Springfield 1903 rifle... help identify the markings?

A firearm made before serial numbers were required will have no number, and is perfectly legal. But if a firearm, no matter when made, had a serial number and it has been removed or altered, the law applies.
Click to expand...

I held the same opinion until I read a ATF letter that, although vague, stated a removed serial number on early fire arms did not necessarily make them illegal. The fire arm in question was a 1880's S&W revolver. Of course this letter only applies to this one particular revolver.

I may have saved a copy of the letter, I'll look for it. That letter may have been here at the FL in the gunsmith section, can't recall, been a long time.
 
"The fire arm in question was a 1880's S&W revolver."

A revolver that old is also considered to be an antique, and may operate under a different set of rules regarding serial number defacement from a gun made post 1898.
 
Did RIA "fix" serial numbers if they were unreadable? As soldiers had to memorize their gun's number, a gun with no number would have stumped a drill sergeant. And as bad as the receiver looks they might have seen a need to apply a new number. As the gun was clearly arsenal refurbished after WWI, there might be no "faking" involved, just repair practice.
 
that may be a possibility but the fonts don't match what you would expect from the post WWI era. I doubt that they would keep around the old style receiver stamps just in case they had to re stamp an older rifle.
 
IIRC, arsenals and depots would not try to restore an obliterated or defaced serial number; they would remove it entirely and put on a new serial number from an assigned block of unused numbers, sometimes, but not always, preceded by the letter "X".

As to legality, the law clearly states:

"It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to ... possess or receive any firearm which has had the importer’s or manufacturer’s serial number removed, obliterated, or altered and has, at any time, been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. " There is no exception for antique firearms, and that rifle is not an antique

Jim
 
Picture #7 clearly shows the serial number lining up with the U.S. above it. Very early receivers also had smaller lettering with serifs which this one shows. I think it's legit. I believe your stock with double cross bolts is from 1917 and up.
 
The other markings were put on with a roll stamp, the receiver being rolled against a cylindrical stamp, but the serial number was put on using a jig and individual number stamps. The workmen charged with that job prided themselves on getting the number centered, so any addition or deletion at either end shows up plainly. One case is that of single heat treat rifles to which someone added a "1" at the front of the serial number to make them easier to sell.

Jim
 
Funny thing....since my last posting, I have picked myself up a 03 Springfield:D

So here's a comparison pic of a 03 & a P14 trigger guards.
03p14trigger.jpg
 
1903

I would agree with some of your posts, My step dad was in the 3rd wave on Okinawa, during the invasion: and rifle's were everywhere, I was stationed at Torii Station 20 years after the war. and war rellics were all over that Island. It was a great adventure to seek war goodies. Back to Pop's find He kept it and had an Okinawan gunsmith sportize it. Did a beautiful job. and I wanted that rifle, as a boy. He hunted with it for years, until he retired from the service. I always thought he would hand it down to me, but I attended Military school for 3 years. and when I returned home to attend public high school he had sold the 1903. Broke my heart!, But that's life! Anything could have happended to this fellows 1903, I felt the numbers were in question, for that number to survive to WWII. If you look at the entire 1903, as good as you can tell from the photo's and that bolt with that stamp. I purchased a rebuilt bolt from CMP 20 years ago, I just installed it in my 1903,this year. that I paid 30.00 USD for in 1970 in Hawaii. USMC. They never turned in there low number 1903's. rebarrel 12-43 on island. My bolt handle was a sway back and the handle was very corroded, They had cleaned it and reparkerized it. It had gotten so worn, I fired it often, sometimes it would miss a fired shell and failed to eject the spent cartrage. So Put the new bolt in. I have some extra parts, and so do several vet's that also fire the 1903, in my area.So overhauling the bolt will be no big deal! The fellow still has a nice weapon, I hope he treasures it! Be safe and shoot clean Sunny
 
P-14

hey 5batt: I missed your post. I have a Enfield P-14. 303, I have been shooting some Pakistan 303 corrosive, 1961/1966 loads. I also have some bandoliers, that are probably corrosive to, I've been washing my barrel with a mixture of dish soap/alcohol/water, dry patch Soaked windex patch,dry patch, and run Hoppies, dry patch, and oil to store.I do this from the action out to the muzzle. Are you shooting 303 corrosive? If you are how are you cleaning your barrel? I just wanted to compare notes. How do you like your 1903? Be safe Shoot clean Sunny
 
Here is a picture of the markings on a slightly later (1904) receiver. While they are VERY hard to make out, if you look closely at the remnants of the markings on the OP's receiver, his numbers certainly look as though they have the same font and size.

What I don't understand, is why they are so defaced. Unless maybe the rifle was 'liberated" from the government and the US stamps were removed to hide it's previous owner.


IMG_1905-XL.jpg


Here are the roll marks on a 1906 Springfield. Note the font used for the numbers is the same as the 1904 receiver and the letter font is slightly larger than on the receiver made just a couple years earlier..
IMG_1907-XL.jpg


And, just for comparison, here are the roll marks on a 1918 Springfield.
IMG_1654-XL.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top