My last and very finest 1903...

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Andrew, the A on the barrel does not denote second class. Before the war, it meant that the rifle's barrel had passed an inspection to see if it was serviceable. If so, the A was stamped on it. If not, the barrel was replaced. After the war, nobody seems to know what the A actually meant. Was it for the same reason or was there another reason? John Beard and everyone else are scratching their heads over it. It might be that after the war, the old policy of inspecting each rifle's barrel to see if it needed replacing might've still been in effect along with using the A stamp to still denote a good Barrel, but that isn't known for certain yet without official documentation.
Anyway, it sure doesn't mean second class.

Sorry so much time had passed on this thread. I missed your reply. And the thread was pushed to the top of the Jouster 1903 group again.

Respectfully disagree on your interpretation on the "A" stamped barrels.

Taken from memorandum Office of Chief of Ordnance dated May 4, 1918. Between Army Inspector of Ordnance at Avis Co. New Haven, Conn. and to the Chief Inspector of Small Arms Weapons Inspection Div. Room H-238, 6th & B Sts. Washington DC

Subject: Marking of Barrels for U.S. Rifle Model 1903 on Contract R-363.

"2. In view of the fact that the letter 'A' is placed over the two letters 'S.A.' in marking barrels at Springfield Armory which are second class, it is possible that some confusion might arise if these barrels to be manufactured by the Avis. Co. were marked with an 'A' alone."

This was quoted from memorandum concerning the Avis barrel contract and whether to issue the company AV or AS on for their barrel stamp. Stamping AVIS would be too many letters and bend the barrel at the muzzle. As a 1903 collector I think it's obvious what the result was, just by seeing so many AV barrels but that's a separate argument.

But the meaning as to the "A" stamped barrels is documented.

[Fred]

Ah, but that refers to an A stamped OVER the S.A. doesn't it?
The A's Under the date and the SA. But heck, I'm no expert on the subject of the A stamps. I sure haven't done any research on the subject. Your information is interesting and informative. I certainly thank you! I learn a little something every day or so here.

Anyway, there's my rifle. I think it's a neat one. Maybe somebody out there will want to own and shoot it. I haven't ever fired it yet. I don't know, maybe I'll just keep it in the gun case and forget about it. Not like it's costing anything to keep it around. It IS a shame that it isn't being fired though. Too bad I'm developing cataracts. I guess the scope would help me.
Anyway, thanks Andrew!

If I do sell the whole group of stuff, I ought to get a few hundred bucks to put forward towards another old toy.




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[Fred]

Ohhh! Very nice! Is the bayonet part of the deal or just a prop?

Oh, it's part of the whole package! I'm just getting rid of some of the stuff around here while I'm still able before my daughter and her socialist boyfriend get the chance to take it into a pawn shop. If I have no other choice, I'll burn it all in a heaping fire before they get their grubby hands on anything. I mean that. Remember I said it.

[Fred]

Mike Rayborn, your Messagimg service is Full and so cannot receive or send any messages.

[Kragrifle]

Hi Fred
Try it now or
kragrifle@suddenlink.net

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Hi Fred
Try it now or
kragrifle@suddenlink.net

[Fred]

This rifle has the initials of JS scratched (not carved) into the stock. I believe that this rifle was used in a National Guard unit or a Training Center where somebody scratched their initials on it to be able to retrieve the same rifle. Possibly for use on the rifle range.
My grampa, whose name was James Mett Shippee, helped build the rifle range at The Great Lakes Naval Training Center and he spent a lot of free time and duty time on that rifle range.
Further down is a photo of him on that range in late 1918 before he shipped out on the USS Wadsworth for duty on the Atlantic before the war ended in Europe.
I wonder whether he could've been the person who scratched his initials into the stock. He was known as Mett Shippee, but he probably would've used the JS initials to avoid using JMS or MS, which could've gotten him in trouble.
It's just speculation. Just wondering.
More unlikely things have happened, like me finding and acquiring Three rarely if ever found, early 1868 Springfield Trapdoor rifles with the assembly date of 1868 on their breech blocks, of which only 19 are now known to exist in public and private collections.
So, it's fuel for speculation anyway! Just thinking
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[Fred]

Here's James Mett Shippee (My Grampa) on the rifle range in 1918 that he helped build (he was a Carpenter).
Gramps was proud to've qualified Expert on the 03. I still have his Blues with his Expert patch.

He kinda looks like Steve McQueen in The Sandpebbles I think.

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[Fred]

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[Fred]

Good light outside for photos.

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Another great angle.

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[Fred]

The rifling is unworn with Sharp edges on the Lands.

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