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  1. Default Must-have books for the 1903 Springfield/ Rock Island rifle collectors

    This question comes up on the 03 forums: “What reference books should an 03 collector have?”

    The answer seems to always be the same:
    1) Brophy’s The 1903 Springfield Rifles
    2) Clark Campbell’s The ‘03 Springfield Rifles’ Era

    There are also warnings about a few less-than-accurate books.

    Three very accurate and well written 03 books that are seldom mentioned and are more than worthy of note are:

    1) The Rock Island ’03 by C. S. Ferris - 1992
    2) The Rock Island Rifle Model 1903 by C. S. Ferris - 2001
    3) Springfield Model 1903 Service Rifle Production And Alteration 1905-1910 by C. S. Ferris and John Beard - 1995

    I consider these three books a must have-for all serious 1903 Springfield / Rock Island collectors.

    Just Venting
    Gary L. Bush

  2. #2
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    I want to find the 2nd book of the first list and the 3rd book in the second list.

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    Nick Ferris' and John Beard's book is out of print. You used to be able to pick up copies online for relatively cheap, but the prices have gone up.
    "We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
    --C.S. Lewis

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    Got that right, Rick. When they come up, "cheap" isn't part of the description..............

    http://www.amazon.com/Springfield-se...n+beard%2B1903
    "No man's life, liberty, or property is safe, while Congress is in session." Mark Twain

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    Awhile back, I recommended that a guy get a copy (assuming they were the maybe $20-30 I had previously seen them go for). He thanked me, but said that $150-200 was a little out of his budget. I looked and he was right!!
    "We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
    --C.S. Lewis

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    How many pages does it have?

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    66 pages, counting notes. One of my favorite quotes is in the front of the book:

    "As fine a rifle as it turned out to be, it surely had a shaky and complicated start in life"

    --William Brophy
    "We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
    --C.S. Lewis

  8. Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Shapiro View Post
    Got that right, Rick. When they come up, "cheap" isn't part of the description..............

    http://www.amazon.com/Springfield-se...n+beard%2B1903


    Wow...I just might part with mine for the bargin price of $500.00..

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    I once ask the authors if they ever thought about republishing the book and was told most likely not. A very handy little book on the early M1903s.
    "We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
    --C.S. Lewis

  10. Default

    Check Abe Books .com
    It should always be the starting point when looking for an old book.

    Gary Bush

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