September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
Has a 24" barrel in caliber .30-06. This National Match bolt action rifle was manufactured in 1922 and has a matching Springfield Armory April 1922 dated barrel with the star gauge stamp on muzzle. Production of the Springfield 1903 between the wars was very limited. The star gauge barrel did not appear until June of 1921, making 1922 the first year in which the star gauge National Match rifle was made available, and the barrel date and the receiver numbers match. Has all original early features including the type four hand guard (1921-1928), the "J.F.C." cartouche on left side of stock was used from 1904 to 1918 and has the wide finger groove as Springfield used up the surplus World War I stocks. It is the type "S" stock with two bolts. It has a polished bolt stamped "J5" with a rare headless cocking piece. The bolt knob is slightly swept. The receiver and barrel have the original dark blue-black matte arsenal finish, proper for the period and never arsenal refinished. It has the type two serrated trigger used from 1921 to 1940 and on National Match rifles of that era. All proper milled parts. As to condition, the barrel, front barrel band and receiver retain fully 90% of their original finish. The collar has the oil quenched finish. Rear sight has the updated windage knobs with the polished face and sports a P.J. O-Hara rear sight cover. Front sight has a protector. The floor plate has faded to gun metal grey with a blue-brown mix on trigger guard. Has the trapdoor coarsely checkered metal buttplate type four National Match. Wood is in excellent condition with no cracks or major chips but does have the usual abrasions. A pervious owner has carved "Frank" lightly on right side of stock. Faint outline of script proof "P" at bottom of wrist. Sports a vintage sling with two brass frogs. The muzzle has a 1.5 M.E. reading with strong rifling. Has a perfect action. There is a nickel oiler in trap. We checked with Springfield research and there are no sales records corresponding with this serial number. This rifle dates to the earliest period of the National Match models and Mr. Wayne Gagner surmised that this rifle may have been purchased as a special order featuring all the early National Match features but was not recorded as such, given the early production of this model. Little is known or recorded of the National Match rifles of this era. All the National Match features on this rifle are correct for the period, except for the updated sight knobs. Beautiful rifle.