Two very early Rock Island 1903's rifles

[rayg]

SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST...It got confusing trying to post the photos one at a time instead of up to 5-10 at a time like you can with this forum but there's a problem with this site as it is not allowing me to post photos for now so I tried the other photo posting site to see if I can post photos here.

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Here's my favorite two 1903's. The top one in the darker stock in the 1st photo is one of the first all correct period production RI rifles build in the first months of normal production. The lighter color wood was build up w/rod bayonet and 30-03 parts and issued out. For some reason I can not post photos using the normal site uploads so I'm just seeing if these tinypic site photos will work, Ray



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Bottom photo
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[rayg]

Here's the sling on the later 07 rifle, the sling is dated 1905. I had posted photos of it on an earlier thread a couple weeks ago but all the those photos disappeared from that thread apparently because of problems with the site. It appears to be a prototype of the Model 1907 sling. Made by adding one more claw fastener and a lot of holes to the 03 model sling. Then later reducing the number of holes and adding 2" to the sling which then became the 07 sling.


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[rayg]

Just to add, Both rifles are all correct with the correct period parts, to include no bolt stocks, no grove hand guard, split leg rear sight base with both stocks still only cut for that type of sight. The early rifle was assembled with rod bayonet parts a 30-03 barrel that was re-chambered to 30-06 and a stepped back rear sigh and stock and was issued out that way,

[Bhauer]

Great pictures! Fantastic rifles!!! Nice

[Fred]

Ray, do either of the two rifles have a Solid rear band?

[RCS]

My Rock island 64145 has a RIA barrel 3-07 and still has the early rear sight leaf with the square edge and without the top rib. Bore is excellent ! It has had some updates such as a stock bolt but still a nice early rifle. My Rock island 3670 came from the CMP auction and I really like the receiver color, all rebuild and has a SA 6-10 barrel



unable to post photos ?

[rayg]

Ray, do either of the two rifles have a Solid rear band?

Fred, both have the split leg rear sight base and the stocks are only cut for the split leg bases not the solid base, Ray

[rayg]

My Rock island 64145 has a RIA barrel 3-07 and still has the early rear sight leaf with the square edge and without the top rib. Bore is excellent ! It has had some updates such as a stock bolt but still a nice early rifle. My Rock island 3670 came from the CMP auction and I really like the receiver color, all rebuild and has a SA 6-10 barrel

unable to post photos ?

Looks like your rifle is also one of the first RI's off the line in normal production where the serial number and barrel date match like the one I have. Probably was not issued out until 08-09 with the stock bolt being added before being issued. Is there a readable cartouche with a date on the stock.
I see you are also unable to post photos via this site. You need to find another photo posting site to post photos like I did until the folks here get things worked out.
Here's a page from the "Springfield Model 1903 Service Rifle" by John Beard and C.S. Ferris as you can see your rifle fits in there for 1907, Ray


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[Fred]

Fred, both have the split leg rear sight base and the stocks are only cut for the split leg bases not the solid base, Ray

Ray, no I was referring to the rear barrel band. On Rod Bayonet Rifles and on some early altered and assembled 03's, the rear barrel bands were solid at the base where the swivel screw goes through and not split like they became sometime in 1906 or 1907. Occasionally an early rifle shows up with a Solid rear barrel band.
Now I'm not referring to the split or solid sling swivels. Just the barrel bands.

[Rick the Librarian]

Here's my very early Rock Island M1903, which probably started out as a M1903/05. It has an early June, 1905 RIA barrel which was modified from 30-03. It does have a USMC-type front sight protector, which is a little unusual.