1911 NRA 1903, really nice

[LAH]

Yet another gem....

Yet another 1903 NRA Rifle with SA 7- 11 barrel....enjoy

[John Beard]

Very nice rifle! Thanks for sharing!

I will make you aware that the rifle was stamped "N.R.A." retroactively several years after it had been sold.

Thanks again!

J.B.

[da gimp]

aw geez john.... you're teasing us again......... not doubting your word at all........... the NRA looks off center not marked in a straight line & the flaming bomb is a lil off center from the NRA logo a lil too........ or am I missing it all again?

[LAH]

The rifles pics I have in the thread I borrowed off GB. They are currently there for sale now. I don't have any connection to them whatsoever. Just search 1911 1903.

[John Beard]

aw geez john.... you're teasing us again......... not doubting your word at all........... the NRA looks off center not marked in a straight line & the flaming bomb is a lil off center from the NRA logo a lil too........ or am I missing it all again?

The "N.R.A." marking wasn't authorized until 1915. Rifles made and sold prior to 1915 were stamped retroactively.

J.B.

[Rick the Librarian]

The "N.R.A." marking wasn't authorized until 1915. Rifles made and sold prior to 1915 were stamped retroactively.

J.B.

Good to know that - you learn something new every day.

[Fred]

Yep! Thanks John.

[Dick Hosmer]

Looks just like mine, except yours is nicer!!!!

[Rick the Librarian]

Dick, your rifle ain't anything to sneeze at, either!

I also have NRA Sales rifle 554,131 with a 7-13 barrel; in what I realize is a "What do you want, eggs in your beer"-statement, I wish my 477,000 range rifle had a 6-11 barrel. The 7-13 barrel is the same month and year my mother was born; a 6-11 would be the birthdat of my dad!

[Fred]

I'll be on the lookout Dick!

[cplnorton]

Fred, I just tried to write you back. Your inbox is full. Thanks sir.

[Fred]

OK Steve, I've made room!

[Ironlip]

I picked it up for $1500 shipped.

That's about what I paid for mine.......in 1988!!!

[Ironlip]

The "N.R.A." marking wasn't authorized until 1915. Rifles made and sold prior to 1915 were stamped retroactively.

J.B.

It's rare that I can add anything to what Brother Beard has to share about '03's, but this time I can provide a little documentation. Not long after I bought mine I contacted Frank Mallory of Springfield Research Service about the fact that my 1911 rifle (SN 481260 Bbl Date 7-11) had the NRA mark on the trigger guard, a mark which had not been applied until 1915 according to the then recently published Brophy book on '03's. Reproduced below is his letter in response and the page from the Springfield Research Service Newsletter to which he refers:

[John Beard]

I have the Springfield Research Newsletter in your picture. That's where my information came from. A very high percentage of pre-1915 rifles were never located and marked. In addition, rifles sold to military officers and certain eligible individuals were also never marked. That's why I refer to them as "Sales Rifles" and not "NRA Sales Rifles", because many of them were sold to others besides NRA members.

J.B.