RARE R.F. Sedgley (Springfield Armory) Custom Model 1903, Blue 24” Bolt Action Rifle MFD Pre WWII C&R
LSB#: 160108GY09
Make: Springfield Armory (page 73of Michael Petrov’s book, Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century) Customization done by R.F. Sedgley Inc.
Model: Originally a Model 1903. Now a Sedgley “Springfield Sporter”.
Serial Number: 7447 (added by R.F. Sedgley)
Year of Manufacture: Pre WWII
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine
Markings: The rear tang of the receiver and the rear of the bolt handle are both marked with the new serial number that was added by R.F. Sedgley. The safety is marked “SAFE READY” and the magazine cutoff is marked “ON OFF”. The top of the barrel is marked “R.F. SEDGLEY. INC. PHILA, PA. U.S.A.”. The left side of the barrel shank is marked “CAL.30.’06” and with a “circled S” Sedgley proof. The right side of the rear sight is marked with the Lyman logo and “REG US PAT. OFF”. The top of the rear sight is marked “LYMAN / REG US PAT. OFF”. The top of the receiver is hand engraved and the bolt is jeweled. The metal buttplate is checkered. A faint 5 digit serial number is visible below the new finish. The sling is marked “MONTANA / SLING”.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade atop a ramped base and set under a removable protective hood. The front of the base is finely serrated to reduce glare. The rear sight is a fully adjustable Lyman No. 48 micrometer. The right side of the sight is marked “0 25 50 75 100 125” and the top is marked “0”. There are also hash marks on the top and right.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The imported walnut stock has hand checkering on the grip & forend, a pistol grip, hard rubber grip cap, fluted comb, Schnabel tip forend, two sling loops, and a checkered metal buttplate. The wood shows light scrapes and compression marks throughout. Some of the checkering has been scraped or compressed. The LOP measures 13 3/4 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good to Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original to the Date of Customization
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. The bore shows an M.E. of 0.5.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 96% of its metal finish. Much of the metal was refinished when the rifle was customized. Imperfections on the metal, such as the original serial number, show through the new finish. The metal shows various scuffs and light scrapes. The top of the buttplate shows scrapes and surface erosion. The screw heads show some use. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good to Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork& Accessories: The rifle comes with a leather sling that shows light scrapes and light handling marks. It is in about Fine condition. The rifle also comes with a removable front sight hood that shows a small area of pin prick surface erosion as well as discoloration. It is in about Very Good condition.
Our Assessment: This is a rare customized Springfield Sporter by R.F. Sedgley Inc. Its deep blue finish looks great set in the hand checkered walnut stock. The following paraphrased information is taken from pages 73 to 80 of Michael Petrov’s book, Custom Gunmakers of the 20th Century:
Reginald F. Sedgley started in the firearms industry back in 1897. He became the owner of the firm he worked at in 1916 and renamed it R.F. Sedgley Inc. One of his firm’s endeavors was customizing Model 1903 Springfield rifles. Sedgley would purchase low numbered Springfield actions from the government at a discounted price due to their reputation of being brittle. The problems with low numbered Springfield 1903 rifle receivers is commonly believed to effect all rifles with a serial number lower than 800,000. That is not the case. The problems only affected serial numbers from 700,000 to 800,000. The previous fourteen years of production and 700,000 rifles did not have problems. The receivers between 700,000 and 800,000 were “over-hardened” which lead to the brittle receivers. The receivers purchased by Sedgley were inspected, annealed (heat treat to strengthen) and had the markings ground off. They were then re-heat treated and proof tested to 80,000psi. These receivers would eventually become custom Sedgley Springfield Sporter rifles.
