Last Government Made '03 barrels

[11mm]

I have a 1903 barrel which I bought on the for sale/wanted part of this forum which bears a date of 9/44 and is marked SA, for Springfield. I have since seen one for sale marked 10/44 and SA. Just curious as to when the last replacement barrels for the '03 were made for the Government at Springfield and at the official contractors.
I find it interesting that they were still planning on rebuilding the '03 rifle that late in WW2 so they would be making new barrels for them in late 1944, given the existence of the 03/A3 and the widespread acceptance and use of the Garand. Brophy states that nearly 61,000 were repaired and overhauled in 1945, whereas only about 12,000 were rebuilt in 42-44.
Thoughts?

[Rick the Librarian]

9-44 SA is the latest Springfield barrel I've seen, but a 10-44 is possible. I have seen a 2-45 Sedgely barrel, which is the absolute latest.

Springfield continued to make M1903 parts through Fiscal 1945 (which encompassed the last part of 1944 and the first part of 1945), including barrels. I've always theorized that most of the parts were in the "1944 part" of that FY.

While M1903s were definitely on their way out, they continued to be used in "secondary" uses and, until Japan actually surrendered in August, 1945, there was no definite end date in sight.

[Phil McGrath]

My rifle has a well used SA 10-44 barrel.

[firstflabn]

Brophy's SA book shows 39,855 '03 (not '03A3) barrels made there in FY46 (yes, '46).

Could be normal government budget games, but as late as early spring '45, the War Dept was implementing the French rearmament program. Troop strengths jumped around quite a bit, but 460k might be close for the number of new troops. With M1917s almost all gone, it could be that the WD was intending to use 03/03A1/03A3 instead as the WD had been resisting giving the French carbines and Garands in any significant numbers. The approaching surrender of Germany plus some DeGaulle-like behavior from DeGaulle brought a sudden end to the rearmament program.

One other possible contributor to demand when the FY46 budget was being prepared: planning for indirect redeployment to the Pacific by ETO/MTO units after V-E Day (that is, redeployment through the US) required additional quantities of equipment for training as redeploying units' gear was to be packed and shipped from Europe.

Of course, had the invasion of Japan happened, maintenance stocks would have been needed in theater.

What did Yogi Berra say: predictions are hard, especially about the future.

[Rick the Librarian]

I've got Brophy's later book, "Arsenal of Freedom" and it shows the last 1903 parts made in FY 1945.

[firstflabn]

I've got Brophy's later book, "Arsenal of Freedom" and it shows the last 1903 parts made in FY 1945.

You should ask for a refund as it seems to be missing p. 371.

[Rick the Librarian]

That's what I get for not checking. Springfield did indeed make 39, 855 "M1903A1" barrels in FY 1946. (in addition to 5,037 mount base shims!).

OK, anyone see a 1945-marked M1903 or M1903 barrel? As I said, I have seen 1945 Sedgely barrels.

(Maybe they were kept in storage together with the elusive 7-49 M1 barrels I've been looking for!!) :)

[chuckindenver]

1944 is the latest 1903 SA barrel iv seen.

[John Beard]

The last M1903 barrels made at Springfield Armory were dated S.A./11-44. And as Rick the Librarian pointed out, the last contractor-made barrels were made by Sedgley and were dated 2-45.

J.B.

[Rick the Librarian]

Interesting that quite a few barrels were listed as completed in FY 1946, when (if you go by the date stamped on the barrels) they were not. Any idea why? Maybe ordered but not completed?

[Cosine26]

Rick
At one time the US FY started on July 1. At one point, 1976, this was changed to start the FY on 1 October. The avowed purpose was to allow the POTUS and congress to prepare and pass a budget on time. That is working well today? I was working for the government at the time and we had to add a "T Quarter" that covered the period form 1 July to 1 October. I believe that M1903 barrels were marked with the calander year. A barrel manufactured in August 1945 would have been documented as part of the FY 46 FY buy, but the barrel would have been marked 8-45.

[Rick the Librarian]

I'm aware of that - however, if the last observed barrels are 11-44 (which I am in agreement), how come barrels were mentioned as having been completed in FY 1946 - which would mean at least 1945-marked barrels?

[Cosine26]

That I cannot answer. I have never seen any SA "45" barrels.

[Rick the Librarian]

I've been told that some of the data contained in the ordnance reports was sometimes "wish for" or "estimated" and I wonder if this is a case of that?

[louis]

I'll add my 2 cents in this with another similar scenario that I'm familiar with. When WW2 ended Chance Vought and Goodyear manufacturing the F4U Corsair were told to scrap all new aircraft on the assembly line and the completed ones waiting for delivery. They were paid in full for the contracts even though they weren't accepted by the military. Could be this was the same as the barrels.

[John Beard]

Interesting that quite a few barrels were listed as completed in FY 1946, when (if you go by the date stamped on the barrels) they were not. Any idea why? Maybe ordered but not completed?

The SA annual reports are not without error. I've found errors in them, usually none serious. The reports were a financial document, not a production accounting document.

One possible explanation is that some of the 1944 barrels were marked and dated, but were not finished out until FY1946, perhaps because production priorities had shifted. Forget not that the M1 rifle was much higher priority.

J.B.