, one of the rifles was an almost mint Japanese Arisaka, complete with dust cover and the chrysanthemum had not been defaced, which I believe I sold at the Great Western Show for $110, and had a hard time getting that for it. Sure wish I had kept that one since it was a battle field pick up his Dad brought back from Iwo Jima.

Mike said his father Sgt John R. Spain Sr. 1941-1945 was a Distinguished Shooter and either won this rifle as a USMC Trophy Rifle at one of the matches or bought it from the USMC. After his Dad left the Corps, he was a member of the Forbes Rifle & Pistol Club, Albany, NY, and continued to use this rifle in various matches in Albany, NY. I asked Mike about the zinc buttplate and he said his Dad may have replaced it, but was not sure.

Mike said his Dad was at the first flag raising at Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, just before Joe Rosenthal's famous photo. Mike is digging up more info on his Dads military service for me.

I have never fired the rifle, although Mike said his Dad fired it in several 1,000 yd matches after he left the Corps.

Anyway, here are some photos. I don't have a macro lens for this camera, so I hope these will help.

S/F
Richard

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y417/tursad/M1903/IMG_4450_zps6a66af10.jpg

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y417/tursad/M1903/IMG_4451_zps6703e836.jpg

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y417/tursad/M1903/IMG_4452_zpsfe98c79e.jpg

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y417/tursad/M1903/IMG_4449_zps8e5d3086.jpg

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y417/tursad/M1903/IMG_4454_zpsac7d44ed.jpg

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y417/tursad/M1903/IMG_4453_zpsc25a0ebb.jpg

[Herschel]

Sorry but no hit on 1903 #1032532.

Next Closest listings were:
1032521 12-7-41, Salvaged, USS California
1032545 3-15-30, USMC, Nicaragua

For what it's worth.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Herschel:

Thanks for checking. Do you have any info if the USMC ever provided a M1903 in this configuration as a trophy rifle?

Additional info: Several months ago, I showed the rifle to Lynn Meredith and he said the bolt appeared to be an early bolt and if I was going to fire it much, I might want to use a later mfg bolt.

[Herschel]

I don't know or have any information about issue type 1903 rifles being awarded as trophies. I have seen photos of match winners at the national matches holding trophy NRA Sporters in the 1930's. When I was firing in the hipower matches at Cp Perry (1958-1967), there were M1 Rifles with highly polished metal finish, which we called black chrome, awarded as trophies. There were some Remington bolt guns awarded as trophies. I believe they were model 721's. Sorry I can't give any more info. I consider Lynn the top authority on 1903 Rifles. You can take what he says t o the bank.

[Cosine26]

Herschel
The Remington trophy rifles were 720's. I have one that i bought from Don Hamilton-a pistol hhooter

[TDP0311]

Pretty close to the SN on the Pearl Harbor rifle from the California.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Was doing a search last night and found this list that was posted by 1903shooter on CSP 7/27/10.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/showthread.php?11111-List-of-1903-s-on-the-USS-California...&p=78937

[John Beard]

Richard,

Thanks for sharing photos of your rifle. Your rifle exhibits numerous characteristics of USMC issuance, not the least of which includes the serial number (and original matching barrel date).

The rifle appears to exhibit some of the original blued finish on the barrel and receiver. The bolt and rear sight are replacements from an earlier rifle. The bolt sleeve is a replacement from a Remington M'03-A3. The stock and handguard are a matching set manufactured at Springfield Armory during early WWII. You will note an "S" stamped in the cutoff recess.

The zinc die-cast buttplate is from an early WWII Sedgley Cadet Rifle.

Hope this helps. Thanks again for sharing!

J.B.