April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
According to research, the frame of this rifle dates to 1908 and the barrel is dated 5 of 06. Barrel also stamped SA and ordnance bomb and the letter A. The letter A was added to the barrel of any rifle that passed through arsenal repair or check and test. It was indicated that the barrel sights have been checked to ensure that they were suitable for use with the 1906 cartridge, which graduated out to 2700 yards. This rifle has all early parts including the early high hump flat top handguard with no sight groove, stamped #90, probably a unit marking. Has original front sight with hood. Stock features the early wide finger groove, left side is early style straight stock, no stock bolts. Left side of wrist has cartouche in rectangle, ELH, for Edgar L. Hathaway, who is noted as an inspector for Springfield Model 1903s with the block letter stamp circa 1907. The 2700 yard sight features the dished and knurled knobs. Has the early straight bolt. Smooth buttplate with trapdoor. Faint unit stamp on top of stock. All milled parts. Early split sling swivels. Has a cursive P proof stamp on bottom of wrist, visible but light. Has an ME reading of 2 and a TE reading of 1.5. CONDITION: All metal appears to be a homogeneous matte blue mixed with brown patina overall. Stock is excellent with traditional deep, dark, rich oil finish with a few slight mars. Wood has a light stress crack on left side of buttstock extending approximately 6" from buttplate and another small 2" stress crack at wrist. Both are closed and tight and any decent woodworker could easily repair this problem and you would have an extremely fine, very early 1903 Springfield chambered for the .30-06 cartridge with a great bore. These early straight stocks with no bolts are very desirable on their own.