Just came in! 1903 Springfield 1920 National Match

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Hey Guys,
Just got this gem via FedEx.

It's a 1903 Springfield 1920 National Match.

Everything about it is gorgeous. I love it, thought I'd share.
Never thought one would be affordable. I see crazy prices on them. But like the old saying never trade luck for skill!

Has a few small problems but nothing major. I think the sight hood is a later replacement. It has an R mark on it so I think it's a later Remington hood.
Still had the cleaning kit in the buttstock.

Naturally, I took the sling off the rifle, heard horror stories about leather on metal over a long period of time.
I can't really claim much credit one "spotting" one. Without some help from some good friends I wouldn't be able to tell if it was real or fake. Thankfully I'm very fortunate to have some good friends help me out.

I'd like to throw out for humor purposes. It was pretty obvious I was excited and had no patience, once I got the FedEx tracking notification just before 8AM and it didn't arrive until almost 8PM I was sitting by my front window all day, like a dog waiting for the mailman. Everytime I thought I heard a diesel engine I ran to look out the window.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/right%20side_zpsdzssbrnb.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/right%20side_zpsdzssbrnb.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/left%20side%20a_zpspgaassza.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/left%20side%20a_zpspgaassza.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/right%20side%201_zpscix4s3r2.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/right%20side%201_zpscix4s3r2.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/top%20reciever%202_zps6oxzn8rb.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/top%20reciever%202_zps6oxzn8rb.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/bolt%201_zpshgnyfc8n.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/bolt%201_zpshgnyfc8n.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/cartouche%202_zpshzhhvt7r.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/cartouche%202_zpshzhhvt7r.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/P%20stamp_zpspfl2saad.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/P%20stamp_zpspfl2saad.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/rear%20sight1_zpswuaw1xxh.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/rear%20sight1_zpswuaw1xxh.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/polished%20rails_zpsa1alg2rg.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/polished%20rails_zpsa1alg2rg.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/barrel%20date%20a_zpszyb4r5a5.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/barrel%20date%20a_zpszyb4r5a5.jpg.html)

[Smokeeaterpilot]

more pictures...

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/buttplate%201_zps6b9hwrio.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/buttplate%201_zps6b9hwrio.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/oiler_zpsrepssr1u.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/oiler_zpsrepssr1u.jpg.html)
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/Smokeeaterpilot/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/oiler%201_zpssnki4tgw.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Smokeeaterpilot/media/1903%20Springfield%201920%20National%20Match/oiler%201_zpssnki4tgw.jpg.html)

[StockDoc]

Oh, that is so sweet, when did they go to the "C" stock on the NM

[Smokeeaterpilot]

StockDoc, that's a good question I have no idea. I'm sure someone on here will. But I love learning about these rifles. Always something new to learn.

[cplnorton]

Off the top of my head, I was thinking it was changed to a C stock in 1928. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. :)

[Rick the Librarian]

Off the top of my head, I was thinking it was changed to a C stock in 1928. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. :)

Pretty close, IIRC.

[mhb]

and the NM rifles of that year and later were identified as NM1929 style.

mhb - Mike

[Fred]

The rear sight components might have been replaced.
Does anyone have a time line when the use of concave (high hump) hand guards stopped on National Match 03's? That hand guard looks nice. Super nice rifle! I like your cut off case hardening colors. How's your bore?
I think that the receiver on my rifle is 33 numbers lower than yours with a barrel date of 11-19.
Great find! Congratulations!!!

[m1903rifle]

and the NM rifles of that year and later were identified as NM1929 style.

mhb - Mike

They were identified as M1903A1NM

[StockDoc]

They were identified as M1903A1NM

So, the 1929 NM were id'd as M1903A1NM and had the C stock, correct?

What was the designation of the OP's Rifle? Springfield 1903 1920 NM?

BTW Smokeeater, I would think any moisture getting into the leather and mixing with the tanning would attack metal. That stuff is pretty caustic.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

So, the 1929 NM were id'd as M1903A1NM and had the C stock, correct?

What was the designation of the OP's Rifle? Springfield 1903 1920 NM?

BTW Smokeeater, I would think any moisture getting into the leather and mixing with the tanning would attack metal. That stuff is pretty caustic.

Yup I immediately took off the leather. It came with a sling I just left it on for a few pictures and promptly removed it. It needs some TLC anyways, dry and cracked.

[Fred]

Why don't you put some PECARD Antique Leather Dressing on it? I use it on my old slings and it really brings them back to life!
By the way, where did you find that treasure?

[Hecklerusp45]

Thanks for sharing the pics. That is a very nice rifle. Congrats on the find. You have a real treasure there. As a friend of mine always says, if it could talk it would have some real stories to share.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Thanks for sharing the pics. That is a very nice rifle. Congrats on the find. You have a real treasure there. As a friend of mine always says, if it could talk it would have some real stories to share.

Yeah hoping to get story behind these pieces and pass them onto my kids, hoping to instill a love of history when they're older. My luck they'll wind up products of the CNN media saying they should be melted down into paper weights. Just kidding, I'm trying to be opptomistic that won't happen.

But thanks everyone for your kind words. She needs a few small parts but I want to try and do everything I can to get her to be 100%.

[Fred]

Here're three photo's of the rear sight and rear hand guard areas to show you what mine look like. The rear sight leaf on yours wasn't used after the start of 1919 because Springfield had halted the cutting of the Volley sight notch at the top of the ladder. The knobs should be dished out. Your sight slide has been replaced too. I don't know about the use of Concave or High Hump hand guards, but I bet that John Beard would know the answer. I do know that the other two I've seen in Minty condition like yours and mine have hand guards like mine.
The correct type parts for your rifle are easily available though and when mounted, your rifle will be 100% correct then. It's a Wonderful rifle as there aren't many that seem to have survived intact. I've seen three others in the same condition and yours and mine is one of them. You've got a Fantastic 1920 National Match 03!


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0789_zpshhzvgi5t.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0789_zpshhzvgi5t.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0796_zpsh5ziswxb.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0796_zpsh5ziswxb.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0790_zpsvd6i4ajs.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0790_zpsvd6i4ajs.jpg.html)

[Smokeeaterpilot]

StockDoc, rifle came with a sling just left it on for a few pictures. Not a leather fan promptly removed it once I got the shots I wanted. But I definitely agree with you.

[Rick the Librarian]

There was a handguard in use for a relatively short time - it had a straight profile with a fixturing slot. I want to say in this approximate period. I have a feeling that both these and the high hump handguards were being used.

[John Beard]

Rick is correct. The 1920 NM rifles fall in the transition range from high hump to straight profile handguard. Either can be considered correct, and I have seen both. But the correct early straight profile handguard should have a fixturing slot inside.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Rick the Librarian]

Here's one of the straight profiled HGs with fixturing slot mounted on a 1920 M1903:

3158131582

[Cosine26]

At the risk of starting a controversy, I shall make the following statement: I have never seen the terms "NM1929 Style" or "M1903A1NM" in any official publication. While I do not have any copies of the pre WWII DCM price lists, I do have a complete set of American Rifleman magazines that dates back to 1927. Many of the issues in the 1920's and 1930' s, have a DCM page where the DCM kept the competitive shooter up to date on the current M1903 configurations and availability . After the DCM page was dropped (sometimes in the late 30's or early 40"s) , the AR occasionally carried notices from the DCM in the Dope Bag section. The rifle is generally described after 1929 as:
"U.S. Rifle Cal. .30 M1903 Style NM (National Match Rifle, star gauged and specially selected, equipped with the type C pistol grip stock")
This is a direct quote from the DCM page in the American Rifleman for March 1936 .
I would suspect that the rifle was never identified as an "A1" since it deviated from the configuration which defined the M1903A1 and conformed with the configuration of the M1903NM as specified at the year of production. Such items as the headless cocking piece, the reversed safety, the selected parts made from different steel than was used on the standard service rifle, and the fact that the sear-cocking piece arrangement was gunsmithed to a different spec than of the standard rifle. I have read in various issues that after the Nationals some of the unsold used NM rifles had their NM parts replaced with standard parts and were sent to army teams for use in training.
The barrel on my NM is dated 12-29, the serial number dates the receiver to 1930 production and it was sold at the 1931 National Matches. I have the SRS letter and a copy of the original sales slip. It carries the serial number and the description is:
"RIFLE, U. S. CAL .30 M1903 National Match Type C" and gives the buyers name. It is dated 8-1-31.
I have seen the quotations form the SRS which read something like:
15xxxxa1NM mm/dd/yy. I do not know that this is an original quote from armory documentation or a quote of a description that the developer of the SRS created.
For the record, the other 1936 definitions were given as
"U.S. Rifle ,Cal. .30, M1903 Style S (Service )"
and
"U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1903A1 (Springfield Service Rifle with type C pistol grip stock)"
I am sure that John Beard has more accurate information than I.
FWIW.

[StockDoc]

You going to shoot it?