WWI Air Service 1903

[Richard H Brown Jr]

Has anyone ever meathooked one of the WW1 air service 1903's?

Or even shot it?

Inquiring minds want to know.

RHB

[Smokeeaterpilot]

One "may" have sold via gunbroker a few weeks back. I say "may" since it's debatable whether or not it was a genuine Air Service Rifle. It was not advertised as such and the pictures were not helping it's case.

[Jeff L]

Tough to find a real one.

[03collector]

I see Morphy's auction has a air service rifle coming up for auction. Also a 1922 Heavy Barrel match rifle.

[Promo]

Where at Morphy's did you see this? To me it shows the catalogue is still unavilable.

[03collector]

The ad was in the last martial arms collector magazine. The auction is in February 2017.

[Promo]

Well, no wonder I couldn't find it on their website then .. do they provide any additional information or pictures?

[03collector]

The catalog is not out yet.

[03collector]

It will be interesting to see what it goes for. Don't have the air service rifle. But the other rifle up for auction. The 1922 heavy barrel i do have.

[03collector]

As far as additional info. im sure you could get it if you ask them.

[Col. Colt]

I have what appears to be an actual Air Service Handguard - and in fifty years of attending gunshows, I have never seen a complete Air Service rifle to handle. Lots of high cap magazines, but not much else. CC

[Richard H Brown Jr]

Now all you need, is research the Sprinfield Armory files at NARA or SAHS, and see if you can come up with the dwgs for the Air Service Magazine parts, and find a 'tin basher' who can make up a repro magazine. and try it out in a rifle.

R Brown

[Col. Colt]

Several odd parts on the Air Service - like no rear sling swivel cut or lightening cuts in the stock, and the Enfield (?) band. The rear sight doesn't look too hard to duplicate. You can still find the big 20 round magazine - usually in the box - for $800-1000! CC

[cplnorton]

Now all you need, is research the Sprinfield Armory files at NARA or SAHS, and see if you can come up with the dwgs for the Air Service Magazine parts, and find a 'tin basher' who can make up a repro magazine. and try it out in a rifle.

R Brown

I saw this digging in a ordnance manual from Nov 1918.

[Promo]

I somewhere have the original drawings for the stock, but couldn't find them on my iPad.