M1903A1 evaluation. NM?

[Johnny P]

I can't say I have ever seen a 1903 bolt numbered behind the safety lug.

[chuckindenver]

ahead ..sorry

[Blockhead]

Much thanks to all those who provided information on my new rifle. With permission, I'm going to list what John Beard told me concerning this rifle's history:

Your rifle was originally manufactured as a 1931 National Match rifle.
According to records in the files from the Office of the Chief of Ordnance,
the initial order for the 1931 National Match rifles was issued to
Springfield Armory in October, 1930. Consequently, the bulk of the 1931
National Match rifles are clustered around S/N 1369xxx, give or take, which
was struck around 1 January 1931.

Springfield Armory was subsequently issued a follow-on order on 27 January
1931 to overhaul 2,140 used National Match rifles that were leftover from
the previous year. Some of those rifles, undoubtedly, failed inspection and
had to be replaced. Your rifle, therefore, may have been originally
manufactured in the March, 1931, time frame as a replacement for a used
National Match rifle that failed inspection and had to be replaced.
Alternatively, Springfield may have been issued a late supplemental order
for additional National Match rifles which I have no record of.
Nevertheless, your rifle was originally manufactured around March, 1931, and
was issued to a military shooting team for the 1931 National Matches.

Your rifle's history becomes less clear after that.

It appears that your rifle was re-barreled with a new current-production
star-gauged barrel and a new current-production nickel steel bolt for the
1938 National Matches. It also appears that your rifle was re-stocked at
some point with a Type C stock and matching handguard taken from a 1936
rifle. Even though the stock exhibits the Springfield Armory inspection
stamp of Stanley P. Gibbs, this re-barreling and re-stocking may have been
done at another Ordnance facility besides Springfield Armory.

At some point, perhaps after the 1938 National Matches, your rifle was
retired and re-issued as a service rifle. Other parts were then replaced
with earlier service rifle parts to include the bolt sleeve/firing pin
assembly and the windage screw and rear sight assembly.

In summary, you have a very interesting rifle that undoubtedly saw
competition in perhaps two National Matches and somehow escaped significant
service in WWII.

[Johnny P]

The "mays" are in abundance.

[Blockhead]

The "mays" are in abundance.

But the "originally manufactured as a NM rifle" isn't. I'm very happy with even that.

[chuckindenver]

JB? what do you think about the Hatcher hole??

[rebound]

.... Most likely done when barrel changed in 1938...

[chuckindenver]

agree,,,but by who? Marines? Navy??

[rebound]

Write your chooses on a paper, hang on the wall, get your darts out...............

[John Beard]

The "mays" are in abundance.

Three (3) "mays" in a three hundred thirty-three (333) word discourse constitute "abundance"? Interesting.

J.B.

[John Beard]

JB? what do you think about the Hatcher hole??

On 3 January 1938, Springfield Armory requested authorization from the Chief of Ordnance to vent bolts and receivers during overhaul. Their request was promptly approved. The subject 1931 NM receiver, therefore, should correctly have had the Hatcher Hole added when it was re-barreled several months later.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[chuckindenver]

good info...thanks John.