A new LN Rock Island M1903...

[Rick the Librarian]

(Finally!!) :D

I've been emailing with a nice gent on another forum who sent me some pictures of a low numbered Rock Island M1903. We stopped emailing for a couple of months and then, about a month ago, he wondered if I was interested in purchasing it. We worked out a trade (one of my NRA Sales rifles went down the road) and the RIA arrived at my door yesterday.

It is a very early Rock Island and probably started out as a M1903 in 30-03. It is one of those that was modified to 30-06. The barrel is a rare (or maybe uncommon) 6-05 RIA. One thing I noticed is that the usual prominent RIA steel lot code is missing from the area around the muzzle, where you see it on later RIA barrels. The bore, by the way, is in excellent shape and measures a 1.5 on my muzzle gauge and a 1 TE.

The stock is the early type with no stock bolts and the "straight/edge" left side. It has (as you can see) a 1908 Conrad Nelson inspection stamp - possibly the year it was modified to 30-06? The stock has the large S on the foretip and a "script" P just aft of the trigger guard.

All the parts appear to be original. I have not broken it down to see if it has the early rear sight base, but assume that it does. The bolt has no markings, which was often seen on very early Rock Island and Springfield M1903s.

The stock has hardly a mark on it. The trigger guard appears to have some "speckling" which may be rust. Haven't made up my mind how to handle that.

Some pictures below:

http://www.fototime.com/BE565A5A577D0C8/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/A5FB267DBDB82ED/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/0048417A09A3873/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/A77BE4A44D10D49/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/A79876F92FDB010/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/25BF5DD2DF3A917/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/62DE74ADBA44D2F/standard.jpg

[Rick the Librarian]

A few more pictures:

http://www.fototime.com/76A0B7034BA064E/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/C80540966EC587C/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/F5B3C8048AA8EF4/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/08A6DD69C76B024/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/3FE8054726FF6E9/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/A36663626771942/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/E0298778853A7EB/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/7D91042E3280528/standard.jpg

[Rick the Librarian]

As a P.S., regarding the missing steel lot code, they didn't start stamping the visible part of the barrel with them until late 1907, according to Ferris' RIA book. Earlier ones were stamped between the "straps" on the early FRSB.

[4F4Nam]

WOW!!!! A real beauty!

Ed

[Fred]

Now THAT is 03 Springfield Porn! Woweewoweewow! Absolutely Fantastic rifle! Wow! Oil and #0000 BRONZE wool will work to clear up that trigger guard and floor plate.

[Mike D]

Rick, you just ruined my night! :mad:

I do like the rifle, though. You on the other hand.....:boxing:

Mike

[Rick the Librarian]

Rick, you just ruined my night! :mad:

I do like the rifle, though. You on the other hand.....:boxing:

Mike

LOL!!!

[rebound]

Rick, they don't come any better than that. You got yourself one hell-of-a-nice-one..

[Rick the Librarian]

I've been looking for one for several years - it was worth it.

[cplnorton]

I'm so glad for you. I know you have been looking for one for a while. Congratulations!!!

[JohnMOhio]

Again, nice going Rick. I don't know how you do it. Guess your getting some of your reward here rather than just in the next life.

[Dan Shapiro]

Nice! Real nice!

[Allen Humphrey]

Man, that is nice! Is the platinum wire inlay sight correct for the rifle?

I happened to be shopping for a Type 38 today, and I am struck by the difference in craftsmanship when compared to your rifle.

[PKelly]

If it can get any better than that I don't know how. A "grail" rifle for sure.

[PeteDavis]

A dream!

I had a 5-07 rifle once-the sight slide had a more "squared" edge than the one on your incredible rifle. I sent the part to Jim Tarleton some years back.

PD

PD

[jerrbear]

Another great find. You have a "NOSE" for finding these beautiful guns! Your collection has got to be fantastic.

[RCS]

Like Pete Davis posted, I also have a Rock Island rear sight with the nearly square left end on
my Rock Island s/n 64145 with RIA 3-07 barrel.

[Doug Douglass]

Very very sweet.........reminds me of one hanging on the wall in San Jose CA. that I have been looking at for years. Good things come in time.

[Kragrifle]

Nice rifle, Rick. While on RI's could I ask about a "U" inspector's mark. Is this ever correct for an original RI?

[Fred]

Did it come with an oiler in the butt?

[Rick the Librarian]

Allen: As far as I know, the platinum inlay is correct - keep in mind the rifle was modified during a transition time in M1903 production. A lot of things were changing.

RCS: I'm not in a position to tell you the difference between the "squared" edge on your sight slide vs. the rounded edge on mine. Maybe John Beard could.

Fred: The rifle came with a plastic oiler in the butt. Needless to say, it won't stay there long! It will soon sport a nickeled oiler. I'm going to install a Rock Island 1914 sling. I have an RIA 1908, but that is on my John Gillie rifle and, needless to say, off-limits! :D

Kragrifle: Where is the "U" located? On the left side of the stock?

[gnoahhh]

Glad to see it doesn't sport "Pancho Villa's teeth marks" like some of the old gun ads claimed! Glad it found you!

[Rick the Librarian]

One suggestion made about my "John Gillie" M1903 (a SA 78180 that has similar features) rifle was that the state adjutant generals were allowed a certain number of rifles. I wonder if this rifle was one of these?

[Kragrifle]

U is located on left side of stock where you would expect the inspector cartouche to be.

[Rick the Librarian]

The only time when a single letter was used as an inspection stamp, that I'm aware, was during 1917-18 by Rock Island during their production (and before they started using inspectors' initials with the date, which happened in late 1918-1919).

[jimmyzwei]

Very nice indeed - of museum quality i would say

[Fred]

I want one.

[ncblksmth1]

Junk like that should be in my collection.

[1563621]

Very Nice Indeed!