New 1903

[twh]

Just acquired a new early 1903 that may be my new favorite. No SRS hit but has some NM features but regardless I like it. Sorry in advance for the quality of the photos.3651436515365163651736518

[twh]

More photos

[Fred]

Nice rifle!

[bruce]

Extremely nice rifle! Pictures are fine! Sincerely. bruce.

[Promo]

From what I know the few newly made 1912 NM rifles are in 466.xxx to 490.xxx range, because many were rebuilt 1911 NM rifles. But you're correct in that your rifle has NM features. Can you count how many coils the mainspring has? And can you provide some better pictures than the ones you've already posted?

[twh]

I'll take it apart this weekend. What do you want to see specifically and I will try to get a better picture?

[twh]

365263652736528The Spring has 32 full coils with a partial on each end. Attached are a couple of photos of the receiver in better light.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Close up of the bolt, especially ahove the lug

[twh]

3654136542Here are pictures of the markings on the bottom of the lug and handle there are no marks on the top.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

It "may" have been a NM bolt. John Beard would have the definitive answer. But it looks as though it has been buffed and polished to a mirror shine which would be incorrect.

But like I said, John Beard would have the definitive answer.

[John Beard]

Congratulations on your new acquisition! And thanks for sharing!

Your rifle has National Match features, such as a polished bolt and receiver runways. However, no documented NM rifles are known to exist around your rifle's serial number at this time. And the barrel date is a little on the late side for a NM rifle. And the polishing on your rifle's bolt is not quite consistent with an NM bolt.

A more likely explanation is that you have a sales rifles which the owner upgraded to NM specifications. One had to be a member of an NRA-affiliated shooting club to purchase a sales rifle. So the purchasers were, by definition, avid target shooters.

Thanks again for sharing! And congratulations again!

J.B.

[twh]

Thank you all for the input and taking time to respond.

[Fred]

Yep, Nice rifle!!!