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Title:	RIFLE, MILITARY -  U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 .30 SN# 231808
Maker/Manufacturer:	SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Date of Manufacture:	1907
Eminent Figure:	BASSELL, JOHN Y. & FRED C. BLENKNER
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6176
Measurements:	OL:110.4CM 43 1/2" BL: 60.9CM 24"

Object Description:

U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 .30 SN# 231808
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. in 1906 - Standard Model 1903 bolt-action rifle equipped with experimental Bassell & Blenkner rear sight. Sight installed into the standard 1905 fixed base, this sight has a screw and adjustable rear sight slide. An aperture disk can be quickly rotated to give an option of peep size or open notch sight. Also mounted on this rifle is a Lyman receiver sight that was patented June 25, 1899. This sight is similar to the Lyman No. 48 sight however the elevation is not adjustable by means of a screw. Tested in February, 1910 and not adopted.

Markings:
Receiver: U.S./SPRINGFIELD ARMORY/MODEL 1903/231808. (Underside: S, E, L, X, C, 7, 3-leaf clover outline.
Barrel: S.A./Ordnance bomb/5-08. (Underside: P, BI, W, D, P, C, K, 7.)
Bolt: 0 under bolt handle.
Bayonet lug: H.
Rear sight leaf: RR.
Cutoff recess: E.
Stock: P in circle. BHM in rectangle. Forend tip: S.

ANNUAL REPORTS:
AR, 1910 - "Several tests were made during the year of the Bassell & Blenker rear sight with variable orifice in comparison with the service sight. Final tests are still in progress."

Notes: O.O. File No. 39019-45, dated 5/1/1908 - "TEST OF BASSELL REAR SIGHT SLIDE: The Board of Officers testing this slide reported its opinion that it affords a simple and convenient method of securing variation in the size of peep and that this slide would meet the conditions of service, with slight correction, and recommended that the slide be forwarded to the School of Musketry for further test and that if then found desirable of service, a sufficient number be manufactured for a thorough service test."

Letter to Chief of Ordnance, Washington, D.C., from Major Kenneth Morton, dated 9/1/1910 - "COMPARATIVE TEST OF BASSELL AND BLENKER REAR SIGHT vs. THE SERVICE REAR SIGHT. It appeared from the tests conducted that variable discs on the Bassell and Blenker sight possessed no advantage over the service sight.
In supplemental tests of the Bassell and Blenker sight, this conclusion was confirmed. Conclusion was also drawn that this sight is much more expensive and possesses the disadvantage over the service sight in that the open sight can not be used as a finder for getting the approximate line of sight, to the refined by the peep, a very desirable condition, especially in firing at ill-defined and illuminated targets."

LOAN HISTORY:
Army #1226 - Weapon loaned to Joseph Dudek, Commander, Polish American Veterans Club, Chicopee, Ma. from 27 May 1958 to 2 June 1958.
Army #1226 - Weapon loaned to Thaddeus Konarski, Acting Commander, Polish-American Veterans, Chicopee, Ma. from 27 June 1958 to 30 June 1958.
Army #1226 - Weapon loaned to C.D. Ewell, West Springfield Mobile Police, West Springfield, Ma. from 11 July 1958 to 14 July 1958.

See, RCO for 1907 & 1908, O.O.34355 and Brophy's '03 book, pp. 465-466.

References:
Brophy, William S. THE SPRINGFIELD 1903 RIFLES. Stackpole Books. Harrisburg, Pa. 1985.
Campbell, Clark S. THE '03 ERA: WHEN SMOKELESS POWDER REVOLUTIONIZED U.S. RIFLERY.
Collector Grade Publications Inc. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. 1994.
Canfield, Bruce. A COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO THE '03 SPRINGFIELD. Andrew Mowbray. Lincoln, R.I. 1989.
Clark, David S. ARMS FOR THE NATION. Scott A. Duff. Export, Pa. 1992.
Harrison, Jesse C. COLLECTING THE '03 SPRINGFIELD. The Arms Chest. Oklahoma City, Ok. 1993.