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What was the receiver finish on the pre WWI NRA Sales Rifles? This one from 1916 looks more like a blue finish than a casehardened finish. Other than rust blue, the only other blue available at the time was heat blue.
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Great photo! -
I thought purpose built NRA sporters were only produced from 1924 to 1932? I would have expected that ALL 1903 production would have been dedicated to military contracts during 1914 to 1918 at a minimum. Someone will probably correct me shortly
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It is not a NRA Sporter. A NRA Life member could order the Model 1903 Rifle or Model 1911 Pistol prior to WWI. Kind of vague on my facts of the rifles, but I believe they were a Special Target with the star gaged barrel but no special polishing like the NM rifles. The rifles had NRA and the flaming ordnance bomb stamped on the front of the trigger guard, and the pistols had NRA stamped under the serial number to indicate that they were purchased and not stolen.Comment
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Early NRA sales rifles did not have the NRA and flaming bomb stamped on the trigger guard. I'm not sure as to what point in time that they started, but it had something to do with questions raised as to ownership of the individual rifles. The receiver finish on the rifle pictured is correct and is the same finish used on the standard service rifle.Comment
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Neither did the later ones, but his one does.Comment
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Mine has the NRA stamp as well, even thought it was made in 1911. I've been told they could send them back in post 1915 I think, and get them stamped.
Mine is in the 470xxx range, but the receiver looks to be case hardened on it.
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I saw an NRA Sales rifle in a collection of other rifles a few years ago, and I also wondered about the finish. Here are a few pictures:
low end 1.jpglow end 3.jpglow end 7.jpglow end 9.jpgP5200017 (2).jpg"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. LewisComment
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IMG_8095 (1024x667).jpgIMG_0799 (800x378).jpgIMG_2092 (1024x497).jpg
I have three or four of them - some marked with NRA, some not:"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. LewisComment
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Drool!Comment
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Johnny, I got looking at my rifle. Even though it's a 1911 and the receiver is case hardened. If you look at the trigger housing on mine and your receiver side by side. They look identical in the type of finish. SA must have done some like that between case hardening and parkerizing.
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As you well know, they can get addicting!! LOL!!
IMG_0587 (714x1024).jpgIMG_0588 (1024x693).jpgIMG_0595 (1024x631).jpgLast edited by Rick the Librarian; 06-04-2015, 07:48."We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. LewisComment
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The trigger guard and floor plate were niter blued, and just wondered if some receivers were also. The finish on everything is original, and wondered if some were heat blued as it is too shiny for casehardening.Johnny, I got looking at my rifle. Even though it's a 1911 and the receiver is case hardened. If you look at the trigger housing on mine and your receiver side by side. They look identical in the type of finish. SA must have done some like that between case hardening and parkerizing.
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