Indicators of original finish?

[Scott Wilson]

Are the areas pictured reliable indicators of original finish on 1903 rifles? Serial number is 1218708 with a barrel date of 1/21.
4856848569

[Roadkingtrax]

It may be, can you take a picture of the left side of the receiver, and the dated end of the barrel?

[Scott Wilson]

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48572

[togor]

One indicator of original finish is linseed oil residue on exposed metal, adding a brownish cast to the color. But overeager collectors sometimes hit the metal hard with solvents stripping it away. With original rifles, grime is your friend.

[Johnny P]

When original Model 1903 rifles in your serial number range had a black asphaltum applied to the sight collar. In the photo you can see where on this 1921 date rifle it wasn't completely brushed on. It wore off easily, so may no longer be present.

Also, the lower band and band spring, and the front sight base (not the part that fits on the barrel, but the part the front sight sits on) will be finished in niter blue rather than phosphate like the rest of the parts. The sight face will be polished back to bright. A small cut at the bore will show up bright where the phosphate was cut away.

Photo of asphaltum on sight collar.

https://i.postimg.cc/zGbKpwRD/1903sb.jpg

Bright cut on muzzle.

https://i.postimg.cc/CK0tgK08/1903mc.jpg

[Scott Wilson]

Johnny,
Like this?48573

[Johnny P]

That appears to be remnants of the asphaltum as it wore off fairly easily, or was removed when cleaning the rifle.

The rifle I show was a DCM Sales rifle purchased in the 1936 time frame, and shows virtually no use. I checked your serial number, but it does not show up as a DCM Sales. It appears a large block of Model 1903 rifles in the 1.21 million serial number range were set aside for NRA/DCM Sales rifles. Yours could have remained in this block, but never sold and removed as WWII approached.

[Scott Wilson]

I will have to get the rifle out and look at the front sight base, etc. The rear sight face is bright. Cocking piece and safety are water quenched.

[Roadkingtrax]

I will have to get the rifle out and look at the front sight base, etc. The rear sight face is bright. Cocking piece and safety are water quenched.

The paint is one thing, and rarely ever present. There are other tells for originality of the assembly which will remain with the rifle.

Is there a single indent on front sight base movable stud? This was from the alignment of the front sight during bore-sighting.

[03collector]

Nice looking rifle, punch mark in the center of bomb indicates the rifle was overhauled. Or at least reinspected.

[Scott Wilson]

Thank you everyone for the help so far. Mostly good news, the front sight is blued, as is the lower band spring. The front sight also has the alignment stake present. There appears to be some sign of the cleanup cut at the muzzle but it is faint. I also found some more remnants of the asphalt paint in protected areas.
4857848579485804858148582

[togor]

Have you told us about this rifle and I missed it?

[Scott Wilson]

I posted a couple of pictures of it several years ago. I am trying to improve my education on these between the wars rifles.

[MGMike]

The stock has been reworked. There appears to be a patch inlet into the right hand side just abaft of the bolt handle.

M

[Johnny P]

The stock shows a patch in the bolt turn down area, and the shot of the finger grooves shows that some previous owner got heavy handed sanding them, rounding the sharp edges off.

Does it still show the acceptance mark/initials on the left side of the stock, or the P proof behind the trigger guard?

[clintonhater]

Nice looking rifle, punch mark in the center of bomb indicates the rifle was overhauled. Or at least reinspected.

Overhauled, yes, but re-inspected, maybe not--even if that was the correct protocol. My 11-22 with a "SA-SPG" re-inspection stamp (original insp. DAL) does not show this punch mark. Seems to be (I hope!) one of the "lucky" ones that went back through SA without being messed with.

[clintonhater]

It appears a large block of Model 1903 rifles in the 1.21 million serial number range were set aside for NRA/DCM Sales rifles. Yours could have remained in this block, but never sold and removed as WWII approached.

Could 1,251,146 be within this "sales" grouping? It's the same one I referred to above lacking the punch mark.

[Scott Wilson]

When I bought this rifle out of a pawn shop over 15 years ago, it was in an 03A3 stock. The current stock I picked up later. I believe the patch at the bolt handle was to cover the cut for a Lyman sight but who knows.
48583 48584 48585

[Johnny P]

The rifle shows no signs of overhaul that I can see. The punch mark in the flaming bomb is not consistent. I have one 1903 NM that is totally original, and another that was a U.S. Coast Guard team rifle that was returned to Springfield for total overhaul. The totally original rifle has the punch mark, and the totally rebuild rifle does not.

Stock has the correct DAL acceptance mark on the stock for that time period. You lucked out on the stock.

[Johnny P]

Could 1,251,146 be within this "sales" grouping? It's the same one I referred to above lacking the punch mark.

No luck on that number. The range of DCM shipped rifles in the 1.2 million range are from 1200051 to 1298438 with most being in the 1.21 range. They were a mix of service rifles, NM's, and Sporters. Most NM's and service rifles had their stocks changed to the A1 type stock. For something like $1.50 you could have the service stock changed to the A1 type when it became available. The service rifles that had their stocks changed to the A1 stock had the acceptance mark, but no P proof mark, as the rifle was just changed from one stock to another.

[clintonhater]

The punch mark in the flaming bomb is not consistent. I have one 1903 NM that is totally original, and another that was a U.S. Coast Guard team rifle that was returned to Springfield for total overhaul. The totally original rifle has the punch mark, and the totally rebuild rifle does not.
Valuable info, as some sources are dogmatic about this point. No matter how stringent the rules are, there's always room for human error.

[Scott Wilson]

Gentlemen, thanks for all of the observations, I learned some important points.

[John Beard]

Please oblige us with a picture of the receiver ring showing the serial number.

Thanks! And Merry Christmas!

J.B.

[Scott Wilson]

Here you are.

48589

[John Beard]

I appears reasonably certain that you have one of those. Thanks for obliging us!

Merry Christmas!

J.B.

[Scott Wilson]

What is "One of those?"

[J.J.]

Looks like USMC front sight cover. These can go for $50-$80 when you can find them.
J.J.