1903 RIA Made 1907 Absolutely gorgeous!

[Fred]

Early rifles are indeed very desirable! Great pictures everyone! Smoke, that early pull through and brush are fantastic finds. Were they in the stock of the rifle when you got it?

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Early rifles are indeed very desirable! Great pictures everyone! Smoke, that early pull through and brush are fantastic finds. Were they in the stock of the rifle when you got it?

Yeah came with a 1906 RIA strap too but it snapped in half in transit.....

[Fred]

I've got one of those in the butt of my Rod Bayonet 03. They're pretty neat.
That's quite a rifle you found. A real Prize!

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Mike, but yours looks to have honest wear without being damaged I dunno. Mine looks as though it was forgotten a out on some storage cache.

Yours looks at though it may have been lightly used but still in beautiful condition. Truly amazing thanks for sharimg. Love the buttstock tag, whatever it was for.

[RCS]

Rock Island 1903 s/n 64145

I have posted these photos before of my Rock Island 1903 serial number 64145 with a barrel date
of RIA 3-07 (exc bore too). Single bolt Rock Island stockP1010018_0014.jpgP1010039_0035.jpg

[RCS]

butt plate markings

Ed Byrns was able to tell me that the butt plate markings on this early Springfield 1903 were
as follows:

Troop H

8th Cavalry

Trooper #18


Troop H was in the Mexican Expedition in 1916

[Liam]

one_more.jpg

[Rick the Librarian]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30852[/ATTACH]

Yep, that's me!! LOL!

[mhb]

I thought about that...

(unit identification markings) as a possibility, but don't know how to verify the assumption, or positively identify the unit involved. It would be helpful to know that such markings were SOP with cavalry or other units at the time, and whether they were unique, or might be confused with other types of unit with similar numbers and company/troop letters. I've seen other, similar stamped markings on buttplates, but don't remember any brass tab of this type.
I'd really like to believe that this rifle was issued to the 3rd Cavalry's 'E' Troop, since they were once active here in Arizona. It appears, though, that at the time of original issue, the 3rd would likely have been in the P.I.. The Regiment was later stationed in Texas in the period before the Great War, and participated in the Mexican Border actions.
Appreciate the information!

mhb - Mike

Ed Byrns was able to tell me that the butt plate markings on this early Springfield 1903 were
as follows:

Troop H

8th Cavalry

Trooper #18


Troop H was in the Mexican Expedition in 1916[ATTACH=CONFIG]30849[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]30850[/ATTACH]