Early Rock Island

[sdcj6]

Here is another one that is available, Early Rock Island with a funny sight.
What do you guys think?
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[sdcj6]

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[John Beard]

The rifle appears to be a Bannerman rifle. Francis Bannerman, a surplus arms merchant from the 1930's, acquired miscellaneous scrap parts (including receivers) from the Army which he refurbished and re-assembled into rifles of assorted dubious configurations for sale to the public. The Rock Island rifle is fitted with a Krag rear sight atop the original M1903 rear sight base.

J.B.

p.s.,

If the stock is the original stock installed by Bannerman, then you'll probably find a repaired (glued) crack in it somewhere.

[JimF]

. . . . . .The Rock Island rifle is fitted with a Krag rear sight atop the original M1903 rear sight base.

J.B.

If you look very carefully . . . .and very quickly . . . .at the scene in “Sgt. York”, of Gary Cooper on the firing line during his basic training, you will see such a “Krag-sighted” rifle. As the scene sequence progresses, the rear sight of the rifle ALSO changes from normal to “Krag” to normal again! So much for “continuity”!

[sdcj6]

Thanks guys.
That's really interesting about the movie Sgt. York, I'll bet it took quite awhile to notice that in the movie.
The stock is actually a very nice stock, I couldn't find any cracks or repairs and it looks like the original finish. Overall the rifle is nice except for the "improved" sights.
Do you think the barrel is original to the receiver? it's a 6-07 date stamp

[RCS]

Yours could be original ? my Rock Island 1903 has a RIA barrel dated 3-07, check Vi Shooters chart

[John Beard]

The rifle has been heavily buffed, polished, and re-blued, which is normal for a Bannerman rifle. Neither the stock nor the handguard are original to the 1907-vintage rifle. The barrel appears to be the original barrel. During the 1930's, Springfield Armory and other arsenals and depots scrapped hundreds of thousands of low number rifles with bad bores, which likely explains why the rifle retains its original barrel. Those became the source of parts for the Bannerman (and Sedgley cadet) rifles.

J.B.

[sdcj6]

Thanks again guys,
This information helps educate me on the 1903's.
"Trying to learn so I don't get burned"