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Title:	RIFLE, MILITARY -  U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 .30 SN# 470555
Maker/Manufacturer:	SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Date of Manufacture:	1912
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6193
Measurements:	OL:110.4CM 43 1/2" BL: 60.9CM 24"

Object Description:

U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 .30 SN# 470555
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. - Model 1903 bolt-action rifle with telescope mounting blocks on the barrel and fixed rear sight base. The bases are six inches on centers and the hand guard is recessed to make it easier to use the front mount binding screw. The moveable rear sight base had to be removed. The telescope bases are designed to be used with the Winchester A5 telescope which is now missing. Blued finish with style "S" stock with finger grooves. Checkered buttplate with well for cleaning rod, etc. Lyman 5A scope attached SPAR-7172. See, SPAR-6194. A5 scope originally attached by WRA on 28 February 1914.

Markings:
Receiver: U.S./SPRINGFIELD ARMORY/MODEL 1903/470555.
Barrel: SA/Ordnance bomb/5-11.
Bolt: J1.
Bayonet lug: H.
Band: U.
Cutoff recess: A/H
Stock: J.F.C. in rectangle. P in circle. JFC = J.F. Coyle.

SPRINGFIELD RESEARCH SERVICE:
02/28/14-SGS-FITTED W/A5 SCOPE BY WRA CO. - Serial numbers compliments of Frank P. Mallory, www.armscollectors.com.

Notes: "When Winchester came out with its A5 telescope in 1910, the USMC decided that this was the scope it needed for its competitive match rifles. A number of standard commercial Winchester A5 telescopes were acquired at various ordnance depots and other installations for use by the rifle teams.
Judging by survival examples, Winchester A5 scopes began to be mounted on '03s under the auspices of the Marine Corps as early as 1911. Compared with most U.S. military sniper rifles, there was little standardization as to the method of mounting the scopes on the rifles by the Marine armorers. Since most competitive match shooters are very particular as to how they want their rifles 'set up', their wants were kept in mind when the scopes were mounted on the rifles. A number of very early rifles fitted with A5 scopes had the rear base attached to the '03s M1905 sight base." - Campbell

"Prior to and during the First World War, a relatively small number of M1903 rifles were fitted with commercial production A5 telescopes by the Marine Corps. Most of these modified '03s were used by Marine rifle teams and a number were pressed into service during World War One as makeshift sniper rifles.
The M1903/A5 rifles were still in the Corps' inventory at the start of World War Two. Many of the older Winchester scopes had been replaced by this time with the Lyman 5A telescope, which was essentially an improved A5. The M1903/A5 (or 5A) sniper rifles were used to train Marine Scout-Snipers during World War Two, and some are documented as having seen combat service on Guadalcanal and other early Pacific campaigns.
While not optimum military sniping weapons, these M1903/A5 rifles provided valuable service to the Marine Corps when no other sniper rifles were available during the bleak early days of the war." - Bruce N. Canfield

"In the Springfield Armory collection there are two '03 rifles that at one time had Winchester A5 telescopes mounted on them. The bases are mounted six inches between centers and are still in place. The rear bases are held by two screws to the Model 1903 rear sight fixed base. The rifles are serial numbered 47055 and 474180. Barrel dates are 5-11. Another similarly based rifle is serial number 472207." - Brophy

Loan History:
Army #1287 - Weapon loaned to Thaddeus Konarski, Acting Commander, Polish-American Veterans, Chicopee, Ma. from 27 June 1958 to 30 June 1958.

See, Brophy's THE SPRINGFIELD 1903 RIFLES, pg. 503.

Notes:
Brophy, William S. THE SPRINGFIELD 1903 RIFLES. Stackpole Books. Harrisburg, Pa. 1985.
Clark, David S. ARMS FOR THE NATION. Scott A. Duff. Export, Pa. 1992.
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.
Canfield, Bruce N. U.S. INFANTRY WEAPONS OF WORLD WAR II. Andrew Mowbray Publishers. Lincoln, R.I. 1994.