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neilwest
11-10-2001, 05:20 PM
1. This one just arrived after 3 weeks of snail mail. It is a 03 Springfield (Circa 1944). It has all original matching parts, not a put together. Came with a new sling, and cleaning kit. I paid way to much but I wanted it real bad.

2. Had a ton of kosmoline on it, took me hours to get it to this point. Cleaned the stock and it came out looking good.

3. Dont mean to post so many pics but I want to keep this forum alive and kicking.
Schuetzenman
11-10-2001, 07:54 PM
Niel,
What is the serial number series on the receiver. I know you said 1944 but that's probably only the receiver. No 03's were made, receivers that is, were made during WWII. However many were rebuilt.

My point is if it's a Springfield receiver rifle it needs to have a serial number over 860,000. If it's a Rock Island you need a receiver number over 350,000. Earlier numbers are potentially too hard and could blow up if fired. They didn't have their hardening technology down well and overhardened many of these early serial number rifles.
neilwest
11-10-2001, 08:12 PM
1. Now that you mentioned it I remember reading that in the American Rifleman issue not to long ago. Mine is a Springfield Armory Serial #279140. I guess that means hang it on the wall and dont fire it. DAMN.

2. I appreciate. These forum may have just save me a grave injury.
REDSTAR
11-10-2001, 08:34 PM
Isn't there some way to have the hardness/brittleness tested? That's a damn shame if it is the case.
REDSTAR
11-10-2001, 08:54 PM
There's an extreamly informative and well written research paper here about this subject at this site: www.m1903.com

Scroll the contents down on the left and pull up '1903 receiver failures'. Goes into statistics, ammo, causes and other items. Too long to post here.

I'm tempted to post it here anyway, it's very informative.
neilwest
11-10-2001, 09:20 PM
1. A very informative article. This conclusion leads one to believe that as usual, the bearuacracy overreacts to everything. I will shoot my 03 just for the joy of doing so, and after reading that article feel confident that I should be ok. Having said that I still believe that I will retire her to a place of honor in my collection and enjoy my new found love, AK'S