1903 RIA Made 1907 Absolutely gorgeous!

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Hey Guys,

Super excited to share this guy!

Got this relatively cheap.

A 1903 Rock Island Arsenal, the best part is it's all original. I had a few experts look it over before I "pulled the trigger" and they said most likely not a put together just a wonderful example that avoided every single arsenal rebuild program the military had to offer. How, that remains a mystery.

The stock is a RIA with NO cross bolts, 1908 marked but that's not uncommon to be a year off from the metal.

It has all the major early features,
Unmarked bolt (either on the handle or lugs)
Early small windage knob
no bolt stock (1907 or earlier)
large S on the foretip
correct dated barrel
serif permission stamp
flat top hand guard. (no groove cut out in the top)
the oiler is the early version not the later version
platinum line rear sights

Major downside it came with an original 1906 RIA sling, but it snapped in half in transit (I may sell it on e-bay to get whatever I can for that), there's dried leather fibers in the rear sling swivel screw heads LOL.

This is probably the nicest 1903 I've ever held...

Just think about this.... Same condition as left the arsenal. I'm simply amazed...

[Smokeeaterpilot]

More pictures...












Without the help of some of the people on these forums I never would have had the confidence to make such a purchase....

[Shooter5]

WoW! Nice!

[Rick the Librarian]

A real beauty and a worthy twin to RIA #16093, which I picked up awhile back:

[Smokeeaterpilot]

A real beauty and a worthy twin to RIA #16093, which I picked up awhile back:

That is a real beauty! Rick, I LOVE the RIA inspector stamp!

Rick, you and John Beard are who took my love of 1903s from a candlelight and poured kerosene on it. I am still in your guys debt for "showing me the light" of 1903s especially Low numbers!

[Rick the Librarian]

If WE'RE going to be addicted to '03s, YOU are, too!! LOL!!

[Smokeeaterpilot]

If WE'RE going to be addicted to '03s, YOU are, too!! LOL!!

And it's an addiction I'm proud to have, without you guys it's one I wouldn't appreciate nearly as much haha so THANK YOU!!!

[1563621]

Nice pick up!!!

[bruce]

Very beautiful rifle. Hard to believe that this was once considered the appropriate standard of production for a combat weapon. Thank you for the post and pictures. Sincerely. bruce.

[Fred]

Woweewoweewowowow!

[mhb]

Lately...

I have been amazed by the apparent survival rate of early RIA 1903 rifles in as-issued condition (and extremely well-preserved!).
I mentioned in an previous discussion of early RIA M1907 slings that I had acquired such a rifle, and promised to post photos (the sling was pictured in the original discussion).
So...:

001.JPG002.jpg003.jpg005.jpg006.jpg

More to come, if I can figure out how to manage the previously uploaded photos and upload more.

mhb - Mike

[mhb]

And then:

008.jpg010.jpg011.jpg012.JPG017.jpg

mhb - Mike

[mhb]

And finally...:

ATTACH=CONFIG]30830[/ATTACH]020.jpg025.jpg026.jpg

I apologize for the quality of the photos, and the difficulties in getting them posted. And I realized in the process that I forgot to get a photo of the 'S' on the foreend tip, but it is there.
Any ideas on the brass tab on the butt?

mhb - Mike

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Mike,

Absolutely amazing. Yours has a deeper redish color in the stock which is just so rich and beautiful

The marking on top of the buttstock is that an armory rack number tag? Very classy!!

[mhb]

Smoke...

Thank you - I think yours is in nicer condition, overall.
No idea what the information on the tag really means, but would certainly like to know.

mhb - Mike