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Fred
03-22-2014, 01:40
Here is some information and photo's of my 1920 National Match 1903 in the format Chuck Russell uses. I'm also including first, Chucks information on two other rifles that are on his list of rifles in that serial number range. One of these is described as a National Match (1920) rifle and the other, although not labeled as a (1920) National Match, certainly sounds like one too.


1,180,369 Auction photos
Springfield Armory
BARREL- SA 12-19
BOLT- angled handle, J6 top base of bolt handle
STOCK- block DAL in rectangle, circled P; front and rear stock bolts
HAND GUARD- might have lower profile hump
BUTT PLATE- fine checkered
TRIGGER- thick profile
RECEIVER- NOT MK I marked Gunbroker 9-2013



1,182,053 NATIONAL MATCH dealer web site
Springfield Armory
BARREL- SA 1-20 predates star gauging
BOLT- bent handle; J 6 ; polished
STOCK- block DAL in rectangle; circled block P; front and rear stock bolts
BUTT- fine checkered
TRIGGER- serrated
CUT-OFF- letters with serifs
REAR SIGHT- dished windage and elevation screws; leaf without 2850 yd notch rifle was verified by John Beard according to dealer’s text Scott Duff 3-2010





1,181,006 National Match
Springfield Armory
BARREL- SA 11-19 Without star gauge stamp (predates use of)
BOLT- Brightly polished, angled handle, J5 under safety lug
STOCK- block DAL in rectangle, block circle P, front and rear stock bolts
HAND GUARD- post high hump or full hump with Sighting Groove, fixturing slot
BUTT PLATE- fine checkered, minty nickel plated oiler with accessories in butt trap that came with the rifle
TRIGGER- serrated
CUT-OFF- color case hardened, block letters
SAFETY- block letters
RECEIVER- Not Mark I marked. This is a 1920 National Match rifle in unused condition.
REAR SIGHT- dished windage and elevation screws; leaf without 2850 yd. notch
This rifle was verified by John Beard


It's of some interest that the bolt on my rifle is a J5 instead of the expected J6 that is on some other 1920 National Match rifles. No doubt correct for my rifle as is the non-serif cut off it has too.


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/nmr5_zps935de84f.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/nmr5_zps935de84f.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/nmr9_zps7218c081.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/nmr9_zps7218c081.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR1_zps61bb774f.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR1_zps61bb774f.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR33_zpsf079ee5f.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR33_zpsf079ee5f.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR30_zps89047abb.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR30_zps89047abb.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR10_zps67944e10.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR10_zps67944e10.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR13_zpsa0a9d7c2.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR13_zpsa0a9d7c2.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR12_zps78deb273.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR12_zps78deb273.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR2_zps77a974f9.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR2_zps77a974f9.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMr3_zps8590df5c.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMr3_zps8590df5c.jpg.html)
Fred
03-22-2014, 01:43
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/nmr7_zps0ffd9ec0.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/nmr7_zps0ffd9ec0.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/nmr6_zps6fd959f2.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/nmr6_zps6fd959f2.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/nmr8_zps7f25aa10.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/nmr8_zps7f25aa10.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/nmr9_zps7218c081.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/nmr9_zps7218c081.jpg.html)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NMR11_zps2ddb48db.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NMR11_zps2ddb48db.jpg.html)
Fred
03-22-2014, 01:46
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/NM22_zps1ecb5259.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/NM22_zps1ecb5259.jpg.html)
Chuck Russell
03-22-2014, 02:02
Beautiful rifle. Fantastic example of case coloring on a cut-off , too. A while back I heard the curator of the Cody firearms collection talk about the effect of sun light on case coloring. He had photos of an Annie Oakley .22 rifle that had been in a display case that was exposed to a bit of indirect sun for a short time. Very distinct line of fading on the exposed portion of the receiver. I digress. Beautiful rifle. Thanks for the pics.
Fred
03-22-2014, 02:28
Thanks Chuck. Yea, I noticed the effect of sunlight on color case hardening back in the seventies when I'd see brilliant colors on the underside of Trapdoor Springfield breech blocks whose outer sides were faded and gray. I think that this rifle must've been kept in a rifle cabinet away from any Kids and any direct sunlight or even in a dark closet ever since it was bought and brought home by some owner who was in the military. As you know, only military personnel were allowed to purchase the 1920 National Match rifles. Maybe the owner died without ever having the chance to use it. Anyway, the rifle sure doesn't show any use at all. It wasn't even listed as a National Match rifle on Gun Broker. The seller thought and stated that it was just a fine looking rifle. That accounts for why I was able to just buy it without any competition. John Beard knew about it of course when I asked him if he could please verify it as a National Match rifle for me, but he was a gracious gentleman who knew that I wanted to buy it, so he was just waiting for me to put the rifle back down onto the table so to speak (gun show etiquette) before he no doubt would've then been on it like the proverbial Hobo on a Ham Sandwich. I haven't ever fired it yet. Heck, I haven't ever fired any of the 1903's in our cabinet. Maybe it hasn't been fired in 90 odd years. The bore is sharp and the rifle appears to have all of the original Asphaultum finish on it.
Doug Douglass
03-22-2014, 03:39
Sweet, sweet, sweet......it would look great with my 1919 NM and 1921 NM. I want it.......
Fred
03-22-2014, 03:42
Got any pictures of your 1919 and 1921 NM's Doug?
Rick the Librarian
03-22-2014, 08:12
I've also got a SA NM 1919 - would sure like a RIA 1919 NM to make them a "matched set"! :D
Fred
03-22-2014, 08:43
Somebody (maybe John Beard) told me the number of Rock Island NM rifles made that year but I've forgotten the number. It was less than the Springfields. I do know (believe I do anyway) that there were 3,000 1920 National Match rifles made.
I've seen your 1919 National Match Rick and it's sure a Beauty!
Jon Field
03-23-2014, 06:39
Beautiful rifle!
Doug Douglass
03-23-2014, 07:18
Got any pictures of your 1919 and 1921 NM's Doug?

Posting photos is greek to me. The 1919 is mint, the 1921 is my shooter, SA rebuilt ?? times with a 1927 *barrel.
m1903rifle
03-23-2014, 03:34
Doug,
Send the photos to me and I will post them for you.
Everett everett156ATknologyDOTnet
John Beard
03-23-2014, 05:46
I've also got a SA NM 1919 - would sure like a RIA 1919 NM to make them a "matched set"! :D

I can count the number of known RIA 1919 NM rifles on the fingers of one hand, and have several fingers left over. If you go searching for one, I suggest that you first make friends with the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve System.

J.B.
Fred
03-23-2014, 08:30
Did they make 3000 of them?
John Beard
03-23-2014, 08:53
Did they make 3000 of them?

RIA made 2,000 NM 1919 rifles with a possible production overrun of 251 rifles.

J.B.
Fred
03-23-2014, 09:08
Interesting. Was it the 1920 National Match rifle that Springfield made 3000 of John?
Fred
03-24-2014, 04:34
OK, I looked it up and yes, 3000 National Match 03's were made for the 1920 competitions.
Rick the Librarian
03-24-2014, 09:39
I can count the number of known RIA 1919 NM rifles on the fingers of one hand, and have several fingers left over. If you go searching for one, I suggest that you first make friends with the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve System.

J.B.

So, what happened with the 2000 made, they went back into the "system"?
Cosine26
03-24-2014, 10:38
Wasn't it at the 1921 Nationals that the NM M1903's were first sold to the public? If so, would not the 1920 NM M1903's be returned for rebuild or return to service configuration?
I also note that all of the rifles pictured have the fine checkering on the butt plate rather than the coarse checkering. Was this normal?
Just wondering.
Promo
03-24-2014, 01:03
Since mine is in nearly the same range ...

SERIAL - 1,181,463
MANUFACTURER - Springfield Armory
BARREL- SA over 3-20
BOLT- polished J6 coded bolt; polished bolt rails
STOCK- marked with block DAL in rectangle, circled P; S in magazine cutoff
BUTT PLATE- fine checkered
TRIGGER- serrated
CUT-OFF- letters without serifs
REAR SIGHT- dished windage and elevation screws; leaf without 2850 yd notch
John Beard
03-24-2014, 02:56
So, what happened with the 2000 made, they went back into the "system"?

I've seen one that was overhauled at Springfield Armory, apparently as a 1920 National Match rifle. I assume that most of them went back into "the system," since there was little to distinguish them from service rifles.
John Beard
03-24-2014, 03:00
Wasn't it at the 1921 Nationals that the NM M1903's were first sold to the public? If so, would not the 1920 NM M1903's be returned for rebuild or return to service configuration?
I also note that all of the rifles pictured have the fine checkering on the butt plate rather than the coarse checkering. Was this normal?
Just wondering.

Yes, the 1921 NM rifles were the first ones sold to the public. The 1920 NM rifles were returned, overhauled, and re-issued for the 1921 National Matches.

All 1919-21 NM rifles had fine-checkered buttplates.

J.B.
Fred
03-24-2014, 06:58
John, does my 1920 National Match appear to have Not been overhauled for the 1921 National Matches?
John Beard
03-24-2014, 08:02
John, does my 1920 National Match appear to have Not been overhauled for the 1921 National Matches?

Fred,

Your rifle appears correct and original. I see no evidence that it was overhauled for the 1921 National Matches.

J.B.
Fred
03-24-2014, 08:36
I thought so. Thanks John.
Rick the Librarian
03-25-2014, 08:44
Only 3 or 4 RIA NM out of all those rifles. I know survival rate of NM rifles is fairly low, but that seems to be a LOT more so than others.
Fred
03-25-2014, 09:39
Maybe there was an almost complete round up and turn in of the Rock Island's? I think that they, like the 1919 Springfield Armory's, weren't sold to civilians and most were overhauled. That might make it tougher for many to survive in untouched condition. In that scenario, only a few might be expected to survive in original as issued condition? What say you John?
Fred
03-25-2014, 09:55
Even though there were only from 1,000 to 749 more of the 1920 National Match rifles made, it would seem that more of them survived than did the RIA National Match rifle's. I say that because I've seen several 1920 rifles that've shown up online in auctions, sales, collections etc, but never a 1919 RIA.
Rick the Librarian
03-25-2014, 12:11
Same with the Springfield 1919NM ... I wonder if the RIAs disappearing was the result of Army politics?
John Beard
03-25-2014, 06:58
Only 3 or 4 RIA NM out of all those rifles. I know survival rate of NM rifles is fairly low, but that seems to be a LOT more so than others.

I don't suggest that the RIA 1919 NM rifles were destroyed. I assume that they were just used up, overhauled, and converted into service rifles. And once refinished, the rifles lost all evidence of National Match issuance. The rifles were not marked in any way. The barrels had no star gauge marking. And none were sold through the DCM. I anticipate that the only ones which escaped were those sold to military officers in 1919. And that wasn't very many, especially when Springfield Armory was offering competing rifles at the same time and price.

J.B.
John Beard
03-25-2014, 06:59
Same with the Springfield 1919NM ... I wonder if the RIAs disappearing was the result of Army politics?

Army politics certainly didn't help. Springfield Armory was jealous with a passion!!!!

J.B.
John Beard
03-25-2014, 07:07
Maybe there was an almost complete round up and turn in of the Rock Island's? I think that they, like the 1919 Springfield Armory's, weren't sold to civilians and most were overhauled. That might make it tougher for many to survive in untouched condition. In that scenario, only a few might be expected to survive in original as issued condition? What say you John?

I doubt that there was an intentional roundup and turn in of RIA NM rifles. After the matches, shooting team rifles were turned back into Ordnance Stores to await issuance of a work order (with $$$) from the Ordnance Dept. in Washington to overhaul and re-issue the rifles. And in the case of the RIA NM rifles, they were probably just overhauled and re-issued as service rifles.

J.B.