Looking at a RIA M1903...

[TDP0311]

jonnyo55- also check out to see if there is a possibility of it being a Marine Corps 1903, if that is the case, they hold a bit more value. There are a few things to look for:

1. "Hatcher Hole" drilled into the left side of the receiver on the other side of the small hole below the SN
2. Greenish color to the parkerizing
3. #10 rear sighting system and larger front sight hood
4. Plumber's table marks on barrel- not present if the barrel is original
5. Stippled butt plate
6. Stock w/o cartouches
7. Punch mark before serial number
8. Serial number electro-penned onto bolt

Not all USMC rifles have all of these or any, but they are something just to look out for.

[Fred]

Before you go changing and "correcting things" on your rifle, you might want to remember that the Rock Island Barreled action and stock might (I'm no expert) have been sent to Springfield Armory in late 1918 or maybe even early 1919 to be completed with Springfield parts. It's quite possible that I have one of those rifles. To change it all out would be to strip away the collectability and associated value that the rifle might have.

[Rick the Librarian]

I quite agree -- I can think of 2-3 rifles I've had that I tried to "correct" that I wish now I had left my fingers off!

[Fred]

On top of which, if you were to remove all of the parts you thought were Springfield Armory and replace them with all Rock Island Armory parts, your rifle would for certain and forever more, be just an assemblage of parts put together with absolutely no original integrity or history. Regardless of how well it looked afterwards, it would never be worth such a rifle that was originally all Rock Island. Only rifles in original configuration that have Not been put together or repaired with swapped out parts are given the associated values as quoted in Flayderman's Price Guide in the section on 1903's. All others are forever more just parts guns. An expert can tell if something has been replaced or changed. You might not think it possible, but after years and decades of experience, it most certainly can. The rifle you speak of, in its present condition, is now permanently noted in the 1903 collection world as being what it now is. Hold off on doing anything to it until it can be inspected by photo's or in person by one of the guys here who are the ones that contribute to and write the books on the subject. This is where they gather and their knowledge is The ultimate reference on the subject. You just might have an interesting example of an originally configured rifle.

[Fred]

Here is my Rock Island 03 that has a Rock Island barreled action and RIA 7-18 barrel that has all other Springfield Armory parts on it. Its stock has the non serif P under the wrist (Springfield) but it strangely has a single letter L on the left side that is identical to and appears to be a known Rock Island stamp of an inspector there for that time period. The safety and cut off are also Springfield. Overall, the rifle appears to be in original configuration as far as age and wear of all parts, that being near pristine condition. The finish on the metal is also original and unrestored and has the appearance of a Springfield finish for that specific time period. Is it a rifle assembled from Rock Island and Springfield parts? Most certainly. Is it in original configuration or is it just a rifle that was reassembled from piles of cleaned parts after all of a unit's rifles were torn down for cleaning shortly after receiving them? That is a question yet to be ascertained, but in the mean time, I'm not touching a single thing on it. If and I mean if it's still in original configuration as it left Springfield Armory in 1918, The rifle is valuable for research to collectors as a seldom encountered example of its type and of what was going on at that time.

[Fred]

[Fred]

[TDP0311]

very nice rifle Fred... I hope to be able to add a Rock River to my collection soon.

[TDP0311]

Is the make/date of the 1907 sling you have on it visible?

[Fred]

Yes, it's 1918.

[jonnyo55]

I'm not looking to "restore" the rifle by adding RIA parts on a piecemeal basis...I'd just like some way of determining whether or not the parts on the rifle are RIA. I've read that many 1918 parts will bear an ordnance bomb stamp...which ones do, and which ones do not?

[Fred]

John Beard said that only Rock Island parts made after mid 1918 had the bomb stamped into them. There are other stamps put on by inspectors who used their initials that can be used to determine if the part was Springfield or Rock Island made.

[Rick the Librarian]

I believe late 1918.

[Fred]

Rick, I'm wondering if the reason Rock Island started doing that was because they might've started sending parts to Springfield then in some quantity to be completed into rifles and somebody thought it would be a good idea to be able to identify where a particular part originated from that there was trouble with down the road. Just taking a guess at it all.

[Jon Field]

Very beautiful rifle!!!!!!!