Early M1903 marked with "TENN"

[Rick the Librarian]

A close friend got very lucky and found a completely original M1903 - #160,864 with an SA 05 barrel and BHM one-bolt stock. On the top of the "small" of the stock is a faint, but discernible "TENN". Ships' markings have been reported on a number of M1903s over the years, but, to my knowledge, never one in this position, usually on the buttstock. I wondered if anyone had any comments on this.

Since the rifle appears to be in the condition it was in the early 1900s, I also have a theory about which "Tennessee" this may have been assigned to. Most of us are aware of the battleship Tennessee [BB43] which was at Pearl Harbor. However, the ship was not completed until 1919 and I am thinking that any M1903 on that ship would have been modified at least to WWI standards. I've also seen at least a couple of "TENN"-marked M1903s of a later vintage that have the markings on the buttstock.

Not so well-known was the earlier Tennessee [ACR10], which was an armored cruiser and was in service from 1906 to 1922. The name was changed in 1916 to use the name for BB43. Shortly after the name-change, the Memphis (as it was now known), was hit by a rogue wave off Santo Domingo and the ship had to be abandoned. (The commanding officer was Capt. Edward Beach, father of the Edward Beach who served as a sub commander during WWII and wrote the novel Run Silent, Run Deep.)

Here is a picture of the markings - there is also a "107" on the stock, which is probably a rack number. I am wondering if this rifle could have been assigned to the earlier ship. It I not listed on SRS.

30793

Here is a picture of the Tennessee (ACR10):

30794

[Fred]

Very Interesting Rick!

[RCS]

This rifle was found at a small gun show in GA about 10 or 12 years ago, the seller stated that it
came from the CMP store30795307963079730798

[Rick the Librarian]

Interesting - the lettering does look the same, but I could see this being on the "later" Tennessee, given the serial number. The "earlier" one was, in effect, out of service after 1916, although not officially stricken until 1922.

[RCS]

This stock has the W.E.S. cartouche and a later two stock bolt stock

First stock on SA 825055 was a D.A.L. cartouche30799

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Rick? Where do you find these gems? That is just dripping with rich history. Absolutely amazing too bad not an SRS hit.

I like the picture of the crusier

[Rick the Librarian]

Not my rifle (although I wish it was). A local friend got it. All original, $699! :)

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Rick,

I think I need to follow some of you guys around at a gun show. Maybe I'll get some of your "backsplash" of good luck! ;)

[Rick the Librarian]

Years ago, I got a reputation of always putting back down on a gunshow table the rifle I SHOULD have bought! The crowds following me got to really be a nuisance!!:banana100::banana100:

[Shooter5]

Nice! Very intriguing! Probably on to something. I have a soft spot for Tennessee since I've been stationed there several times; its also my daughters middle name! I wrote the State Historian once and asked if they had BB43 records for small arms inventory and unfortunately they did not.

[Tdarmo]

308693087030871 This one also has the TENN on the stock

[RCS]

Nice to find another TENN marked stock, do you think that the action and barrel are original to the stock ?

What is the barrel date ? and do you have the "Hatcher" hole in the receiver ?

[sprg03]

Thank you Rick for posting my pictures! When i found this rifle in a local gun shop, I thought it was probably WAY out of my price range. When I was quoted the $699, it was all I could do to not rip the pocket off my pants to get to my credit card! I guess the old saying is true, even a blind squirrel can find an acorn.

It would be interesting to be able to track the history of this rifle. Since it was refurbished from a 30-03 to 30-06, the thin, early trigger was replaced with a smooth, wider trigger. This is the only item I could find on the rifle that was not original. I wonder where this rifle had been hiding all these years? I'm happy Rick was able to post the pictures. The first thing my wife told me when I brought it home was: " No, you are not bringing it to bed with you!" :>)

[sprg03]

Thank you Rick for posting the picture of my rifle! Thank all of you for contributing to answers as to the "TENN" Stamp on the wrist of the stock. I would really like to discover the history of this rifle, but I fear it is an impossibility.

[Gary L. Bush]

There are other organizations other than the U.S.Navy that would mark there equipment with the name of a state such as state prisons, state police and state militias (National Guard).x
x x x x x x I have found that U. S. Navy marked guns are done very neatly. Many of the U.S. Navy pre-WW II rifles that I have inspected appear to have had the ship's name burned into the wood with a one-piece branding iron.
I have only found a very few rifles of which I am absolutely certain were true, marked U.S. Navy rifles.

Gary Bush

http://www.fototime.com/E3E93CF9A563EB4/standard.jpg

[RCS]

Mr Bush, you may be right but I am rather certain that some USN marked stocks are still around. I have seen the MISS stocks
with another date (on this forum in 2005) and another Honolulu too. What makes it interesting is when you have a rifle with a
serial number that can be traced back to the ship such as the MISS rifle in 2005. My SA s/n 825055 with the TENN marked stock
is in the same serial number block as other known USN rifles issued to known ships.309083090930910

[Rick the Librarian]

Excellent - you could indeed be right - didn't think of that.

[firstflabn]

Does that mean Penn State and State Pen aren't the same organization?