1920 National Match 1903 Springfield

[Fred]

Here are some iPhone photos of a 1920 National Match Springfield that I took today outside near sunset. I'm working on techniques to get detailed photos with this camera, which is all that I have to take pictures with, with the exception of my iPad which doesn't download and transfer photos very well.
This rifle is one of the few that have survived in original condition and configuration. John Beard tells me that The 1920 National Match 1903's could only be purchased by Officers of the Armed Forces. John say's that those rifles that weren't purchased by military officers were, after the National Matches at Camp Perry were over, dismantled and such parts as could be were used in the assembly of the following years National Match rifles. This rifle has a swept back J5 bolt.
The rifle shows no use to my eye except for some very minor handling dings. Fortunately, it has never had a front sight cover put on and therefore has absolutely no scratches or damage to the finish of the front sight. Such sight covers weren't used on fine National Match rifles anyway by their prideful owners. The bolt feels extremely smooth in operation and the trigger release is perfect and crisp. The safety operates more smoothly than any other 1903 safety that I've ever experienced in my 41 years of messing with 1903 Springfield's. 100% of the asphaultum is still on the front sight and sleeve and the front sight set screw shows no signs that it has ever been removed. This rifle was brought into a gun store by somebody who was probably a relative of whoever had owned it for many years. The rifle appears to have been in a cabinet or dry closet for its entire life.
The bore is absolutely Mint in appearance and I'd bet that it would mike out to be such if I weren't dead set against injuring or marring the rifleling with a steel muzzle gauge. THAT ain't gonna happen while I own it.
I haven't fired this rifle yet, though I've had it for a couple of years or so. Isn't it a crying shame that this rifle isn't allowed to be used in the Camp Perry National Matches?
Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the pictures. I'll take some more tomorrow of the trigger guard and the floor plate and such to show how the rifle still has about 100% of its original finish.

These aren't in any particular order...

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[louis]

Beautiful rifle!!! They are the best! And so is the scenery. Just where do you live?

[Rick the Librarian]

I've been an amateur photographer for nearly 40 years. If you use sunlight, the best time is very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I still find "high overcast" days to be best, but your colors are beautiful.

[Fred]

Beautiful rifle!!! They are the best! And so is the scenery. Just where do you live?

The wife and I live out in Eastern Nebraska on our horse ranch Louis. Just Southwest of Omaha.

Looking to the West from our front patio...

[Fred]

I've been an amateur photographer for nearly 40 years. If you use sunlight, the best time is very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I still find "high overcast" days to be best, but your colors are beautiful.

I agree Rick. Early morning and late evening Are good times to use the camera. Overcast days certainly are easier to photograph on too!

[Fred]

Looking to the East after sunset from our house...
At the moment I took this photo, it was very dim outside and my eyes couldn't make out the details of much of anything. However the camera could gather much more light and so the photo appears like it was taken in daylight. Wish my eyes worked like that!

[louis]

You're lucky folks living there it's beautiful. I would love to wake up and see that. Also sitting out early evening. Beautiful.

[Fred]

I'm happy that you enjoy the photo's Louis. This place used to be a pig farm. They were penned up on the East slope. That's all pasture now. The place was built in 1905 as a farm house that overlooked 80 acres all around. My wife and I have a big ol orchard now to the south and the horse coral on the West side along with a vineyard that we started last year. The big pastures that Clear Creek flows through are all beyond the orchard to the South and beyond the horse corral to the East.
We've a bunch of big ol Peacocks running around the place too along with some hens that we get our eggs from. We only have 7 dogs now but have had as many as 12 at one time.
It's a fun place to be hidden away in from the populated areas to the East of us. All of our neighbors are pretty nice. Of course they live about a mile away on all sides, which means that for as far away as we can see in all directions, there isn't anyone around. That's pretty cool.

[Fred]

My favorite horse Travis, who's a Tennessee Walker.

[Fred]

I think that these photos were downloaded with maximum pixels, so lets see how they turn up...
The house is 110 years old, but it's really sturdy and has withstood 110 years of tornados. Here's a picture of the front and some of the back along with a couple of others that turned out OK with the iPhone. I really ought to get a legitimate digital camera and see what I can do with it. I don't know Anything about such stuff but my wife does.

The Pennylvania Longrifle shown in the last photo with our horse Big Dog is an antique flintlock that was made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania around 1834. It was found in an out house or out building long ago in Old Mexico by an old man I knew and worked with over 30 years ago. He was called Trapper because he trapped for a living when he was younger. I never knew his real name. He was 60 years old back in 1984. Trapper just gave me the rifle one day. It has a .40 caliber bore and a barrel that's 47" long. The rifle has the name of Henry Leman of Lancaster Penn. on the top flat. It's a Flintlock. I'm told that it's likely one of Leman's very first rifles that he probably assembled himself around 1834 or 1835 in his tiny shop he had set up in the back of his fathers Brewry when he was around 24 years old. The rifle has some interesting features including several Saber or hatchet cuts in the barrel.

[louis]

That is just a beautiful setting a great place to live. Love the old house. I grew up in one my grandfather built after ww1 sometime, they have a lot of character. But you also have the property that is very relaxing. You and your wife are very fortunate. You have plenty of room to ride your horses around comfortably. Very nice photos I really enjoy looking at them.

[Fred]

Hey, Glad that you enjoy them Louis! As it is, being 80 pounds over weight, I don't ride the horses. I wouldn't subject any horse to too much weight. I'll loose at least 60 pounds and Then buy a new saddle for Travis, my favorite horse that I raised.
The place is a chore to keep up. If it weren't for my wife, the place would look like Boo Radley's house. LOLOL
Still, it takes me an hour to drive into town and back to get a cheeseburger at a fast food place. I mean, why bother going for fast food? Ain't nothing fast coming my way when I live out in the Boon Docks.