Front sight cover

[rebound]

At gun show the other day. A guy asked me if rifles where issued with sight covers on or they where put on at later date after they came from the factory?
Good question, didn't have the answer.. Do you?

[John Beard]

The rifles were shipped with front sight covers in place.

J.B.

[BEAR]

Age old question: Which came first, the 03 or the 03 sight cover?:eusa_dance:

[IditarodJoe]

Do we know definitively that the front sight covers were intended to be removed and discarded upon/prior to issuance of the rifle?

Do we know in what year the metal front sight cover was adopted and when it's use ended? I believe it's use was limited to the 1903/1903A3 rifles exclusively, but was it installed on all rifles from inception through the end of production?