1920 National Match

[Fred]

Here is some information and photo's of my 1920 National Match 1903 in the format Chuck Russell uses. I'm also including first, Chucks information on two other rifles that are on his list of rifles in that serial number range. One of these is described as a National Match (1920) rifle and the other, although not labeled as a (1920) National Match, certainly sounds like one too.


1,180,369 Auction photos
Springfield Armory
BARREL- SA 12-19
BOLT- angled handle, J6 top base of bolt handle
STOCK- block DAL in rectangle, circled P; front and rear stock bolts
HAND GUARD- might have lower profile hump
BUTT PLATE- fine checkered
TRIGGER- thick profile
RECEIVER- NOT MK I marked Gunbroker 9-2013



1,182,053 NATIONAL MATCH dealer web site
Springfield Armory
BARREL- SA 1-20 predates star gauging
BOLT- bent handle; J 6 ; polished
STOCK- block DAL in rectangle; circled block P; front and rear stock bolts
BUTT- fine checkered
TRIGGER- serrated
CUT-OFF- letters with serifs
REAR SIGHT- dished windage and elevation screws; leaf without 2850 yd notch rifle was verified by John Beard according to dealer’s text Scott Duff 3-2010





1,181,006 National Match
Springfield Armory
BARREL- SA 11-19 Without star gauge stamp (predates use of)
BOLT- Brightly polished, angled handle, J5 under safety lug
STOCK- block DAL in rectangle, block circle P, front and rear stock bolts
HAND GUARD- post high hump or full hump with Sighting Groove, fixturing slot
BUTT PLATE- fine checkered, minty nickel plated oiler with accessories in butt trap that came with the rifle
TRIGGER- serrated
CUT-OFF- color case hardened, block letters
SAFETY- block letters
RECEIVER- Not Mark I marked. This is a 1920 National Match rifle in unused condition.
REAR SIGHT- dished windage and elevation screws; leaf without 2850 yd. notch
This rifle was verified by John Beard


It's of some interest that the bolt on my rifle is a J5 instead of the expected J6 that is on some other 1920 National Match rifles. No doubt correct for my rifle as is the non-serif cut off it has too.

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Chuck Russell]

Beautiful rifle. Fantastic example of case coloring on a cut-off , too. A while back I heard the curator of the Cody firearms collection talk about the effect of sun light on case coloring. He had photos of an Annie Oakley .22 rifle that had been in a display case that was exposed to a bit of indirect sun for a short time. Very distinct line of fading on the exposed portion of the receiver. I digress. Beautiful rifle. Thanks for the pics.

[Fred]

Thanks Chuck. Yea, I noticed the effect of sunlight on color case hardening back in the seventies when I'd see brilliant colors on the underside of Trapdoor Springfield breech blocks whose outer sides were faded and gray. I think that this rifle must've been kept in a rifle cabinet away from any Kids and any direct sunlight or even in a dark closet ever since it was bought and brought home by some owner who was in the military. As you know, only military personnel were allowed to purchase the 1920 National Match rifles. Maybe the owner died without ever having the chance to use it. Anyway, the rifle sure doesn't show any use at all. It wasn't even listed as a National Match rifle on Gun Broker. The seller thought and stated that it was just a fine looking rifle. That accounts for why I was able to just buy it without any competition. John Beard knew about it of course when I asked him if he could please verify it as a National Match rifle for me, but he was a gracious gentleman who knew that I wanted to buy it, so he was just waiting for me to put the rifle back down onto the table so to speak (gun show etiquette) before he no doubt would've then been on it like the proverbial Hobo on a Ham Sandwich. I haven't ever fired it yet. Heck, I haven't ever fired any of the 1903's in our cabinet. Maybe it hasn't been fired in 90 odd years. The bore is sharp and the rifle appears to have all of the original Asphaultum finish on it.

[Doug Douglass]

Sweet, sweet, sweet......it would look great with my 1919 NM and 1921 NM. I want it.......

[Fred]

Got any pictures of your 1919 and 1921 NM's Doug?

[Rick the Librarian]

I've also got a SA NM 1919 - would sure like a RIA 1919 NM to make them a "matched set"!

[Fred]

Somebody (maybe John Beard) told me the number of Rock Island NM rifles made that year but I've forgotten the number. It was less than the Springfields. I do know (believe I do anyway) that there were 3,000 1920 National Match rifles made.
I've seen your 1919 National Match Rick and it's sure a Beauty!

[Jon Field]

Beautiful rifle!

[Doug Douglass]

Got any pictures of your 1919 and 1921 NM's Doug?

Posting photos is greek to me. The 1919 is mint, the 1921 is my shooter, SA rebuilt ?? times with a 1927 *barrel.

[m1903rifle]

Doug,
Send the photos to me and I will post them for you.
Everett everett156ATknologyDOTnet

[John Beard]

I've also got a SA NM 1919 - would sure like a RIA 1919 NM to make them a "matched set"!

I can count the number of known RIA 1919 NM rifles on the fingers of one hand, and have several fingers left over. If you go searching for one, I suggest that you first make friends with the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve System.

J.B.

[Fred]

Did they make 3000 of them?

[John Beard]

Did they make 3000 of them?

RIA made 2,000 NM 1919 rifles with a possible production overrun of 251 rifles.

J.B.