My only 1903

[Fred]

R

Great rifle! Do you have any story behind the rifle? If only it could talk!

No, I sure don't Bob.
There are the initials JS scratched into the wrist though. Maybe that's something that a guy could get away with in the National Guard.
My grampa's name is James (Mett) Shippee, so hell, it could've been one that he kept clean on the U.S.S.Wadsworth during the War. Maybe it's the same rifle he liked to use on the rifle range that he helped build at The Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
Well... maybe. Wink wink

[louis]

I always like your photos Fred. You have the perfect background and of course the perfect rifles. Thanks for sharing.

[Fred]

Thanks Louis! I'm happy you like the photos!!

[togor]

Love to hear the story of how you came to own that fine rifle.

[BryanJ]

Fred. How often do you clean the stock and what do you use to clean it?

[Fred]

Fred. How often do you clean the stock and what do you use to clean it?

Bryan, I've never cleaned the stock or even put linseed oil on it. All I've done is wipe the dust off of it with a clean cotton towel.
Since I don't low crawl across the ground with it or hold it across my knees while I'm eating chow or anything, it stays as clean as the day it was assembled at Springfield Armory 99 years ago.
I thinki the finish on the stock of this rifle is the original from when it was being used on Active Duty. Of course the finish on the metal is its original too.

[Fred]

Love to hear the story of how you came to own that fine rifle.

Togor, I saw it on Gunbroker. I could see that it was original and in remarkable shape. I wasn't disappointed when it arrived.

[togor]

Togor, I saw it on Gunbroker. I could see that it was original and in remarkable shape. I wasn't disappointed when it arrived.

Good eye!

[Major Tom]

As usual Fred, excellent photos!

[CPC]

Fred,
As always, great pictures and rifle. I like how you subtly used Hatcher's notebook as a prop for the rifle; come on, any old Monkey wards or sears catalog could have done the trick! Thanks for sharing your rifles, it is a shame you are only down to one now. I look forward to the next round of pictures now that the weather is getting better.

[rayg]

A real nice one, Rayfunnies-7.gifbow[1].gif

[rayg]

P.S. your title, My only 03! have I been asleep, did I miss something? You had posted a lot of 1903 Springfields of yours here through out the years. What happened to them? Ray

[Fred]

Fred,
As always, great pictures and rifle. I like how you subtly used Hatcher's notebook as a prop for the rifle; come on, any old Monkey wards or sears catalog could have done the trick! Thanks for sharing your rifles, it is a shame you are only down to one now. I look forward to the next round of pictures now that the weather is getting better.

Thanks so much for responding! I'm happy with my one 1903. It's enough for me here on our ranch as its my chosen rifle for home defense while being a classic rifle for me to have.
I'm happy that you enjoy the photos!!!

[Fred]

P.S. your title, My only 03! have I been asleep, did I miss something? You had posted a lot of 1903 Springfields of yours here through out the years. What happened to them? Ray

yep, I decided to just keep one of the 1903's and sell all of the others as well as the 1905 bayonets. I used the cash to buy two very rare trapdoor Springfield's and one Single Action Army Colt made in 1883.

[rayg]

What is the rare Trapdoor you kept? Also is that Colt the one you posted about a few years ago? Ray