February 5, 6, & 7, 2019 Field & Range Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/5/2019
Between the years 1907 and 1910 the United States Government altered 199,821 Model 1903/1905 Springfields to the newly developed .30-Gov't-06. The rifles were altered by shortening the barrel by .2" and replacing the rear sight with the new 2700 yard sight developed for the flatter shooting cartridge. The remainder of this Model 1903/05 has all of the early pre-1906 features including flat top high hump hand guard, wide finger groove stock with no stock bolts, early forward pin front sight, all milled parts, smooth buttplate with trapdoor. Serifs on safety switch. Left side of stock is the early style straight stock without taper. Light cursive "P" in circle on wrist. Left side of wrist has the inspector stamp "GRG" George Richard Goring, who inspected Springfields from 1905 through 1910. Barrel is stamped "SA 05" with bomb. CONDITION: Barrel has dark blue patina. Balance of metal surfaces are a blue-grey patina. Stock is excellent with strong cartouche. TE Reading: 5. ME Reading: +2. Includes early period single brass frog sling. The stock was manufactured with no bayonet rod hole. All metal surfaces are extremely clean. While it is an altered rifle, to find one with all the original early parts, including an unaltered stock, especially in this condition, would be extremely difficult. Nice, clean example. If you have been hunting for an early 03 and the rod bayonet rifles are out of your price range, you will absolutely love this early example.