M-1903 Springfield Timeline Question?

[rayg]

According to C.S. Ferris & J. Beard, pg 25,
these are some of the serial numbers of known rifles produced in that first month.

63499 4-07
65975 3-07
71587 4-07
87229 6-07 My serial number is 87241 and corresponds to the 6-07 bbl number.
94160 8-07

[Rick the Librarian]

Interesting - I have RIA 16,093 with a 6-05 RIA barrel.


IMG_4312 (1024x300).jpg
IMG_4316 (682x1024).jpg
IMG_4321 (1024x682).jpg

[rayg]

Nice rifle Rick, looks like one of the early rifles assembled using the usable parts that were original made for the RB and 30-03 rifles and were never assembled but stored to be used later. Rare to see a 1908 dated stock on one of them, and a beauty at that, as most rifles weren't assembled with the early parts until 1909-10. Nice to have one that was assembled so early, Ray

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd think it would have been possible, since there was no M1903 "carbine", but I honestly do not know.

In reading your quoted source (which was from ??) the wording would tend to make one think that they had REALLY shortened the barrel in going from the .30-'03 to the .30-'06 cartridge, when actually the change was less than a quarter of an inch (set back 2 threads, IIRC).

You're correct. And the Springfield was the first short-barreled rifle developed by a major power. The Short Magazine Lee Enfield (the word "short" designating a 25-inch barrel) was adopted in 1907, and the Kar 98 was adopted after WWI.

[Fred]

Nice!!!

[CPC]

Very nice, I really like the old script serial numbers on the RIA’s , I have a 106k Rifle but it doesn’t have an original barrel (1907/08?). Thank you for sharing. Interesting thread.