Bad Serial Number 1903 Reality

[MastuhWaffles]

My grandpa owns a 1903 Springfield that was made in 1910. Now 1907-1912 there were not made very well, the production method was done by eye, so some of the guns failed and blew up. Now being made in 1910 it is in the bracket of failure, but here is the reality on it. First off, during 1910 29,549 were made. And can you guess how many failed? Only 4. Secondly, at some point there was a different stock put on it, a fairly modern stock to sporterize the weapon which leads me to believe it was used as a sporting rifle. The fact that only 4 failed is such a low number that I would have a better chance of being injured by a falling meteor. Tomorrow I plan on going out and shooting it and if it doesn't blow up I'll report back with some pictures. And after that hopefully I can get a reproduction stock for it, original ones are expensive. If you guys ever pick up a rifle in the bracket I would not worry, the chance that it would explode is so low, the max that ever happened was 5 in 1911, 25,298 were made.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Oh yeah, I also repaired his 1903A3 Springfield, I have a little more work and cleaning tomorrow and it should be in mint condition. With a little help from the internet and math, I dated it to around April 25-30 1943, so it will be 71 years old this year, while the one from 1910 is 104 years old.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Here are some pics for you guys, I got the 1943 1903A3 cleaned up and working like a champ, and the other 1910 1903.

 

[Doofy]

The O3-A3 is a fine weapon. I bought one already sporterized in 1965 and it has never let me down. 30.06 is a great round for any big game.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Okay, well some things I found out. I looked at the serial number on the 1903A3 wrong, it was made july 1944. Secondly the 1910 1903 has the original receiver but was re barreled in 1944. Took the A3 out shot fine, took the 1903 out and it shot fine as well and didn't blow up in my face. But the 50 year old stock cracked so I will be getting a reproduction of the original.

 

[alfacliff]

a few years ago, my son and I got a 1903 at a gunshow, seller said the bore was dirty---it was rusted out. I got the last barrel numrich arms had and my son tried to put it on. broke the reciever. last year, I found another reciever at the biggunshow in tulsa, wanamakers, (4500 tables!) its all together now, and shoots fine. I use it for local club US issue matches along with my old 1884 springfield trapdoor my Dad bought around 1950 for $7.00. my son bought another 03, so now we compete a little now and then.