My new Rock Island 1903 just arrived today!

[Rick the Librarian]

You might email/PM VeeVee who occasionally posts on this forum. He has friends who re-enact the Philippine Scouts 26th Cavalry (who used that type of equipment. He might be able to help.

[Fred]

Great! I might just do that Rick. Thanks!

[Rick the Librarian]

Fred, you mentioned about when they changed from serif lettering to block lettering. Here's a 292,000 range RIA I had years ago with block lettering.



Here's a 278,000 range with the block letters, also (not mine, saw this on Gunbroker):

[John Beard]

Fred,

You have a splendid-looking rifle! Thanks for taking the time to make and post pictures!

Your rifle is a bit puzzling. As you noted, your rifle is fitted with assorted parts from Springfield Armory which would not likely appear on a rifle originally assembled at Rock Island Arsenal. I am also inclined to believe that your rifle's stock was manufactured and stamped at Springfield Armory. Rock Island Arsenal was not the only Ordnance facility using single-letter inspection stamps during WWI. Springfield Armory also used them.

The finish on your rifle's receiver and barrel appears to be bluing. Is that correct?

And, finally, if your rifle's barrel is original, and I'm inclined to believe that it is, then you have a Rock Island low number double-heat-treated rifle.

Hope this helps. Thanks again for taking the time to make and post pictures!

J.B.

p.s.,

I have a data base showing Rock Island's transition from serifed to block lettering in great detail, as well as their switch from script to block serial numbers.

[Fred]

Rick, Nick Ferris states in his book that the changeover occurred sometime before 268693, but he also says that there are some overlaps to this change like 279166 and 282412, which he says Do have serifs. Your Rock Island rifle pictured above, 272505 which has a 7-18 barrel also has serif letters and so is one of those "Exceptions". Pretty interesting.

[Fred]

Fred,

You have a splendid-looking rifle! Thanks for taking the time to make and post pictures!

Your rifle is a bit puzzling. As you noted, your rifle is fitted with assorted parts from Springfield Armory which would not likely appear on a rifle originally assembled at Rock Island Arsenal. I am also inclined to believe that your rifle's stock was manufactured and stamped at Springfield Armory. Rock Island Arsenal was not the only Ordnance facility using single-letter inspection stamps during WWI. Springfield Armory also used them.

The finish on your rifle's receiver and barrel appears to be bluing. Is that correct?

And, finally, if your rifle's barrel is original, and I'm inclined to believe that it is, then you have a Rock Island low number double-heat-treated rifle.

Hope this helps. Thanks again for taking the time to make and post pictures!

J.B.

p.s.,

I have a data base showing Rock Island's transition from serifed to block lettering in great detail, as well as their switch from script to block serial numbers.

Hey, thanks for the input John! Yes, my rifle looks like it might be blued. I mean it's very blue and not at all what I've become familiar with as Parkerizing. I had started thinking that as a rule, the low number double heat treated receivers were parkerized, Could it be then that some were still blued? Apparently so. That's always a Good thing as Forest Gump was fond of saying. I wonder how many of the low number double heat treated rifles there are out there still. Maybe there were at one time around 10,000 or so? Difficult to say how many of the early receivers didn't pass the testing after heat treating. Somebody had been firing it with non corrosive ammo before I got it as the bore had a lot of carbon in it but no pitting whatsoever after cleaning it. The bore appears to have a mirror perfect surface with sharp lands.
That's interesting about the use of single letters for inspection stamps at Springfield Armory. The rifle certainly is a bit puzzling for sure.
It came with a perfect conditioned nickel plated oiler and cleaning kit in the butt trap. There was a length of green rag through one end of the brass pull through and no brush. I've got a correct type brush coming in the mail shortly.
I'm glad that you like the rifle and the pictures too John. I used my I-phone to take the photo's. Not too bad when I could hold still enough for a sharp picture. I'm pretty thrilled to have been able to get it when I did.
John, I'd be interested in seeing where my rifle fits in on your database.

Thanks John!

Fred

[John Beard]

Rick, that 3rd rifle that you've pictured is the one with the 7-18 barrel date. I'll bet that it too has a double heat treated receiver. I'd like to hear John's opinion on whether that receiver has the early Rock Island Parkerizing. Look at how well the rear sight fits too. Nice!

Yes, Rick's third rifle, RIA S/N 272505, has the original early Rock Island Parkerizing. And yes, it's double-heat treated.

J.B.

[John Beard]

I wonder how many of the low number double heat treated rifles there are out there still. Maybe there were at one time around 10,000 or so?

Thanks John!

Fred

You are correct. RIA wartime records indicate that about 10,000 low number receivers were actually double-heat treated.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Fred]

Thanks John. It's good to know that my rough estimation is well grounded.