Fred
04-09-2016, 08:48
John Beard has identified this rifle as being one of approximately 5,000 such Rock Island Arsenal rifles that had Receivers whose numbers, although under 285507, were in fact Double Heat Treated. After the decision was made at R.I.A. to begin the double heat treat process on all receivers, these previously made Low Number receivers that had never yet received any case hardening (Single Heat Treatment) were then double heat treated. The receivers were then tested for hardness using a device for that purpose and the ones that finally passed inspection numbered somewhere around 5,000 which were used to build rifles in 1918. This information can be found on pages 67, 68 and 69 in C.S. Ferris' book... Rock Island Rifle Model 1903.
John Beard has pointed out to me that this rifle has a unique finish on some specific parts that was only available at Springfield Armory in a specific time frame. It is my understanding that R.I.A. did Not use this finish during this time. That along with Four other Springfield Armory components of the rifle, indicates to my mind that the rifle is a good candidate to have been fully assembled at Springfield Armory sometime in late 1918 and is NOT a mixed parts rifle put together later. The R.I.A. 7-18 barrel date of the rifle indicates that the barrel was likely assembled to the Low number, Double Heat Treated receiver at Rock Island Arsenal around August to September 1918. I'm wondering if the rifle was actually built at Springfield Armory within that time. As far as I know, there isn't any documentation as yet found to indicate that Springfield Armory was assembling rifles using a combination of Rock Island and Springfield parts in 1918. That did indeed take place later around 1929, but did it occur in 1918? I think it's not unreasonable to think so. John Beard has noted that Rock Island Arsenal was in a spare parts production mode for much of 1918 with few rifles assembled. Maybe Rock Island Arsenal had sent all of those 5,000 "in the white", double heat treated, low number barreled receivers off to Springfield Armory then to be assembled into complete rifles. The unique Springfield Armory finish on specific parts of the rifle indicates to me that the finish must've been applied at Springfield Armory in 1918 where the rifle could've been fully assembled. Makes sense to me. That would explain the S.A. Finish that was only used there within a specific time frame. That seems to me to be the best scenario.
If any of the 5,000 rifles with Low number, Double heat treated receivers had their barrels replaced and their metal parts refinished and their stocks replaced over the years, they would be difficult to identify today. That being the case, it is fortunate indeed that this example of that group of approximately 5,000 rifles has managed to remain intact so that it can be studied.
This rifle is in fantastic shape. Its bore is minty and I doubt if it ever made it to Europe in time for the war, if at all. How it managed to avoid the wear and tear of decades of use leading up to and through WWII might be explained if it was taken home legally or illegally as a Vet bring back. Maybe national guard, active duty, I don't know. But it must've been squirreled away somewhere and never used for almost 100 years to have survived like it did.
Every feature and component on this rifle is consistant with what was being assembled into rifles at that time. All 1918 parts, and they've the appearance of being together for a Century.
Ferris explains on page 69 in his latest Rock Island book that the change over of receivers with serif letters on them to receivers with Block letters occurred Very close to the number on this rifle. So this rifle has one of the last Rock Island Arsenal receivers to have been stamped with the serif letters.
I believe that this rifle is in its Original configuration and has survived 98 years without ever being refinished, altered, sanded, had its parts switched or been sporterized. The muzzle and breech might very well mike out to a Zero or less. It's been hidden away and preserved.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland9_zps0ed1cfc1.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland9_zps0ed1cfc1.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland4_zpsf7ae3bd2.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland4_zpsf7ae3bd2.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland14_zps94935a58.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland14_zps94935a58.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland15_zps267eb82f.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland15_zps267eb82f.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland19_zps3bb18fd1.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland19_zps3bb18fd1.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsalnd17_zpscc8c676c.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsalnd17_zpscc8c676c.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland12_zpse0813acf.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland12_zpse0813acf.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland6_zpse09e1469.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland6_zpse09e1469.jpg.html)
John Beard has pointed out to me that this rifle has a unique finish on some specific parts that was only available at Springfield Armory in a specific time frame. It is my understanding that R.I.A. did Not use this finish during this time. That along with Four other Springfield Armory components of the rifle, indicates to my mind that the rifle is a good candidate to have been fully assembled at Springfield Armory sometime in late 1918 and is NOT a mixed parts rifle put together later. The R.I.A. 7-18 barrel date of the rifle indicates that the barrel was likely assembled to the Low number, Double Heat Treated receiver at Rock Island Arsenal around August to September 1918. I'm wondering if the rifle was actually built at Springfield Armory within that time. As far as I know, there isn't any documentation as yet found to indicate that Springfield Armory was assembling rifles using a combination of Rock Island and Springfield parts in 1918. That did indeed take place later around 1929, but did it occur in 1918? I think it's not unreasonable to think so. John Beard has noted that Rock Island Arsenal was in a spare parts production mode for much of 1918 with few rifles assembled. Maybe Rock Island Arsenal had sent all of those 5,000 "in the white", double heat treated, low number barreled receivers off to Springfield Armory then to be assembled into complete rifles. The unique Springfield Armory finish on specific parts of the rifle indicates to me that the finish must've been applied at Springfield Armory in 1918 where the rifle could've been fully assembled. Makes sense to me. That would explain the S.A. Finish that was only used there within a specific time frame. That seems to me to be the best scenario.
If any of the 5,000 rifles with Low number, Double heat treated receivers had their barrels replaced and their metal parts refinished and their stocks replaced over the years, they would be difficult to identify today. That being the case, it is fortunate indeed that this example of that group of approximately 5,000 rifles has managed to remain intact so that it can be studied.
This rifle is in fantastic shape. Its bore is minty and I doubt if it ever made it to Europe in time for the war, if at all. How it managed to avoid the wear and tear of decades of use leading up to and through WWII might be explained if it was taken home legally or illegally as a Vet bring back. Maybe national guard, active duty, I don't know. But it must've been squirreled away somewhere and never used for almost 100 years to have survived like it did.
Every feature and component on this rifle is consistant with what was being assembled into rifles at that time. All 1918 parts, and they've the appearance of being together for a Century.
Ferris explains on page 69 in his latest Rock Island book that the change over of receivers with serif letters on them to receivers with Block letters occurred Very close to the number on this rifle. So this rifle has one of the last Rock Island Arsenal receivers to have been stamped with the serif letters.
I believe that this rifle is in its Original configuration and has survived 98 years without ever being refinished, altered, sanded, had its parts switched or been sporterized. The muzzle and breech might very well mike out to a Zero or less. It's been hidden away and preserved.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland9_zps0ed1cfc1.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland9_zps0ed1cfc1.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland4_zpsf7ae3bd2.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland4_zpsf7ae3bd2.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland14_zps94935a58.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland14_zps94935a58.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland15_zps267eb82f.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland15_zps267eb82f.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland19_zps3bb18fd1.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland19_zps3bb18fd1.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsalnd17_zpscc8c676c.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsalnd17_zpscc8c676c.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland12_zpse0813acf.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland12_zpse0813acf.jpg.html)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/Whitedog333/RockIsland6_zpse09e1469.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/Whitedog333/media/RockIsland6_zpse09e1469.jpg.html)