Can Anyone Identify the Make & Model of this 30-06 for Me?

F

Farmalljon

New member
Anyone know what the Manufacturer of this 30-06 bolt action rifle is? This single photo is all I have. Thanks in advance....

IMG_2279.jpg
 
I agree.... I looked at some other 1903 Springfields on the internet, and the trigger guard and mag floor plate looks identical to those. Are these safe to shoot? Any idea what it might be worth? even a ballpark guess?
 
If it is a Springfield it should be so marked along with the serial number on the receiver bridge. The lower numbers are considered unsafe to fire due to heat treatment issues. For guns made at Springfield armory a number above something in the 800,000s is necessary. For those from Rock Island Arsenal, above something in the 200,000s. Sorry I don't have the actual SNs here, but a web search would turn them up for you. Does the floor plate look more like one from a 1903A3? I think all of these, being of WWII vintage, are safe to fire.
 
I don't think we need to worry about that being a low number Springfield.

Look at the trigger guard and the magazine base plate. They're stamped.

My guess is that if that's a sporterized Springfield, it's a sporterized 1903A3.
 
Funny thing...I've begun to get parts to make my own 1903A4- the sniper model

Can you please take photos of the receiver, especially where the mounts are and the s/n is displayed, and the scope mounts, and the bolt handle?
 
IF it has a good barrel, or better yet if it shoots well (say about 2" @ 100 or better) then yes, it's worth it.
 
The owner just emailed me to tell me that all he knows is that his deceased father told him it was a "1911 british bolt action 30-06". Does that make any sense to anyone? He says there are no numbers or letters engraved on it. I'm guessing they are obscured by the scope mounts.
 
That is a 1903 and the markings would indeed be under the scope mounts. "1911 British .30-06" is nothing that makes sense to me.

I wouldn't pay $250 for it if it has the factory barrel, but I'm not really a fan of the 1903.
 
The British bolt action rifle in use during WWI was the Pattern 14. It was originally chambered in .303 Brit. The US adopted the same rifle in 1917 chambered in 30-06. It's called the M1917.

Here's a video I did on the rifle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd1Zhe17CX4

These rifles were sometimes called the American Enfield.

Many were sporterized after the war.
 
Sure it makes sense: He's wrong. Dad, not BigFats. Your friends at TFL are steering you straight. It is neither a Lee-enfield, nor a P-17 enfield, but rather a Springfield, the A3 variant, as some astute observer has pointed out.
 
I will say it doesn't look like a M1917 unless a lot of work has been done to the rear of the receiver. And you can plainly see the safety on the bolt which indicates its a 1903, not a M1917 or P14.
 
"Does that make any sense to anyone?"

Not really, no.

A 1911 is a US handgun.

It COULD have been a rifle supplied to the British under lend-lease, but there would be marks on the gun in a number of places indicating that.
 
Wow.

At the risk of being redundant, you have a spoterized Springfield '03. And I'm jealous.

Look down the bore, if the barrel looks anywhere from perfect to a medium amount of pitting, I'd say its pretty safe to fire. Now I wouldn't but a ridiculous load through it like I would a new weapon, but anything at a standard pressure would be OK.
 
Here is an update: The owner emailed that he can read the numbers 3746786 by the scope mount. Does this shed any light as to the manufacturer, and whether or not it is safe to fire?
 
I do not have any sources in front of me, but with an SN that high it sounds like a post war National Ordnance or Santa Fe Springfield. I have a National Ordnance one with a RIA barrel stamped 6-44, a good shooter. Paid $200 for it in 1998, so $250 in 2012 sounds reasonable. I did look up National Ordnance Springfield on Google, on http://www.milsurps.com they were not impressed with the quality of National Ordnance receivers.
 
So I'm just about to "pull the trigger" (pardon the pun) on this and buy this 1903 Springfield sporter. Given it's high serial number as stated above, do you guys think it is okay to regularly fire today's 30-06 hunting ammo through it? Assuming of course that the rifle appears to be in good gondition and not abused? Is there a better choice for ammo to use in this old girl?
 
All factory ammunition should be safe, my experience has been that with the US manufacturers quality control is excellent. Only "better" ammunition would be what you reload as long as you keep it safe. If it is a genuine M1903, great, if it is a National Ordnance or Santa Fe, your range sessions will tell.
Mine is a good shooter.
 
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