JohnnyB 4,289 Posted December 24, 2018 I have this rifle and it's bayonet. My Grandfather bought it still in Cosmoline long before I was born. My Father owned it and I have had it for about 30 years now. I don't think it has been fired since it's serial # is 249,XXX dates it to pre WW1 around 1907. I understand this is not safe to shoot due to forging problems with the early serials. I have had suggestions from not shooting it at all to tying it to a tire and pulling the trigger with a string with a proof +P load it it! The barrel looks unused and I have no way of knowing when my Grandfather got it and from whom. Anyone have experience in this area since I obviously have none! Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC_68Westy 1,024 Posted December 24, 2018 If the rifle is a 1903A3, it was made in the 1940's. The serial number you posted would made it a 1903, not a 1903A3. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scorpio64 5,120 Posted December 24, 2018 afaik the A3s are good to go. It was only the earlier 03's that required weak loads. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,289 Posted December 24, 2018 4 minutes ago, JC_68Westy said: If the rifle is a 1903A3, it was made in the 1940's. The serial number you posted would made it a 1903, not a 1903A3. I just pulled it out of the safe it is Model 1903 and the Serial is 249, XXX so about 1907. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scorpio64 5,120 Posted December 24, 2018 15 minutes ago, JC_68Westy said: The serial number you posted would made it a 1903, not a 1903A3. Yep... ^^^ What you have there is a wall hanger. A really collectible early example of a first model 1903. I would not shoot it. EDIT: More from CMP The following from the CMP Sales pages: WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” SPRINGFIELDS M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous. To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles. In view of the safety risk the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all “low-number” Springfields. During WWII, however, the urgent need for rifles resulted in the rebuilding and reissuing of many “low-number” as well as “high-number” Springfields. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver. Generally speaking, “low number” bolts can be distinguished from “high-number” bolts by the angle at which the bolt handle is bent down. All “low number” bolts have the bolt handle bent straight down, perpendicular to the axis of the bolt body. High number bolts have “swept-back” (or slightly rearward curved) bolt handles. A few straight-bent bolts are of the double heat-treat type, but these are not easily identified, and until positively proved otherwise ANY straight-bent bolt should be assumed to be “low number”. All original swept-back bolts are definitely “high number”. In addition, any bolt marked “N.S.” (for nickel steel) can be safely regarded as “high number” if obtained directly from CMP (beware of re-marked fakes). CMP DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WITH A ”LOW NUMBER” RECEIVER. Such rifles should be regarded as collector’s items, not “shooters”. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Screwball 483 Posted December 24, 2018 What’s the barrel date? Just asking if it was rebarrelled. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC_68Westy 1,024 Posted December 24, 2018 Here is an interesting article concerning failure rates and injuries: http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/ After reading the article I would hand load some 75-80% power loads and shoot it. I have done much more dangerous things. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,289 Posted December 24, 2018 The bolt handle is slightly swept back and wood covers 90% of the barrel so I do not know where to look for markings on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Screwball 483 Posted December 24, 2018 Barrel date... top of barrel, just before front sight (meaning from the front sight towards the chamber). Should be very visible. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,289 Posted December 24, 2018 33 minutes ago, Screwball said: Barrel date... top of barrel, just before front sight (meaning from the front sight towards the chamber). Should be very visible. I removed the top piece of wood and found REP 2 0 on the top of barrel about an inch forward of the front sight. Rather small stamp. From what I have found it's a steel lot code. Seems like the original barrel from 1907. So far the slightly swept bolt is the only sign of a change! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Screwball 483 Posted December 24, 2018 7 hours ago, JohnnyB said: I removed the top piece of wood and found REP 2 0 on the top of barrel about an inch forward of the front sight. Rather small stamp. From what I have found it's a steel lot code. Seems like the original barrel from 1907. So far the slightly swept bolt is the only sign of a change! Post a picture of the gun... you shouldn’t have to remove wood on a M1903 to get that date. Front sight is the one near the muzzle. Rear is closer to your face. Here’s a thread with another picture of an earlier barrel... with a similar date stamp. That’s why your post seems odd. https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?414081-Springfield-M1903-Converted-from-M1903-05#/topics/414081 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
myhatinthering 462 Posted December 24, 2018 I'llbuy it 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC_68Westy 1,024 Posted December 24, 2018 Here is a pic of the date stamp on my 1921 M1903 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,289 Posted December 24, 2018 Okay, found it! SA 7 42 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capt14k 2,051 Posted December 24, 2018 Barrel was replaced. I've shot originals with low serials. The whole heat treatment thing is overblown IMO. That one should be good to go. Just do not use modern commercial ammo. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC_68Westy 1,024 Posted December 24, 2018 The fact that the low serial number rifles were never removed from service tells me that it should be mostly safe to shoot. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Screwball 483 Posted December 25, 2018 For a rebarrel, likely more than enough rounds have been through it to say the receiver is fine. Your rifle, but I wouldn’t have issue shooting it. Wouldn’t push past M2, but that is definitely your decision in what to do. I had an offer for a low number rifle, prior to getting my current M1903 (1,251,xxx). I didn’t really know about it, but was similar... rebarrelled. Guy discussed that the gun had to have enough rounds through it for the new barrel, so likely was good. But being new into them (only other surplus rifle I had was my Mosin Nagant M44), I opted for the higher serial number. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyB 4,289 Posted December 25, 2018 Thanks guys! So I should not feed it modern 30.06 rounds? What should I look for, Garand ammo? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites