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Posted: 4/14/2020 12:04:34 PM EDT
 Attached FileI came upon this chromed/nickeled M1903. The finish has seen better days, but the bore appears to be sound. What can y'all tell me about her?  Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 12:19:31 PM EDT
[#1]
I'd guess it was put together strictly for ceremonial purposes with that 1910 dated barrel on that rec and the scant stock. Hows the bore and headspace?
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:01:32 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'd guess it was put together strictly for ceremonial purposes with that 1910 dated barrel on that rec and the scant stock. Hows the bore and headspace? A headspace gauge would be a nice thing to have. |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:02:16 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/33069/20200414_114550_jpg-1366968.JPGI came upon this chromed/nickeled M1903. The finish has seen better days, but the bore appears to be sound. What can y'all tell me about her? https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/33069/20200414_115929_jpg-1366965.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/33069/20200414_115751_jpg-1366966.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/33069/20200414_115014_jpg-1366969.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/33069/20200414_114633_jpg-1366970.JPG |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:05:21 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted: A headspace gauge would be a nice thing to have. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I'd guess it was put together strictly for ceremonial purposes with that 1910 dated barrel on that rec and the scant stock. Hows the bore and headspace? A headspace gauge would be a nice thing to have. Sandbag and a long string 
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:06:20 PM EDT
[#5]
Parade rifles were usually made from rifles that were deemed unusable. Fine for a wall hanger, as a shooter, I wouldn't waste my money.
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:21:06 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The chrome finish was done for some drill team(ROTC or military school) not the Army. Don't smoke me...but the Old Guard does use chromed 1903's on occasion....complete with chromed bayonets...looks sharp, and very well done, but still makes me sad... |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:35:42 PM EDT
[#7]
Ones we used in the Retan Rifles at FUMA had plugged barrels.
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:45:57 PM EDT
[#8]
@Bklyn_Irish
I know you've already looked up the cartouches online. The AAAL is an Augusta Armory (GA) re-arsenaling (inspection) cartouche. The JPO is J. P. O'Neil, a Springfield Armory inspector 1904-10. The cartouche under the receiver is the Augusta Armory inspector (name not listed in my references). The serial number dates the receiver to 1932. So, the barrel date matches the stock evidence but not the receiver serial number date. I'd disassemble it, inspect it closely for any de-milling (holes drilled in the chamber or welded up bolt), have the chrome stripped off and then have it parkerized (unless the chrome reveals a miracle). |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:48:00 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Don't smoke me...but the Old Guard does use chromed 1903's on occasion....complete with chromed bayonets...looks sharp, and very well done, but still makes me sad... Yeah, I forgot about them - but it is almost a certainty this isn't one of their rifles. |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 1:53:14 PM EDT
[#10]
We had de-milled '03A3s in high school JROTC, and the senior drill platoon- Summerall Guards- in college had '03A3s as well.
I knew chromed rifles existed, but this was the first on which I laid hands. |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 2:02:12 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @Bklyn_Irish I know you've already looked up the cartouches online. The AAAL is an Augusta Armory (GA) re-arsenaling (inspection) cartouche. The JPO is J. P. O'Neil, a Springfield Armory inspector 1904-10. The cartouche under the receiver is the Augusta Armory inspector (name not listed in my references). The serial number dates the receiver to 1932. So, the barrel date matches the stock evidence but not the receiver serial number date. I'd disassemble it, inspect it closely for any de-milling (holes drilled in the chamber or welded up bolt), have the chrome stripped off and then have it parkerized (unless the chrome reveals a miracle). The Scant stock didnt come around till the early 40's |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 3:15:28 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The Scant stock didnt come around till the early 40's |
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Posted: 4/14/2020 3:35:06 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Then it's a different inspector's cartouche. Looks like a double stamp AAHO for Augusta overhaul and rebuild |
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Posted: 4/15/2020 1:10:31 PM EDT
[#14]
Pass on that one, way too much work to restore to any semblance of an original military issue '03
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Posted: 4/15/2020 1:44:41 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Pass on that one, way too much work to restore to any semblance of an original military issue '03 Is it worth anything monetarily, or as just a wall hanger or shooter? |
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Posted: 4/15/2020 2:17:08 PM EDT
[#16]
You could part it out for somebody looking to do a sporter resto maybe
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Posted: 4/15/2020 2:49:28 PM EDT
[#17]
I couldn’t begin to tell you what it’s worth, but the parts are most certainly desirable if the rifle turns out to be unsafe to use.
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Posted: 4/15/2020 7:53:50 PM EDT
[#18]
$100 to $200.
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Posted: 4/15/2020 8:17:10 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: $100 to $200. 
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Posted: 4/15/2020 8:27:50 PM EDT
[#20]
I'd bite for $200, assuming the receiver was OK with minimal weld.
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Posted: 4/16/2020 9:03:24 AM EDT
[#21]
Lee's Gun Parts bought a bunch of drill rifles years ago. They cut the welds, stripped the chrome, repaired the damage, rebarreled if needed, etc.
Sold them quickly. |
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Posted: 4/16/2020 4:16:23 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'd bite for $200, assuming the receiver was OK with minimal weld. Is it welded? Up to some date I don't know, chromed drill rifles were fully serviceable. |
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Posted: 4/19/2020 6:09:12 PM EDT
[#23]
OP, I got this one a little while ago, and asked the same questions.
Mine is fully functional and was not demilled at all, no plug, no welds etc. https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/Refinishing-a-chrome-nickle-1903-springfield/14-507017/ |
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Posted: 4/20/2020 12:02:13 PM EDT
[#24]
@80sgyrene
That's nifty! |
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Posted: 4/20/2020 12:09:45 PM EDT
[#25]
Nothing is plugged and I can't find any welds.
I suppose I'll check the headspace and shoot her. |
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Posted: 7/15/2020 1:05:35 PM EDT
[#26]
Just confirming: this is not a "low number" '03, correct?
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Posted: 7/15/2020 1:35:06 PM EDT
[#27]
That S/N would be considered to be a "high number" Springfield Armory S/N.
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Posted: 7/15/2020 2:10:21 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That S/N would be considered to be a "high number" Springfield Armory S/N. Thank you. |
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Posted: 7/15/2020 2:33:17 PM EDT
[#29]
Can you see the barrel and receiver outside of the stock to make sure Bubba didn't do something weird? I have some other guns where after pulling them out of the stock, I saw a nightmare. I'm still trying to figure out how to fix one nightmare on a Snider-Enfield.
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Posted: 7/15/2020 3:15:55 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Can you see the barrel and receiver outside of the stock to make sure Bubba didn't do something weird? I have some other guns where after pulling them out of the stock, I saw a nightmare. I'm still trying to figure out how to fix one nightmare on a Snider-Enfield. I'll break her down tonight. |
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Posted: 7/24/2020 7:32:00 AM EDT
[#31]
Entirely possible the barrel is original to the receiver. In the late 20 into the the 30s more rifles were rebuilt using Serviceable left over parts from scrapped Low number turned in weapons than all new production parts. The stock was added at Augusta during a later rebuild, and the barrel could have been added there from serviceable stock.
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Posted: 7/24/2020 2:56:22 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Entirely possible the barrel is original to the receiver. In the late 20 into the the 30s more rifles were rebuilt using Serviceable left over parts from scrapped Low number turned in weapons than all new production parts. The stock was added at Augusta during a later rebuild, and the barrel could have been added there from serviceable stock. |
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Posted: 7/25/2020 1:39:54 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Highly unlikely. It would have left Springfield Armory with a late 31-early 32 barrel. During the interwar period, SA was doing everything it could to keep the doors open and people on the payroll so new stock was being used on new rifles. The 1910 barrel was a replacement during a rebuild Completely disagree on that blanket statement. FY 29-33 SA made way more receivers than complete rifles. SA and Army depots were in a huge rebuild program of-turned in low number Rifles. Serviceable parts were always reused wherever possible at SA and depot level. New receivers on used parts at SA was considered a rebuild of existing weapons. |
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Posted: 7/25/2020 2:42:05 PM EDT
[#34]
Personally i would keep as it is and lover her for what she is, a piece of our history.
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