WWI(?) Rifle

WarPig68 · Feb 28, 2021

Hi all,
Picked this up recently and being that a lot of us are stuck at home I thought it would be cool to share some pics and possibly learn from each other about these old war horses. I’m pretty novice when it comes to these. I was under the impression that it was “WWI” with the 1918 barrel but I’m just not at the level to be completely sure on the rest of the piece one way or another. It was from a friend who had it and he didn’t beat me up on the price. I intend on keeping it in the collection so I won’t be disappointed if it’s not what we thought it was. So any information about it would be awesome just to satisfy the history nerd part of my brain. Also, if you care to share, does anyone have any 03s from this maker to compare to?

Thanks!

Threeband · Feb 28, 2021

It's certainly a "WWI" rifle, but it didn't make it to the trenches. Barrel date is November of '18, and the Armistice was the Eleventh Day of that month.

Very nice looking Rock Island.

Drmsparks · Feb 28, 2021

It was refinished I believe probably by .gov. Originally it should be blued I believe. 290,000 puts it after the start of double heat treating. Any stamps on the wood visible?

herkybird72 · Feb 28, 2021

Nice pickup, as Threeband says based on the barrel date it was the end of the war. From what I could see of the serial number it appears it is above 285,507 which takes it out of the “low number” category.

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Feb 28, 2021

Nice '03! It's certainly possible that's the original barrel. Does the stock have "RI" at the front directly under the barrel? If so it's a Rock Island stock though not all have that mark.

WarPig68 · Feb 28, 2021

I’ll definitely have to take a look at the wood a bit better. I really appreciate the help. I guess I can still have fantasies about it being carried on Guadalcanal haha.

Trepang · Feb 28, 2021

Very very cool rifle.
Jealous.

Oldcarjunkie · Feb 28, 2021

Fine looking rifle, i would like to add a rock island to my collection one day

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Feb 28, 2021

Oldcarjunkie said:
Fine looking rifle, i would like to add a rock island to my collection one day

I have one for sale in the classifieds...all Rock Island with a Rock Island bayonet.

Oldcarjunkie · Feb 28, 2021

TheOriginalMexicanBob said:
I have one for sale in the classifieds...all Rock Island with a Rock Island bayonet.

I appreciate it but that one is above my pay grade , Id be just as happy with something like this here

Doco Overboard · Feb 28, 2021

Thats a Nice rifle it has a RI bolt that is from the same period as the barrel date. Its right to the end of double heat treat and may be right up to the change to nickle steel.
If you look at the end of the stock just below the barrel there may be a stamp to indicate who made the stock or even a small ordnance mark located there to provide some clues.
Somewhere along the line it received a new handguard and the sight base and leaf was changed out but somehow retained what appears to be a dished elevation binding knob.
Probably when it was parked.
The sling is nice too, maybe theirs some stuff in the butt stock trap to make it even more the sweeter.
It's a keeper for sure, bet it shoots great.

(I went back and looked at the pictures again make sure the rear guard screw is up tight!)

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Feb 28, 2021

Oldcarjunkie said:
I appreciate it but that one is above my pay grade , Id be just as happy with something like this here

Gotta admit that sold for reasonable money but it's a mixmaster of parts...low number single heat treatment receiver...double heat treatment bolt...WWII replacement barrel...WWII Remington rear sight base...early upper handguard. It could be a decent shooter but being a single heat treatment receiver the loads should be kept moderate.

Oldcarjunkie · Feb 28, 2021

TheOriginalMexicanBob said:
Gotta admit that sold for reasonable money but it's a mixmaster of parts...low number single heat treatment receiver...double heat treatment bolt...WWII replacement barrel...WWII Remington rear sight base...early upper handguard. It could be a decent shooter but being a single heat treatment receiver the loads should be kept moderate.

Yeah that one was about the cheapest that went off, there was some others that were later Double treated that went off in the 750-850 range. If i pay top dollar for the nice nice stuff i would never have built the collection i have , i typically buy sell and trade my way to the top , more work but much less money

Ok back to the regularly scheduled program :lol2:

Drmsparks · Feb 28, 2021

Now I know for sure what the RI on the front of that stock was.

I'm guessing this is a question for The originalmexicanbob, When did 1903 stocks lose the fingergrip?

TheOriginalMexicanBob · Mar 1, 2021

I'm not sure exactly but I believe finger-grooves were eliminated sometime during the WWI period...to speed production. It may have been reintroduced post-war but Im not sure and I'm a bit too lazy to go look it up at the moment. The very early Remington 1903 rifles had the finger-grooves on the stock but that was dropped quickly when Remington introduced the 1903 (Modified) before the '03A3 was approved for production. In fact...I've never actually seen a very early Remington 1903 that completely replicated the Springfield Armory 1903 other than photos. I've looked for years but never found one...I do have several Remington 1903 (Modified) rifles...not rare at all.

SmokeEaterPilot · Mar 1, 2021

Drmsparks said:
Now I know for sure what the RI on the front of that stock was.

I'm guessing this is a question for The originalmexicanbob, When did 1903 stocks lose the fingergrip?

Going off of memory, I believe the C-Stock was adopted in 1928 or 1929 that was only for new production National Match rifles. But Springfield had to exhaust stock blanks of straight S stocks before they could go into full production of C stocks (which took a few years after that). They threw nothing in the trash if they could use it.

The very last finger grasping groove stocks produced by Springfield Armory were for a 4,000 order of replacement stocks for the Marines. These can be identified by a S0 in the cutout (very very rare) and represent the very last of finger grasping grooves stocks.

Very nice rifle, seems like you have a Remington rear sight assembly (common not a big deal).

Would you mind sharing the full SN? Never know could be something interesting.

Thank so much to the OP for sharing. LOVE LOVE seeing 03s on here.

TheBert · Mar 1, 2021

TheOriginalMexicanBob said:
I have one for sale in the classifieds...all Rock Island with a Rock Island bayonet.

I didn't see it in the classifieds. I am looking for an 1903, no A1, A2 or A3.

Ngrovcam · Mar 3, 2021

When I grow up, maybe Santa will bring to
me an all original in-the-blue Springfield
‘03, built not later than ‘17...a real deal
Great War vet.

If not, I may have to pony up and buy
one for myself. The mortgage payments
for the next few months can wait...

noahhh · Mar 3, 2021

Nice rifle. Receiver is a tad earlier than the barrel date, but explainable several ways, chief of which the receiver probably languished in the pipeline until the barrel was made and fitted to it. Could've been a rebuild immediately post-war too. Regardless, it's a good honest RI '03.

Does the bolt have a small "NS" stamp on the bottom side of the safety lug? If so, it would lend a little credence to the double heat treat receiver having been used for a later build or rebuild. Serial number 319921 was the start of nickel steel RI receivers. Per John Beard, receivers below 375000 were finished at Rock Island. 375000-405000 about half went to Springfield Armory. 405000-up, 75-90% went to Springfield. Highest NS Rock Island receiver known is 430742.

Strangely enough, early RI NS bolts retained the straight bolt handle design of the older single heat treat bolts.

How is the bore? Please tell me it's nice!

WWI(?) Rifle

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