Need help identifying marks on a springfield 1903a3 i just bought everything

[MissingMonster]

Hello everyone need some help identifying markings on a springfield 1903a3 I just picked up everything seems all original but the rear sights are a lyman sight that I don't have an idea on I was wondering if I can get a some more info here is all the pictures

 

[MissingMonster]

Hello everyone need some help identifying markings on a springfield 1903a3 I just picked up everything seems all original but the rear sights are a lyman sight that I don't have an idea on I was wondering if I can get a some more info here is all the pictures

Whoops forgot to post the rest

 

[MissingMonster]

Whoops forgot to post the rest

 

[MissingMonster]

Rest of photos

 

[Talyn]

That's not a Springfield 1903a3, it's an pre-WW1 1903 based on its serial Number.

Springfield Armory Production of the M1903

• 1903:1-16,000.
• 1904:16,001-67,000.
• 1905: 67,001-119,000.
• 1906: 119,001-269,450.
• 1907: 269,451-337,861.
• 1908: 337,862-358,084.
• 1909: 358,085-398,275.
• 1910: 398,276-456,375.

U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Production - Springfield Armory National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

That serial number was in the range of those that had heat treatment issues.

What was the heat treatment issue with the 1903 Springfield?

WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” M1903 SPRINGFIELDS

M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury.

M1903/M1903A3 Rifle Information - Civilian Marksmanship Program

The U.S. M1903 and M1903A3 “Springfield” rifles military issue bolt action rifles, used during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.

thecmp.org

Are Low Number '03 Rifles Unsafe?

First-Hand: Safe or Not? Low Number Springfield M1903It's long been debated that M1903 rifles under a certain serial number are unsafe to shoot because of issues with their initial heat treatment. Some people swear by this and steer clear of these guns except as collector's items. Other people...

www.highcaliberhistory.com

And its been altered from its original mil-spec condition since someone added a rear micrometer sight at the back of the receiver above the bolt handle, even though it still has it's original-style ladder rear sight forward of the reciver.

 

[Talyn]

Proofing and Marking

U.S. Inspectors Markings

ArmsCollectors.com Collectable Firearms Forums Modern, antique and collectable firearms, questions answered, gun & militaria related items.

m1903.com

 

[Talyn]

The barrel is a High Standard Feb (2) 1944 (44) barrel so it went through an arsenal rebuild at some point.

Can't see anything else clearly enough, but it's likely a mix of various manufactures parts that were made for a 1903 but may not be "original" 1906 parts based on the "born-on date of the receiver, and the WW2 barrel from the arsenal work.

The front sight hood is a typical USMC hood used to protect the front sight blade.

The bottom line someone partially sportified it based on the Lyman rear sight. Not 1906 original due to those factors.

 

[Jfal]

Talyn, doesn't the serial number start with "1" as in 1,290,734? If so, that would make the receiver pretty far beyond the 800k for the heat-treatment issue? Maybe I need more coffee before jumping into a thread like this one...I know enough to know that I don't know (much).

 

[Pitdogg2]

Talyn, doesn't the serial number start with "1" as in 1,290,734? If so, that would make the receiver pretty far beyond the 800k for the heat-treatment issue? Maybe I need more coffee before jumping into a thread like this one...I know enough to know that I don't know (much).

1290734 is what I read.
Which in @Talyn's link would put it here.

1928: 1,285,266-1,305,900

 

[Recusant]

I agree with Talyn. It was probably fitted with a new barrel during a WWII rebuild and a new stock as well. There might be some info on the Lyman sight that would give you a clue as to when it was made. Usually a period correct Lyman would be a 48S if factory done, but it appears your Lyman is post war. I suspect someone added this to improve on accuracy since that HS barrel is probably a 2 groove. These rifles were surplused after the war and like GI 1911s many were customized to some degree. It was an inexpensive way to get a high-powered deer rifle. My dad hunted with one like that for years. It should be a good shooter with 150 grain FMJ ammo.

 

[Talyn]

Talyn, doesn't the serial number start with "1" as in 1,290,734? If so, that would make the receiver pretty far beyond the 800k for the heat-treatment issue? Maybe I need more coffee before jumping into a thread like this one...I know enough to know that I don't know (much).

OK, my bad. So, it's outside the "Bad heat treatment" receiver number range so it's a good shooter.

Still as per Pitdogg's post it's still a 1903 & not a A3, and still likely an arsenal rebuild that some one added a Lyman receiver sight (they had to drill & tap the receiver) as per Recusant's post.

I've rebuilt "drilled & tapped receivers" by getting the holes "tig-welded", then reparked , although you can still see the outline of the old holes. Still, a rebuilt 03/A3 is just that and won't qualify as an original but can still serve as a good shooter. My favorite A3 is a rebuilt A3. I don't mess with my mil-spec 03A3 that I've picked up in the past due to them not being sporterized and/or drill rifles.

There's a lot of 03/A3s being offered that are rebuilt "drill" rifles that have had the cutoff and barrel welds removed. They can be fine for shooters but shouldn't be advertised as "original".

Sorry for not looking at the serial number a lot closer.