Question on 1903 sight leaf

[RCS]

During WW1 and between wars, the Model 1903 rear sight leaf was polished and without any finish. My question - when were the sight leafs parkerized ? during WW2 rebuild or before WW2 ?

[John Beard]

I'm not 100% certain what the answer to your question is. But I'll make a stab at it and invite correction.

All M1903 rear sights had a blue/black finish with a polished face through 1942. The finish was changed to Parkerizing with white-filled letters in 1944.

I must qualify the preceding statement by stating that I have observed a number of rear sights from the 1920's through 1942 which did NOT have a polished face. My only explanation for them is that they were originally made as spare parts and were intended to be polished upon installation (which seldom happened).

Rear sights were routinely Parkerized during overhaul and may or may not have had the face re-polished.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[RCS]

Thank you for the information

RCS

[Randy A]

I could have swore I read that they were all finished and only the ones installed on NM rifles were polished by production personnel. Doesn't mean a unit armorer or a GI didn't do it, makes the graduations pop out, easier to see.

[Emri]

I must qualify the preceding statement by stating that I have observed a number of rear sights from the 1920's through 1942 which did NOT have a polished face. My only explanation for them is that they were originally made as spare parts and were intended to be polished upon installation (which seldom happened).

Thanks John, I wondered about that also. I have seen many that were not polished but had not been refinished either.

Emri

[Fred]

I've wondered about that myself. Thank you.