Rock Island Arsenal M1903

[Gary Cain]

No one has posted a 1903 for awhile that I can remember so thought I would post one. It is a 1908 dated rifle made by Rock Island and the bayonet that came with it is a Springfield made example that is dated 1906. The eagle snap belt also came with it. What is cool though is the O'hare sight cover and sight adjuster. These were used by competition shooters to hide their adjustments from their fellow competitors.


Cheers
Gary

[Gary Cain]

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No one has posted a 1903 for awhile that I can remember so thought I would post one. It is a 1908 dated rifle made by Rock Island and the bayonet that came with it is a Springfield made example that is dated 1906. The eagle snap belt also came with it. What is cool though is the O'hare sight cover and sight adjuster. These were used by competition shooters to hide their adjustments from their fellow competitors.


Cheers
Gary

[Gary Cain]

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[Bill Grist]

Gary, Very nice, and some great '03 accessories...BILL

[Ronnie Fry]

Outstanding display, Gary... Thanks for showing. That WWI stuff has a lot of panache!! Oldies but goodies!!

r

[dag001]

Nice rifle! Pieces that early aren't often seen. Thanks for showing....

[Johnnie]

Really great! Thanks for sharing.

Johnnie

[jdbwoodsman]

Excellent, very nice RIA 03 and accessories. Appreciate seeing them.

[Landy Hardy]

Rock Island Arsenal M 1903

Seeing Gary's nice 1908 Rock Island made 03 inspired me to pull out one very similiar I have had for years for comparison. Mine has the Rock Island CN inspector mark in the cartouche with a 1908 date below. It does have the small S stamp at the top of the stock above bayonet lug which is correct for RIA in combination with the CN inspector stamp. Its hard to see in the photo. Stock has the single stock bolt as authorized Feb. 1908. My receiver number is 150275 which is mid 1908 production. The barrel is dated 06-09 one year later so maybe an early rebarrel? Straight edge stock on the right and left along the receiver. My rifle does have the sight groove on the handguard but lightly done and looks like maybe factory modified from the original flat wood guard? The bayonet is the M1905 with a modified M 1905 scabbard, marked R.I.A. 1908(or 09) and H.E.K. The original M 1905 had a spring steel loop belt attachment like the Krag bayonet. Bayonet dated 1906. The cartridge belt with rimmed eagle snaps I believe is the model 1910. I would like to learn more about it from collectors more experienced with these early rifles. It would be nice to see a Springfield arsenal made 03 of this era.