1903 Springfield with USMC barrel with Circle S

by rdj94a on Thu 1 Dec 2011 - 17:53

Just picked one up, I will post pics when I get it, Springfield armory 900K range barrel date is 41

by Doug Bowser on Thu 1 Dec 2011 - 18:20

I might e wrong but the circle S is for Sedgley. They made barrels for the Marines.

Doug

by **captain-03** on Thu 1 Dec 2011 - 18:25

Neat -- !!

by rdj94a on Thu 1 Dec 2011 - 18:27

correct

by PhillipM on Mon 5 Dec 2011 - 13:19

As you probably already know the barrel is a replacement for your receiver made in 1918. Many of the Sedgley barrels were demilled and sold for scrap by bending them in the middle, then some enterprising hucksters straightened them out and sold them as good barrels. Look for a dark ring or a loose spot when running a tight fitting patch.

Does it have a hole in the receiver ring on the left side of the rifle?

by rdj94a on Mon 5 Dec 2011 - 13:51

let you know when it gets here

by PhillipM on Mon 5 Dec 2011 - 14:33

I remembered a thread on another forum describing a USMC 1903 in detail, yours is in the serial number range and wears the same barrel so you very well may have a rifle carried by a Marine. Serial number lists of who got what do not exist, collectors have established known ranges with USMC traits. Those are:

serial number electropenciled on the bolt (not engraved it's a different process)
smooth buttplate stippled with punch marks for better grip
jaw marks on the barrel with the handguard removed similar to a pipe wrench
Hatcher hole drilled on the left side of the receiver
USMC Sedgley barrel

If your rifle has these characteristics it was most likely overhauled in Philadelphia around the time the barrel was made.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/showthread.php?23516-Looking-for-info-on-this-USMC-1903-anyone-have-serial-number-info&highlight=marine+serial+numbers

by rdj94a on Mon 5 Dec 2011 - 15:00

I'm looking forward to researching it

by rdj94a on Thu 15 Dec 2011 - 18:37

Well it arrived today, used but not abused-- it does have the Hatcher hole, excellent bore easily passes the bullet test. barrel date 9-41 None of the stampings are real crisp, so I would say it has been together along time, the only other one I have seen was a barreled action back in the 70's. I have found conflicting debate on the electric penciled bolts. I suspect this is a war weapon.

Looks like it will be an excellent shooter.

by Lt.Dan on Thu 15 Dec 2011 - 18:44

Where did you pick it up from? I would love to get my hands on one of those.

by rdj94a on Thu 15 Dec 2011 - 19:15

I bought it from a fellow collector, it is only the second one I have seen in my 30 years of looking. From what I can find out only the 41 dates were associated with the Marines, although they made later dates they weren't used by USMC

by PhillipM on Thu 15 Dec 2011 - 19:49

Very nice looking rifle, I'm glad you found what you wanted. When you have time I'd like to know if it has the other characteristics I described above.

by rdj94a on Thu 15 Dec 2011 - 21:25

Butt plate is checkered, I'll look for marks. Bolt not eltro penciled then all of them weren't. It has the large hatcher hole

by rdj94a on Fri 16 Dec 2011 - 8:53

I took the hand guard off this morning, there are defined marks like your pic, when they changed the barrel. Serial number range is 944---

by PhillipM on Fri 16 Dec 2011 - 8:55

rdj94a wrote:Butt plate is checkered, I'll look for marks. Bolt not eltro penciled then all of them weren't. It has the large hatcher hole

They only stippled the smooth buttplates as far as I know. I concur about the electro penciled bolt, or it may have been changed out since the rebuild.

BTW there is an add for two Rock Islands and a Springfield in the Miss market bulletin.

by rdj94a on Fri 16 Dec 2011 - 9:01

It was pretty obvious that the stock hasn't been off this one for ages, I pretty sure that this was used by the Marines early in WWII. Your thoughts?

by PhillipM on Fri 16 Dec 2011 - 9:26

rdj94a wrote:It was pretty obvious that the stock hasn't been off this one for ages, I pretty sure that this was used by the Marines early in WWII. Your thoughts?

I have a friend on jouster that researches known USMC 03's and has found a serial number list of USMC rifles. He also has the SRS (Springfield Research Service) books and can look up your serial number on that list. You can email him, Jim Tarleton, privately at jimtarleton@att.net or I can post it on Jouster if you don't mind the number being posted on the net.

The records just provide a snapshot of where the rifle was on a particular day, if it is listed at all. Once a number was posted on Jouster that came back "USS California - salvage - 12/7/41", so you never know.

by rdj94a on Fri 16 Dec 2011 - 10:11

Thanks

by rdj94a on Fri 16 Dec 2011 - 18:31

I emailed Jim, he confirmed that I have a Marine 03 that was rebuilt in 41 and probably was used in Guadacanal and elsewhere.

by Lt.Dan on Fri 16 Dec 2011 - 18:50

Want to sell it? haha. Being a Marine I try to collect old USMC weapons and stuff of the sort. I am now on the hunt for one.

Edit. Doesn't the USMC version have the wider front sight blade and the cover? I could be wrong but I though they did.

1903 Springfield with USMC barrel with Circle S