April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/13/2023
A historically important US martial long arm that was present at arguably one of the most important days in American history. This US M1903 Springfield rifle, serial number 886334 was present aboard the battleship USS California on December 7th, 1941 and may have even been fired in anger at attacking Japanese aircraft. This U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1903 rifle is identified by serial number as salvaged off of the USS California after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On the morning of December 7th 1941, she was moored on the southeastern side of Ford Island, the southernmost ship along Battleship Row. The ship was moderately damaged by a pair of torpedoes and a bomb, but a fire that arrived on a mass of floating oil disabled the ship's electrical system, preventing the pumps from being used to help keep the ship afloat. She slowly filled with water over the following 3 days and eventually sank. Her crew suffered nearly 100 killed in action during the attack and 4 men were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions on that fateful day. She was eventually raised in April 1942, repaired and modernized, and returned to service in January 1944. The included scanned copy of a Bureau of Ordnance Survey document, dated February 13th, 1942, addressed from the "Commanding Officer" to the "Commandant, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor" states, "The following small arms equipment has been salvaged from the U.S.S. California and is located at the battery indicated:" and proceeds to list 352 M1903 "Springfield" rifles, 63 Colt Automatic Pistols, 26 Browning Automatic Rifles, 16 Lewis Machine Guns, and 2 Thompson Sub-Machine Guns; the serial number of this M1903 rifle is listed as located at Battery No. 2. Accompanying this rifle is a letter, written by Andrew Stolinski, Chief Researcher of Archival Research Group, New Market, Maryland. In the letter he states, "I am pleased to inform you that your rifle's serial number is documented in a Bureau of Ordnance Survey dated February 13, 1942. In early February 1942, the U.S. Navy started initial repairs on the battleship U.S.S. California (BB-44) following the damage she sustained by the Imperial Japanese Navy on December 7, 1942. Before being sent back, the Commanding officer of the U.S.S. California was transferring custody of various small arms to coastal artillery batteries, which were constructed in early 1942 for the island's defense. Your rifle was recorded as being transferred to 'Battery 2.' Battery 2 refers to a coastal artillery battery located at West Loch and was comprised of four 5-inch /25 naval guns that had been salvaged from the USS West Virginia. There is no mention of the disposition of these rifles following the war's conclusion." Also included is a scanned copy of the American Rifleman online article recently released on December 7th, 2021, titled "Pearl Harbor Survivors: M1903 Rifles Salvaged from U.S.S. California" by Andrew Stolinski. His article provides a detailed history of these rifles and the story of their subsequent salvage. A large number of these Springfield "Oh three" rifles were used by the Navy and Marine Corps all the way through 1943 until the M1 Garand started to see widespread issuance. Late war arsenal replacement barrel is stamped "SA" above the ordnance flaming bomb insignia and the date "8-18". Receiver bears the standard 4-line marking above the serial number. Standard blade front sight with ladder rear sight. Smooth steel buttplate with trap containing a brass pull through. Stock has no visible cartouches from arsenal rework. "H" inspector marks noted on nosecap and mid band. CONDITION: Very good, retaining 90% arsenal refurbished parkerized finish. Stock excellent and arsenal sanded and reoiled, with only light handling marks. Mechanically excellent with a clean, bright bore.
Caliber/Bore
.30-06 Springfield