My newst aquisition.

[Fred]

A 11-17 dated barreled 1903 that somehow managed to avoid field use. This rifle just couldn't have gone overseas. If it did, it must've been taken to Headquarters way back in the rear and put into a corner. The original and correct stock shows no harsh wear and although having a few dings from almost a century of handling and light use, has none of the wear that is found on most such dated 03's. The metal surfaces have sharp edges and nothing in the way of wear. However the blued finish is worn off smooth from handling on trigger guard, floor plate, front sight and exposed barrel and rear barrel band. The bolt has sharp edges and although the handle is sweat stained, is polished and very smooth and is extremely silky in operation, like on my National Match rifle. The bore is Excellent with very sharp lands and grooves. It does have a rear sight slide tightening screw or knob that is of a little earlier type with the groove around the circumference. With everything else on the rifle being correct, including the serrated trigger, I'd say that the knob might've been in the parts bin and was used. I wish John Beard would share his thoughts on that. The front sight is the original. The rear sight slide has never been bent, which is unusual in itself. The rear band has a sling swivel that is split. All edges on the rifle are Sharp and I mean Sharp. The stock and hand guard have never been sanded. There is a 1/8th" cartouche of a single letter T on the left side. Non serrif P within a circle under the wrist. The rifle shows age but has sharp edges and smooth surfaces except in a very few areas.
Photo's coming up in a few minutes...

[Rick the Librarian]

Dang ... I want to have access to the printing press you have in your basement printing out the money all these acquisitions must be costing!!

[Fred]

OK. Here are the pictures I took out on the patio a while ago. The stock has shallow denting along the lower edge of each grasping groove. I can steam them out. However, the neat part about the stock and hand guard on this late 1917 dated and early 1918 assembled 03 is that the edges and surfaces show very little if any wear. No sand paper or abrasives appear to have ever been used on the wood. All stamps are Crisp and Sharp. All edges of the metal are Crisp and Sharp too. The finish on the metal around the bolt handle, trigger guard/floor plate, barrel around front sight and front sight itself appear to have been handled by sweaty hands that wore the finish away down to the clean but bare steel. This rifle's bore is pristine and I think that it might only have been fired on a range for possibly competition or annual qualification. The bolt body has been polished but the bolt handle seems as if it was blued and has just had the finish worn off. I don't know, maybe it was polished too but has turned darker from sweat and oils. The action is very silky. The trigger is serrated. I'm thinking that possibly this rifle belonged to a man who used it in competition. That would be one reason for the rifle surviving intact and relatively un-blemished. Anyway, all just interesting speculation that is fueled by a feel that I get from this rifle... whatever THAT's worth. Here are the pictures...


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[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Jkibler2]

Oh my, that is nice!

[Fred]

Thanks! What's amazing to me is that it isn't all chewed up like most 1917 dated 03's. This'll probably be my last territorial demand... uh er...I mean my last 1903. Lol. Seriously, four rifles is pleanty enough for me.

[da gimp]

To all the serious gun-nuts reading this understand that Fred really means it just might be the last one he got that week............. If a nice 1903A4 wandered by...... complete with Unertl........or one with a Pederson's device complete with magazine happened by, his resolve might just weaken a tad.............. & I'm hoping he gets both.

[Fred]

LOL! Gimp I hope that if such temptations DO come my way, I'll resist the urge to dig down for the money. Honest Injun, I'd better not go browsing through Gun Broker anymore. Momma has been wanting to buy one of those big ol 17 foot long heated jacusi's that one can swim against a current in. Every time I get a rifle, she buys something too. Sigh...

[joem]

Must be nice to have a time machine to go back and pick up some nice stuff like that.

[Fred]

I'm really lucky to have an understanding wife who enjoys seeing me get excited over a new toy! Almost as good as a Time Machine!

[Casey]

Very Nice.

[Fred]

Thanks Casey!