M1903 barrel dates?

[CPC]

What would be the barrel date range for a 1.4106m springfield rifle? Looking at the extremes of VI shooters pages it looks like 12-31 to 12-32 might be in the ball park. I’m sure that can be narrowed down. Regards

[John Beard]

A Springfield Armory receiver in the S/N 14106xx range would have been manufactured in 1932 as a loose receiver to replace the receiver in a low number rifle turned in for overhaul. The receivers were manufactured and turned into Ordnance stores as loose receivers with no barrels. When the receivers were eventually pulled from Ordnance stores and fitted to rifles, barrel dates went all over the place, including some pre-1932 barrels salvaged from older rifles. In addition, some receivers were shipped to other arsenals and depots in the Ordnance system and were, likewise, fitted with barrels having random dates. So take your pick! Anything prior to 1935 can be considered correct.

J.B.

[CPC]

J.B.
Thank you for posting the information. The randomness of barrel dates during this period makes more sense to me now. Regards

[bruce]

Re: OP. Was vaguely aware of this. However, never realized it was on such a scale. Always thought SA just kept producing some receivers to retain skilled workers, etc. Sincerely. bruce.