April 9th & 10th Premier Firearms Sale (MFIRE)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/9/2016
Caliber .30-03, Barrel length 24”. The story of this rifle is almost as incredible as the offering itself. It has been stored in an attic in rural New Jersey for the better part of half a century. The current owners obtained this rifle from an elderly neighbor, whom they cared for. When the gentleman died the widow gave this rifle to the family as thanks for all the help they had given. The significance of this firearm was never realized by either of the two previous owners until this rifle showed up at our office. This rifle was taken to the office of Wayne Gagner, curator for the Springfield Research Service, where it was completely disassembled and each and every part was inspected to determine what, if anything, had ever been changed since this rifle was manufactured. It has been determined that every single item on this rifle remains just as it did the day it was manufactured. No parts were changed, no alterations were performed. According to Mr. Gagner, this is the first and only, all original, U.S. Springfield Model 1903-05 to ever surface in this condition. Distinctive features of the 05 unaltered knife bayonet rifle are as follows: the length of the stock, forend, and barrel are original and uncut; barrel is stamped “SA” with the ordnance bomb and 05; the handguard is a flat top with no clips and internal oval cut; the distinctive rear sight is graduated to 2,400 yards, does not have the stop at top of rail; has the platinum line peep with dished knurled knobs with grooves; 1905 bolt with the single small hole, polished in the white with straight blued knob and safety; case colored cut-off has the serif style; proper cocking knob. 1905 bayonet band is original with no “H”; original front sight with the almost invisible cross pin; rear sight base is fitted with the dual straps that are fitted in the mortised area of the stock under the rear sight base; has the correct smooth 1905 buttplate with large trap; original screws; stock has all of the original contours on both sides with no reinforcing bolts. Left side has a perfect “J.F.C” (Coyle 1905-1918) cartouche in rectangle with no date in script (it was unknown for many years that this rare cartouche was on any 1903 rifles, as they have been found primarily on the Springfield Krag Gallery .22 rifles and the Philippine Constabulary). All proper milled parts. All metal surfaces, which were originally blued, are now a smooth soft blue-brown patina with all original finish, the only marring being the sides of the front sight band. There is no proof “P” on the bottom of the wrist, but a small 41 is stamped behind trigger guard. The rear band retaining pin has most of the original fire blue finish. Rear band is stamped “U”. Perfect action. Clean bore with an ME reading of .5. This is a remarkable find and boggles one’s imagination as to how this rifle escaped alteration and remain undetected for over 100 years, and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any advance Springfield collector to own the rarest Model 1903 Springfield in existence.