Springfield Armory Model 1903 .30-06 WWI WWII Bolt Action Rifle 1903 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1600
LSB#: 211216DW01
Make: Springfield Armory
Model: 1903
Serial Number: 30303
Year of Manufacture: 1903 (page 374 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition) Barrel Date: February, 1919
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine
Markings: The top of the receiver is marked “U.S. / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / MODEL 1903 / 30303”. The top of the barrel is marked “A V / flaming bomb / 2 – 19”. The safety is marked “SAFE READY” and the magazine cutoff is marked “ON OFF”. The barrel band is marked “U” on the right side and the nosecap is marked “R” on th right side. The right side of the rear sight ladder and base are both marked “R”. The left side of the barrel at the rear sight is marked “A”. The bottom of the bolt handle is marked with a punch dot and with a small inspection mark. The bottom of the wrist has a circled “P” cartouche and the left of the wrist has a Springfield crossed cannon cartouche and a boxed “S.A. / G.A.W.” cartouche. The bolt handle scallop is stamped “7”. The bolt lug is marked “S30”. The left side of the front sight protector is marked “G641674-4” and the right side is marked “G”.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a pinned blade atop a barrel-mounted base. It sits under a removable protective hood. The rear sight is a “U” notched blade attached to a fully adjustable sight ladder marked from “3-27”. When flipped up separate notches and an aperture on the ladder can be used for sighting.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two-piece hardwood stock has a straight grip, nosecap with bayonet lug, stacking loop, barrel band, 2 sling loops, 2 through bolts, and a metal buttplate with a hinged door for storage. The left side of the stock has a relief cut for the ejection port of a Pederson device. There is a crack on the bottom at the front of the floorplate. There are some scattered scuffs, compressions, little nicks, and dings into the wood. Some of the most noticeable marks are on the belly and on the right side of the buttstock down by the belly. The LOP measures 12 3/4 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some scattered little tiny marks through the finish and a few scuffs. The stock rates are about Very Good Plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original to Rebuild
Bore Condition: The rifle has a four groove bore. The bore is gray. The rifling has some wear but is still strong. There is scattered erosion and the bore has an ME of about 1.00.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 92% of its metal finish. The receiver has some scattered oil marks. The barrel at the rear sight has a few little marks through the finish. The trigger guard has some scratches and scrapes. The bottom of the barrel has some thinning, nicks, and scratches on the raised portion of the band front sight base. The outer circumference of the muzzle has some little nicks and dings, the bore and crown are undamaged. There is thinning on the bolt handle. There is standard operational wear. The screw heads show light use. Most of the markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: When the U.S. Army was looking for a rifle design to replace their Krag rifles, they looked at the Spanish Mauser Model 93 they captured during the Spanish-American War. Other than changing the firing pin to a two-piece design and a few other minor alterations, the 1903 was, in fact, a Mauser design, and the U.S. Government ended up paying royalties to Mauser Werke. The rifle was well worth it though. It had a strong and reliable action and served the Army for over four decades in two World Wars and would even be used in sniper variations in Korea and Vietnam. It’s fast .30-06 cartridge, adopted in 1906, continued to be the one cartridge that all others are compared against, whether it is for ballistics or felt recoil. This Springfield Armory Model 1903 was made back in 1903, the first year of production and has a five digit serial number. The rifle a replacement barrel and likely saw use in WWI and WWII adding to its historical significance. This 1903 will be a great addition to your C&R collection. Please see our photos and good luck!