early 1918 SA 1903 Receiver

[NathanHale]

Gentleman,
I am curious about an 1918 SA 1903 Receiver that I have #7803XX.
Due to the critical shortage of rifles for world war 1, did all receivers produced at Springfield in 1918 go directly to the military armorers?

If they did, were they delivered to the separate branches of the service....i.e. US Army, USMC, or the Navy by serial number lots/ranges?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Great website too!
Mark

[da gimp]

might try reposting this question, & ask in the title for an SRS hit on the serial #.............Many times guys who have those records, can tell where rifles with serial #'s close to yours were sent, at some point in their life...................

e.g. , ......... can I get a SRS search on an 1903 Springfield serial # 380299? Who knows........ if you put in the entire serial #, you might just get lucky....... & get a hit in the records.............

[John Beard]

Gentleman,
I am curious about an 1918 SA 1903 Receiver that I have #7803XX.
Due to the critical shortage of rifles for world war 1, did all receivers produced at Springfield in 1918 go directly to the military armorers?

If they did, were they delivered to the separate branches of the service....i.e. US Army, USMC, or the Navy by serial number lots/ranges?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Great website too!
Mark

(1) Yes. Civilian sales of M1903 rifles were suspended in 1917.

(2) Yes, to some extent.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[cplnorton]

Also if you take pictures of your rifle, for instance any markings on the stock or the barrel date, we might be able to tell you more. Or if you don't do pictures, tell us any markings you see.

780008 052323CO B 38TH INF
780047 080538BA (RECEIVER TO BE SCRAPPED)
780053 052324CO L 13TH INF
780122A2 092443USN DRY DOCK SOUTH BOSTON
780154SGS 120125LITTLE ROCK AIR INT DEP TO RIA
780199 030825TRP B 2ND CAV
780243 050924CO F 5TH INF
780248 042639USCG OLD HARBOR STA
780389 022138BA (RECEIVER TO BE SCRAPPED)
780518 010520RECEIVER SCRAPPED - C&R RIFLE
780603 111931FT NIAGARA TO SA
780614 051029CO H CORPS OF CADETS USMA
780639 123129AMERICAN TRP SHANGHAI VOL CORPS
780672 050924CO F 5TH INF
780839 040935LITTLE ROCK AIR DEPOT
780909 1024312ND BN 18TH INF FT WADSWORTH

[NathanHale]

Here are some photos of the rifle, hopefully they will come through..... Mr. John Beard has been great in helping me figure this out. Thank you John.



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[Dave in NGA]

Nice! really nice.

[NathanHale]

Well The photos came through OK and all but one came out pretty good!
To Cpl Norton, Thanks for the good info...The Serial # on this weapon is 780368
NathanHale

[Fred]

You've got a Really nice looking rifle there! Is there a front sight set screw deeply in place or is it missing? I can't see it in the photograph. Also, is the trigger serrated or smooth? Probably smooth. Thanks, Fred

[NathanHale]

Hi Fred, The screw was missing when I took these photos last weekend, I have since found a replacement. The trigger is serrated and it seems to be cross hatched towards the tip of the trigger.....

[NathanHale]

Here are a few more photos from the same shoot last weekend......

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[Fred]

A Fine, Fine looking rifle!