Rock Island cartouched stock with S on muzzle end.

[John Beard]

Thank you. So the S evidently has nothing to do with Springfield Armory.

Springfield Armory stocks up through 1910 were also marked with an "S" on the fore end tip. The Springfield Armory "S", however, was 1/8" tall whereas the Rock Island "S" was 1/4" tall. The difference is quite noticeable.

J.B.

[clintonhater]

Springfield Armory stocks up through 1910 were also marked with an "S" on the fore end tip. The Springfield Armory "S", however, was 1/8" tall whereas the Rock Island "S" was 1/4" tall. The difference is quite noticeable.

J.B.

But why was that particular letter chosen? For "standard"?

[John Beard]

But why was that particular letter chosen? For "standard"?

When Army Ordnance adopted the Model 1906 cartridge (.30-'06) in October, 1906, they had in excess of 200,000 new rifles chambered for the Model 1903 cartridge (.30-'03). Part of the adoption deliberation process required that a satisfactory method be developed to modify existing rifles to the new caliber. They could hardly afford to scrap 200,000 new rifles. The developed modification method required (among other things) that the stock be shortened 0.2" to maintain compatibility with the Model 1905 bayonet. The new shortened stock was designated as "Type 'S'" and the stock's designation was stamped on the fore end tip as a convenient method for visually confirming that a stock had been shortened.

J.B.

[clintonhater]

The new shortened stock was designated as "Type 'S'"...

"S" for short, I'll assume.

[John Beard]

"S" for short, I'll assume.

Your guess is as good as any.

J.B.