RIA rifle with SA barrel question.

[Don in SC]

I've got a RIA that was manufactured in 1919 or 1920 by the S/N. Is it known for sure that all of the RIA's in that time frame went to SA for assembly? If so could a 1916 dated barrel be correct for a 370,000 numbered rifle? Donald

[Rick the Librarian]

No, the barrel is a replacement. Actually, RIA rifles with that serial number range may have been finished at Rock Island. It is only with those with a higher range that were "for sure" sent to Springfield at finished there. IIRC, s/n 375,000-405,000, about a 50% chance, 405,000-430,742, a 90% chance.

[John Beard]

Seasons' Greetings!

As Rick the Librarian correctly noted, there's a very small chance that your rifle was finished at SA in the late 1920's. Should that be the case, then the SA 1916-dated barrel could have been salvaged from a scrapped receiver and fitted as the original barrel to your receiver. But again, the statistical odds are small.

Hope this helps. Merry Christmas!

J.B.

[munkjeep]

Does a ROCK ISLAND M1903 ser # 407555 with a 1-21 SA barrel sound correct ?

[John Beard]

Does a ROCK ISLAND M1903 ser # 407555 with a 1-21 SA barrel sound correct ?

Seasons' Greetings!

One cannot rule out the possibility that an S.A./1-21 barrel is original to RIA S/N 407555. The statistical odds, however, are about 1:10.

Hope this helps. Merry Christmas!

J.B.

[Don in SC]

Thanks for the info. 1903's are not my strong point on US arms.

[munkjeep]

Seasons' Greetings!

One cannot rule out the possibility that an S.A./1-21 barrel is original to RIA S/N 407555. The statistical odds, however, are about 1:10.

Hope this helps. Merry Christmas!

J.B.

John, My memory is slipping, RIA S/N 407555 has a S.A./11-28 barrel , not 1-21 . Does that sound more correct ?
Thanx, I am more of a 1911 and Garand guy, but have 5 Rock Islands that I really don't know enough about .

[Rick the Librarian]

I'm not John, but yes, that sounds much more correct. The receivers sent to Springfield from RIA usually received barrels in the 1926-29 range.

[John Beard]

John, My memory is slipping, RIA S/N 407555 has a S.A./11-28 barrel , not 1-21 . Does that sound more correct ?
Thanx, I am more of a 1911 and Garand guy, but have 5 Rock Islands that I really don't know enough about .

Seasons' Greetings!

Absolutely! RIA S/N 407555 with S.A./11-28 barrel is an original combination with very high statistical probability.

Thanks for the correction! Happy New Year!

J.B.