Critch
Alpha
I found this article years ago and it hit a note with me. At the time, I owned a low number 1903 Springfield made by Rock Island. I was constantly getting offers, mostly lowball, from local collectors who really wanted it. I had it for a good 15 years and finally sold it when it wasn't as interesting anymore (for a lot more than I paid). I'm so wary of gun experts that I really dug into the low number story. I found this little gem way back when, it made more sense than anything I had ever read about the '03 Springfield.
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/