An interesting comparison of buttplate traps...

[Fred]

between a Rod Bayonet 1903 Springfield and a 1905 modified 1903. The smaller size of the butt trap on a first model 1903 butt plate is obvious when it's laid next to a butt plate of the later kind that we're all familiar with. The trap doors on the early 1903 butt plates are numbered like on Krag butt plates and those same numbers are also stamped near by on the inside of the butt plates. A Krag butt plate is about 3/16" to 1/4" longer in the toe.
You can see the early cleaning brush and unique pull through that was stored in the early first pattern oilers.
The lower or rear barrel bands of the Rod Bayonet 1903's were also of solid construction in that they didn't have a split cut into them at the bottom where the sling swivel went. The bands were solid as you can see in the photo.
Just some interesting things to look for when you're rummaging around in parts boxes at a show.

The sling swivel on my rifle isn't the correct early type. Recon I'll be on the lookout for one. However I just this past weekend picked up the original RB stacking swivel that's on the rifle now. Glad I found it.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_1030_zpsilozdrnx.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_1030_zpsilozdrnx.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0919_zpsq8dzcddn.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0919_zpsq8dzcddn.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_1010_zpss8qouev4.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_1010_zpss8qouev4.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0985_zpsbkgmfj5k.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0985_zpsbkgmfj5k.jpg.html)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/IMG_0961_zps3bpihmrh.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/IMG_0961_zps3bpihmrh.jpg.html)

[RCS]

Fred, here is a photo of the butt plate trap door from my Rock Island s/n 64145 with RIA 3-07 barrel3179631797

[Fred]

That's pretty Neat! I've one early RB buttplate that's a spare that I'm going to be putting on eBay. Does your rifle have the solid rear band? I've been told that some early converted rifles do. I never looked for the early features on early rifles in years past.
I see your rifle has the early rear sight slide and insert. Cool!

[RCS]

Fred, Never seen the solid rear band on a 30-06 rifle but am sure someone has seen one. The square rear sight slide and leaf without
the top rib is early, the peep is unmarked.

[Fred]

I've owned two rifles with the early features such as yours. They both had solid hand guards of course as well as all of the early features. No stock bolts, no hand guard clips or sight groove, 1905 barrel dates, etc. However I never did study them before selling them for a whopping $250.00 each. That was back around 1985. I wish that I had kept them and studied them. Heck, I don't even know if they were still in 30-03 or not.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

A pipe dream for me of owning a RB 1903.

Thanks for sharing!

[Fred]

I thought so too about obtaining one. Then mine became available for well under $3,000.00. I guess ya never know when or where one might pop up.