Bring out your favorite M1903 pictures!

[rayg]

The bbl date is 2-06, what is yours. Oops, just noticed that yours is a Springfield rifle were as mine is a Rock Island. Apples and oranges as they say, Ray

[Rick the Librarian]

I have RIA #16,093 - has a RIA 6-05 barrel date, the earliest I have seen, although I know there is a 10-04 date out there pictured in books.

[rayg]

Rick, That's a pretty early dated barrel. I assume it was altered from 30-03 as mine was? And how about your stock? was it an altered rod bayonet stock or in a regular non altered 08 dated stock like mine? Ray

[Rick the Librarian]

It wasn't an altered RB stock. It was a 1908 like yours.

I do have a 1906-marked altered RB stock which isn't mounted on a rifle, which was restored by Rick Borecky. I bought it to go on another RIA I was restoring but it wouldn't fit - the FRSB on the rifle was the "solid" variety. I keep hoping to find another 1908 or 1909 RIA stock I can trade for.

Here are some pictures of the stock and RIA 16,093 rifle:

[rayg]

[QUOTE=Rick the Librarian;369431]It wasn't an altered RB stock. It was a 1908 like yours.

I do have a 1906-marked altered RB stock which isn't mounted on a rifle, which was restored by Rick Borecky. I bought it to go on another RIA I was restoring but it wouldn't fit - the FRSB on the rifle was the "solid" variety. I keep hoping to find another 1908 or 1909 RIA stock I can trade for.

Here are some pictures of the stock and RIA 16,093 rifle:

Rick, Could you translate "FRSB" for me. Also could you post photos of the RB stock you bought again as it's not showing, Ray

[Rick the Librarian]

Sorry -- FRSB = Fixed, rear sight base. M1903s after about 1908 had a "solid" rear sight base; those before, had a "strapped" one.











Here's the "solid" sight base of my 126,399 RIA vs. the "strapped" base of an earlier M1903:



And the "strapped" base of an earlier M1903:

[rayg]

Thought that's what it meant. Both my early Rocks have the early "strapped rear sight bases. ray

[Fred]

[Rick the Librarian]

Nice!

[Fred]

Thanks again as always Rick! From left to right in the above photo...


Rock Island Arsenal, 7-18 R.I.A. barrel


Springfield Armory, 11-17 S.A. barrel


Springfield Armory, 7-18 S.A. barrel


Springfield Armory, 11-19 S.A. barrel, 1920 National Match


By the way, that's a wooden Spare Parts Container I'm using to prop up the National Match rifle on the table.

[rayg]

Pretty rifles,

[Fred]

Thanks Ray! LOL

[dryheat]

I'm embarrassed to admit I don't own a 1903. An 03A3 that was "match prepped" with old time(yellow) bedding and a timney trigger and Lyman sights. It's one of my favorite rifles.

[Fred]

Heck, that's Great! Is it a good shooter? I've never even fired any of mine yet. Gonna have to do something about that!

[dryheat]

Oh yes, it's pretty accurate even with some of the bedding starting to pull away in places.