1903-a3 Springfield

[kpw]

Serial number dates it to 3/43 and the barrel would be correct at 2/43. If the stock has no cartouches or markings, it has been refinished or replaced. Check under the mag shutoff, in the notch for a K. Is it a scant stock, C stock or straight?

[*Klutch*]

Serial number dates it to 3/43 and the barrel would be correct at 2/43. If the stock has no cartouches or markings, it has been refinished or replaced. Check under the mag shutoff, in the notch for a K. Is it a scant stock, C stock or straight?

I don't know how to tell the difference in the stock. There is nothing under the mag shut off.

[Hawk]

The barrel says 2-43 up by the sight. I'm almost 100% the barrel is no 2 groove

Bore is bright and shiny, no cartouches anywhere. I had the whole rifle apart last night and the parts all match

Sounds like the stock is an aftermarket replacement or was sanded and refinished. Missing cartouches hurts the value a bit. Still possibly a nice shooter.

Forgot to mention. Check the area between the stock and the very back of the receiver (under the safety). The stock has a tendency to crack there from recoil if there is not enough clearance between the metal and the wood.

Stock types:

[ViperHummel]

I don't know how to tell the difference in the stock. There is nothing under the mag shut off.

Post pics and we'll tell you.

[*Klutch*]

I will tonight

[RockIsland]

Nice score Sizzlechest! They are great rifles. I have a low numbered 1907 RIA '03 that you're "not supposed to shoot". All the A3's have properly heat treated receivers. I actually did a lot of research on the topic 13 or so years ago when I got it. (If my memory serves me) The armorers heat treated the recievers by the color they turned when heated, not by their temperature. There were actually very few failures and most occurred in back in the teens and 20's. A lot of low number rifles were issued to Uncle Sam's Misguided Children during WWII. Not sure if there were any reports of failures with any of those. My personal opinion (which is in the minority) is that if it hasn't failed yet in 100 years, it probably isn't going to. As long as you're using M2 ball, you should be fine but I'm not a pussy. Then again, I may change my opinion if it blows my nose off one day. Enjoy!

[*Klutch*]

Nice score Sizzlechest! They are great rifles. I have a low numbered 1907 RIA '03 that you're "not supposed to shoot". All the A3's have properly heat treated receivers. I actually did a lot of research on the topic 13 or so years ago when I got it. (If my memory serves me) The armorers heat treated the recievers by the color they turned when heated, not by their temperature. There were actually very few failures and most occurred in back in the teens and 20's. A lot of low number rifles were issued to Uncle Sam's Misguided Children during WWII. Not sure if there were any reports of failures with any of those. My personal opinion (which is in the minority) is that if it hasn't failed yet in 100 years, it probably isn't going to. As long as you're using M2 ball, you should be fine but I'm not a pussy. Then again, I may change my opinion if it blows my nose off one day. Enjoy!

Thanks for the info there cheesypoof... I am most likely going to shoot the hell out of it and prolly taking it hunting when I get back to PA. We should get together and shoot bottlecaps @ 100yds. My serial number takes it to 1943 so I'm not worried about the receiver and the thing shoots 30.06 which is a pussy round anyway so I don't it can break a rifle anyhow

[*Klutch*]

as promised, they kinda suck cause its with the iphone but hope they help

[rangeofficer]

nice '03.. as a general fyi, anyone wanting a safe shooting functional Springfield, serial number should be 800,000 or better to avoid any potential safety issues.

Congrats and give us a range report once you get her out. enjoy !

Below you will find some good info on dating 1903's as well as A3's.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES
(Including Rock Island Arsenal, Remington, and Smith-Corona production)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903
[Dated by calendar year: January – December]

1903‑1‑16000
1904‑16001‑67000
1905‑67001‑119000
1906‑119001‑269450
1907‑269451‑337861
1908‑337862‑358084
1909‑358085‑398275
1910‑398276‑456375
1911‑456376‑502045
1912‑502046‑531520
1913‑531521‑570560
1914‑570561‑595600
1915‑595601‑620120
1916‑620121‑632825
1917‑632826‑761757
1918‑761758‑1055091
1919‑1055092‑1162500
1920‑1162501‑1211299
1921‑1211300‑1239640
1922‑1239641‑1252386
1923‑1252387‑1261486
1924‑1261487‑1267100
1925‑1267101‑1270300
1926‑1270301‑1274764
1927‑1274765‑1285265
1928‑1285266‑1305900
1929‑1305901‑1338405
1930‑1338406‑1369760
1931‑1369761‑1404025
1932‑1404026‑1425933
1933‑1425934‑1441811
1934‑1441812‑1491531
1935‑1491532‑1496022
1936‑PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1937‑1496023‑1510387
1938‑1939‑1510388‑1532878
Total: 1340000.
Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN800000
Introduction of nickel steel at SN1275767.

¨RIA PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903

1903‑1‑7500
1904‑7501‑16000
1905‑16001‑28000
1906‑28001‑75000
1907‑75001‑130000
1908‑130001‑165000
1909‑165001‑178000
1910‑178001‑201000
1911‑201001‑210634
1912‑210635‑217801
1913‑217802‑234830
1914‑PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1915‑PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1916‑PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1917‑234831‑257061
1918‑257062‑326935
1919‑326936‑348414
TOTAL: 346000

Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN285507.
Introduction of nickel steel at SN319921.

¨REMINGTON ARMS PRODUCTION OF M1903, 1903A3, 1903A4


1942‑3000001‑3348085 (M1903)
1942‑3348086‑3607999 (M1903A3)
1942‑3708000‑4707999 (M1903A3)
1942‑4992001‑5784000 (M1903A3)
1943‑3407088‑3427087 (M1903A4)
1943‑4992001‑4997045 (M1903A4)
1943‑Z4000000‑Z4002920 (M1903A4)
TOTAL: 1084079

¨SMITH CORONA PRODUCTION OF M1903A3

1943‑3608000‑3707999
1944‑4708000‑4992000
TOTAL: 234000

On 18 January 1943 Remington directed to divert from production 20,000 M1903A3 rifles for conversion to the U.S. Rifle M1903A4 (Sniper's). Rifles #3407088‑3427087 (from the first "block" of numbers) were diverted, and the first "03‑A3" converted was delivered in February 1943.

On 20 June 1943 an additional 8,365 M1909A4 rifles were ordered. "Block" for these rifles and possible future orders were 4922001‑5784000. After this block had been used to 4997045, receiver marking was changed to "03‑A4" and a new series of numbers begun with Z4000000.
The second "block" of "03‑A3" numbers was used only to about 4168800 before cancellation of contract ended "03‑A3" production 28 February 1944.
In March 1944, with receiver Z4002290, production of the M1903A4 was ended. Total production was 1,056,276 rifles, which included about 345,000 M1903 and M1903 (modified), about 711,276 M1903A3, and just 26,653 M1903A4 (short of the 28,365 ordered)

[*Klutch*]

ok, so I went over the whole rifle with a flashlight. I found the (P) stamped down below the trigger guard, it's very faint which leads me to believe the stock is original but has been refinished.
Now there is a good possibility the park job has been redone too, which I'm not entirely thrilled about but not really upset over it either. The rifle is nice and the bore is excellent, so I believe it will shoot great and I do intend to hunt deer with it. I would like to have gotten it in it's original condition but I feel it's a good start and a nice rifle for not knowing a damn thing about them until now.