Springfield # 1367116, NRA Sporter

[DeWayne Hayes]

Is anyone here able to confirm that Springfield 1,367,116 is a confirmed NRA Sporter?

Thanks,
DeWayne

[Johnny P]

The serial number is in a group of Sporters, but not listed. Are all characteristics Sporter?

[Dick Hosmer]

Close but no cigar. 1367089 and 1367122 are listed as such, so it's certainly POSSIBLE. Does it check ALL the boxes?

[DeWayne Hayes]

It does, yes - correct stock, butt plate, star mark at muzzle, etched serial on bolt, correct Lyman sight - still has what appears to be cosmoline smeared on action. Would an NRA Sporter have been shipped to the recipient in cosmo? See pic - cosmo in bore too.

54642

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54643

[Johnny P]

Cosmoline was normally used for storage rather than on new manufacture weapons. I would think that a Sporter would have had a coat of preservative oil, wrapped, and boxed for shipment.

[Dick Hosmer]

Wonder why/how Mallory missed that one? He was certainly "in the right area" of the records . . . As an aside, they are great shooters!

[DeWayne Hayes]

Yeah, this rifle has cosmoline all over the action, including the Lyman sight for some reason. Would be interesting to know who applied that and put the gun away ...

54644

[Johnny P]

A little off topic, but a 1925 1903 National Match Rifle with reversed safety and headless cocking piece.

https://i.postimg.cc/MGrfB5HL/temp-Imagev-TMsw-A.avif (https://postimages.org/)

[J.J.]

Ser. # 1367116 is listed in D.C.M. Rifle Sales- 1922-1942 as being sold as an NRA Sporter. This summary of rifle sales was published by SRS several years ago.
J.J.

[DeWayne Hayes]

Thank you, J.J.!

[Dick Hosmer]

Hmmm - that's odd. Not that the rifle is a sporter but that it doesn't show in the 4 main SRS books? I thought that Frank had included the arms from his earlier effort. Either a wrong assumption or he missed it. Anyhow, good for you - they are great rifles.

[DeWayne Hayes]

Not mine, Dick - I'm just watching it at auction. Maybe, but will probably go for bigger bucks than I'm willing to pony up.

DeWayne

[J.J.]

D.C.M. Rifle Sales- 1922-1945 was published in 1976, several years before the first of the four main books (1983) were published. I have not checked as yet but #1 thru # 4 may very well be a continuation of the original summary. With the exception of #1366513 and #1367126 this block of NRA Sporters runs consecutively from #1366457 to #1367979. I am certain #1367116 will letter.
J.J.

[John Beard]

Springfield Armory M1903 S/N 1367116 is listed in SRS as a Sporter which was sold on 17 June 1932 to E.V. Uzes. No address is given.

J.B.

[DeWayne Hayes]

Thanks, gents. It was interesting. The seller listing this on Gunbroker is a gun store in Wyoming. They only had 7 feedbacks, which I suspect may have spooked some potential buyers, but I checked them out and spoke with the sales guy and they seem legit. The rifle truly appears to be unfired and presents as pristine, with cosmoline in all the nooks and crannies. Yet, when the bidding ended only one gentleman had bid, and then I came in and bid twice, never meeting the reserve price - my highest bid was at $2,600.

The gun store tells me their customer who was listing it on consignment hasn't decided if he'll resist or not, and was surprised at the lack of apparent interest. I was too, to be honest. They did tell me they'll let me know if he decides to re-list.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1049658526

Link to the closed auction if anyone is interested.

[Dick Hosmer]

Mine is not mint in the grease, and certainly not unfired, but I would be unlikely to consider anything less than $2500 were it for sale, which it isn't.

[DeWayne Hayes]

Yes, I was more than willing to go well over $3k, which seems like a very fair price for what this is - my guess is it's worth more like $5-6k ... but I was a taken aback by the fact that no one else was bidding and it made me question myself if there was something obvious that I was missing.

I think it was just a factor of the right people weren't looking at it, and the lack of feedback for the seller spooked whomever actually was looking. Strange circumstance. I think the owner would probably be better off actually listing this one with a real auction house, not online. Just my notion.

[Johnny P]

Mine letters as:

"Rifle, U.S. Caliber .30, Sporting Model (fitted with base for Winchester telescopic sight)

Unfortunately the barrel was changed at some time, and the receiver was not D&T'd as there are no holes in it.