Guns International #: 102461708
Seller's Inventory #: SR-10

Category - Military Rifles - US - Springfield Rifles - 1903

Category
Military Rifles - US
Springfield Rifles - 1903

U.S. WWI Springfield Mod 1903 March - March 1918 MFGR Date

Description:
U.S. WWI Springfield Armory Mod 1903 SN 962,---, Barrel SA 8-18. Bright shiny minty bore and barrel guages only a 3. ALL MATCHING and ORIGINAL with Eagle Head/39 cartouche and circle P proof. Beautiful un-touched wood-set. Rarely Found - A superb and beautiful example of an actual untouched U.S. WWI mod 1903 complete with it's un-touched original Mod 1907 leather sling!

Now over 105+ year old survivor, this is without a doubt one of the finest and most magnificent examples of the Historical WWI August 1918 Springfield Armory Model 1903 Rifles we have ever had! Also, it amazingly shows No Re-Build, No Re-Arsenal Markings or signs of being messed with whatsoever! It appears to be Un-ouched, ALL MATCHING and ORIGINA! Seldom, do we have an opportunity to offer one such as this today anywhere near this! This Historical WWI Rifle is without a doubt one of the FINEST examples surviving and with its Original ‘’8-18’’ (August 1918) date of manufacture and ‘’962---‘’ Serial Number it is one that truly represents WWI History at its best! Manufactured in August 1918 and the ‘’Great War’’ not ending until November 11, 1918) this is of early enough manufacture to well have been issued during actual WWI Service.

Book Reference: Please refer to the fine book ‘’The Springfield 1903 Rifles’’ by Lt. Col. William S. Brophy, USAR, Ret. and ‘’A Collectors Guide to the ’03 Springfield’’ by Bruce N. Canfield. *Matching/Originality:/*Proofs/Markings/

Finish & %: In going over this Magnificent and Scarce August 1918 Springfield Armory Model 1903 from end of Muzzle to Butt Plate it amazingly appears to be unaltered and never re-built. Also, judging by the beautiful, bright, shiny and minty bore condition, plus its very tight barrel throat gauging of only a 3, this historic WWII model 1903 shows to have been extremely well cared for and actually only lightly fired through all its 105 years! The metal finish also appears to be totally original! The original metal finish overall rates as appx 98%/99% or better!

Part Breakdown as Follows:
Overall, Un-Touched Original ‘’SA’’ Factory metal finish remains as near ‘’NEW’’ mostly 99%. It simply goes without saying that ALL parts remain Springfield Armory 8-1918 Factory/correct/period being of course ALL original ‘’Milled’’ variations.

Receiver: The receiver's original ‘’SA’’ finish rates at 99% The receiver itself is perfectly, deeply and crisply marked ‘’U.S. over SPRINGFIELD over ARMORY over MODEL 1903 over 962---! The rear barrel and sight assembly’s original un-touched finish also rates the same 99%.
The Bolt: The bolt Is correctly (at this period of SA manufacture) the later curved back handle variation and this has been totally verified correct and original by much lengthy research. The entire Bolt assembly shows only ever so minor expected slight honest cycling wear only on its round body but its handle and knob, safety housing, safety lever and cocking piece and amazingly rates at the same 99%! Even the extractor rates at 98% with just a bit of cycling wear! The bolt face simply shows a bit of age discoloration and turning. .
The Center Band: The center band is correctly (sideways) ‘’U’’ marked on its right side showing virtually No wear, No age and No patina and it too rates at 99%, as does the exposed sling swivel. Also, even more amazingly the screw and its slot are MINT! The band spring simply shows expected age/patina but is untouched!
The Front Band/Bayonet Lug Assembly: The front band/bayonet lug assembly also rates the same appx 99% and is correctly ‘’H’’ marked on its lower bayonet lug! Even the lower stacking swivel rates the same condition. Also, the band screw rates Mint and its slot is also mint un-touched! The stacking swivel and screw rates 99%.
Front Barrel: The front exposed barrel also rates 99% and perfectly, sharply and crisply, marked/stamped on its top behind the sight with’’ SA over ORDNANCE FLAMING BOMB over 8-18’’!
The Front Sight Assembly: The front sight assembly basically rates 98% with simply a bit side edge marks.
The Trigger Housing: The trigger housing and floor plate show none of the usually expected or even minor age/patina and rates at 99! Also, it has both perfect un-touched screws, and rates at 99%!
BORE: Though this most Historical Model 1903 Rifle has sat for years and with only a patch ran through the Bore, it rates BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT, SHINY and MINTY. The barrel throat gauging of only a 3!
Action/Mechanically: Even these are perfect and basically appears virtually ‘’as new’’ as any WWI rifle can possibly be, and in fact even the bolt shows only the most minimal action cycling through all these 105 years with again a VERY HIGH 99% of Original exterior finish remaining! Another Historical feature of the early Springfield Armory Model 1903 rifles is their ‘’smooth as silk’’ actions!
Wood Set: The absolutely untouched original walnut wood set is also beautiful and simply magnificent (MINTY with NO repairs, NO sanding, NO oiling, NO cleaning)! It simply remains as virtually SA 1918 un-touched thru out! Even its deep, rich, SA Factory Reddish Brown Factory finish rates easily at 98% to 99% and and is Factory Original! Not only do both the stock and hand guard remain totally untouched, and basically exactly as they left Springfield Armory in August 1918. The stock and hand guard match absolutely perfectly in all respects (fit, finish, coloring, wood grain and perfect tight fit) and 1918 Springfield Armory Factory original. The Original stock correctly is the straight grip ‘’S’’type, with finger grooved forearm, correctly having dual (2) cross bolt reinforcements as this variation/period 1903 variation should have! Also, it is perfectly‘’EAGLE HEAD over Y39’’ Cartouched on the left side above the trigger and this Cartouche is absolutely the finest, deepest, and crisp stamping! The stock is also ‘’CIRCLE P’’ Proofed with a very small ‘’5’’ abive it on the stocks lower grip area and too equals the Cartouche! All are Factory perfect! The Factory Original hand guard is also absolutely correct in every detail (shape, style and etc.)
Butt Plate: Even the butt plate is simply outstanding, being the checkered variation and remarkably retains virtually 99% Original finish. The butt plate screws are magnificent and rate easily 99% Mint in their untouched perfect slots!
Accessories (Original Model 1907 Leather Sling): This fantastic Rifle comes totally complete with its un-touched and 100% Original Model 1907 Leather sling that is complete with both its leather keepers! As expected, it shows aging a bit with minor age cracking, but no cleaning, polishing, or even post manufacture preservative treatment. The sling is still very supple and pliable and rates VG to near Excellent. It matches this rifle and simply shows to have been its companion for very many years and remains ALL exactly as it came with Rifle! 
History/Use: WWI History at its absolute finest. This is quite a scarce find, being an actual WWI manufactured Model/Variation of the Springfield Armory Model 1903 that is seldom if ever found today remaining totally intact. These usually if/when found today are either in well used condition, most are all Re-Arsenaled, Collector Restored or basically just a lower grade example and today it is indeed extremely RARE when any Military rifle now over 105 years old is ever found in this unequaled ‘’Virgin’’ condition/originality!

NOTE: Please refer to the ‘’footnote’’ below for an ‘’EXACT QUOTE’’ from Bruce N. Canfield in his above Reference Book.) If you want a true never messed with piece of actual ‘’Surviving’’ U.S. WWI History and a great Collector Investment that one can actually hold in their hands then this WWI Springfield Armory August 1918 Model 1903 Rifle deserves very careful and very serious consideration that is for sure as these virtually never show up today!                                            
To Quote Bruce N. Canfield exactly in his above referenced Collector book from TABLE 6 on Page # 149 under Comments:’’Original, unmodified WWI ’03 rifles are surprisingly scarce today as almost all were rebuilt during WWII.’’ 
 
Needless to say, this is the ‘’Real Thing’’ and as such of course NOT Import Marked.

Reasonable offers considered.

Curio &Relic FFL Item

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Springfield
Model: 1903