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Title:	RIFLE, MILITARY -  U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 .30 SN# 1
Maker/Manufacturer:	SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Date of Manufacture:	1903
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 1500
Measurements:	OL:109.8CM 43 1/4" BL: 60.9CM 24" 8.6 lbs.

Object Description:

U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 .30 SN# 1
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. in 1903 - Model 1903 bolt-action 5-round clip-fed magazine rifle. This is the first M1903 rifle manufactured in November, 1903. Weapon modified in 1905, rebarreled in 1909, and then issued in WWI. It was later returned to the Armory. At one time weapon had M1907 sling. The original stock was probably damaged in museum fire and has since been restocked. The '03 was approved for adoption by the Secretary of War William H. Taft on 19 June 1903.

Markings:
Receiver: U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/MODEL 1903/1.
Barrel: SA/bomb/4-09. Underside: L, 9, B, V, X, P, J25
Bolt: TK.
Bayonet lug: H.
Stock: 45 (behind trigger guard).

Weapon transferred to the Springfield Armory from the Ordnance Office, Washington, D.C. on 8 July 1925.

Web site photo is showing a small sampling of '03s in storage at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

- Springfield Republican, June 24, 1903 - "NEW GUN FORMALLY APPROVED. Secretary of War Takes Action - Works to Be Pushed.
Washington, D.C., Tuesday, June 23.
The secretary of war, by approving a recommendation of Brig. Gen. Crozier, chief of the bureau of ordnance, to-day formally adopted the new magazine rifle for all arms of the military service. The manufacture of the new rifle will be pushed forward at Springfield arsenal as rapidly as the necessary changes in the machinery can be made. It is estimated that when the work is fully underway an average of about 200 rifles can be turned out every working day. At this rate the entire regular army can be equipped with the new arm in about one year. After this has been done, the work of supplying the new rifle to the organized militia of the several states will be undertaken. Ordnance officers of the army are satisfied that the new arm more fully meets all of the requirements of the United States army than any other rifle that has yet been devised, combining, as it does, great range, a high degree of accuracy and great rapidity of fire with moderate weight. The cost of manufacturing the new rifle will be very slightly in excess of the arm now in use."

Springfield Research Service:
1 - 112403 - SECTY OF WAR (1ST PROD. M1903)
1 - 103119 - CAMP PONTANEZEN BREST
1 - 070825 - OO TO SA - Serial numbers compliments of Frank P. Mallory, www.armscollectors.com.

Army # 0218 - "This #1 rifle was discovered in hands of Troops in France and was shipped back to the Chief of Ordnance. The first model 1903 rifles issued to troops were those similar to No. 0216 with rod bayonet and model 1903 rear sight. After these rifles had been in the hands of troops about a year the type was changed to that of this rifle, with model 1905 rear sight and fitted for knife bayonet. The first model rifles above were withdrawn and this type rifle was issued about 1907. Both these types were chambered from the Ball Cartridge, caliber .30, model 1903. After being in use about a year these rifles were also withdrawn and the U.S. Rifle, caliber .30, model 1903, using the ball cartridge, caliber .30, model 1906 (similar to 0218) was issued in its place." - Townsend Whelen, LTC, Ordnance Department, April 6, 1932

Notes: "A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES RIFLE, CALIBER .30, MODEL OF 1903 - On August 25, 1900, there was forwarded for the consideration of the War Department, a rifle designed at the Springfield Armory, authority for its manufacture having been given verbally by the Chief of Ordnance.
The new rifle was originally designed with a 30-inch barrel and rod bayonet, but upon further consideration it was decided to manufacture a 26-inch barrel and on April 7, 1902 an appropriation of $1700.00 was made for the manufacture of 100 experimental rifles.
These rifles were manufactured and after various tests and trials and at the recommendation of the Board for testing the new rifle, which convened February 16, 1903 at Springfield Armory, a rifle was manufactured with a 24-inch barrel, the rod bayonet being reduced 6 inches iUpon recommendation by Brig. Gen. William Crozier, Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army, this new model rifle was, on June 19, 1903, approved by the Secretary of War and designated as the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903.
June 20, 1903, orders were given to begin immediately the manufacture of the fixtures, dies, tools, gauges, etc., required for making 225 of these rifles per 8 hour day at Springfield Armory and 125 rifles per 8 hour day at Rock Island Arsenal. The following month these instructions were changed so as to direct the manufacture of sufficient fixtures, etc., for making 400 rifles per 8 hour day at Springfield Armory.
Such progress was made in the manufacture of these fixtures, etc., that production was begun in the following November and has been maintained steadily since.
Various changes have been made from time to time in components of the rifle and the methods of manufacture, the more important of which are as follows:
During the fiscal year of 1904, there were manufactured 30503 rifles, equipped with the rod bayonet. During this period the cocking piece and safety lock were redesigned so that the new rifle might satisfactorily fulfill the conditions imposed by the revised Infantry Drill regulations.
During the fiscal year of 1905, there were manufactured 43095 rifles, equipped with the rod bayonet. On January 11, 1905, in compliance with instructions, work was suspended on the rod bayonet and its related parts; the adoption of a knife bayonet being under consideration and finally approved and designated as the Model of 1905 bayonet. All rifles equipped with rod bayonets were afterwards altered for use with the new model knife bayonet.
In this period also all work on the rear sight was suspended and an improved sight was finally adopted. All rifles previously manufactured were changed for the new model sight.
On October 15, 1906, a new .30 caliber cartridge having a bullet of improved form of head, was approved by the Secretary of War, known as the Ball Cartridge, Model of 1906, and during the months of November and December 1906 and January and February 1907 no rifles were assembled, due to the necessity of rechambering the barrels to fit the new model ammunition. All rifles were previously manufactured, were afterwards rechambered....
A grand total of 606924 rifles had been manufactured at Springfield Armory up to the beginning of the World War.
(In addition to the above report of manufacture of Model of 1903 rifles at Springfield Armory these rifles were also manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal, the original fixtures, gauges, etc. having been made by Springfield Armory and furnished Rock Island Arsenal. The exact number of rifles completely assembled by Rock Island Arsenal is not known by this office." - Springfield Armory

Weapon approved for service on June 19, 1903. At some point this weapon left the War Department and was actually issued for service. Frank C. Lynaugh, of Haverhill, Ma., said he carried the weapon while attached to the E Company of the 49th Infantry. Mr. Lynaugh claimed the weapon was issued to him in troop camp while in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1917 still packed in cosmoline. He carried the weapon with him to France. But while training with a Signal Unit in France, the weapon was taken away from him. Mr. Lynaugh was issued a M1917 Enfield. "I hated the darn Enfields," said Lynaugh, "and wished I had my Springfield back."
Fifty-six years later, while visiting the Springfield Armory, Mr. Lynaugh got his wish. He told the curator, Tom Wallace, that he carried the first M1903 rifle made. Wallace went to the storage area and retrieved the weapon. "Yes sir, that's my old gun. I got old, but it looks the same," said Lynaugh.

"Production of the Model 1903 rifle as a complete unit was practically suspended throughout the '30s. Analysis of receiver serial numbers shows that the production in 1930 was 32,505; 1931, 31,355; 1932, 34,265; 1933, 37.786; 1934, 49,720; 1935, 4,491; 1936, none; 1937The last Springfield M-1903 receiver built bore serial number 1,532,878 and was completed in October 1939. The last complete rifle - except for two trophy sporters assembled in 1941 and 1942 came in 1940, when a lot of 8,401 match rifles were built from parts on hand.
Search of Armory records reveals that the exact number of Model 1903 rifles built will never be known. One file report indicates 'arms fabricated' reached 1,127,194. Parts for an additional 260,812 rifles were built and stored in 1918, making a profitable total of 1,338,006. Between 1930 and 1940 - ten years - only 9,169 complete guns were manufactured." - Philip B. Sharpe

"...President Roosevelt made no secret that he wanted the German weapon for the U.S. Army. Author James Fallows states flatly that Roosevelt 'ordered the War Department to buy Mausers for American troops.' But, Fallows adds, 'there was little enthusiasm in the army for a rifle that came not only from outside its own system but also from outside the country.' Therefore, instead of licensing the Mauser from Germany as the Flager regime had done for Krag-Jorgensen, General Crozier had come close to duplicating it." - William H. Hallahan

"The faults of the Krag rifle were such that no modifications could ever remedy them. So the Army quit fooling with it and designed the .30 caliber Springfield M1903 rifle which was based on the German Mauser. Slight changes were made later, but by and large the same great rifle served our armed forces through the first World War and well into the second. The Marines took their Springfield onto Guadalcanal and they still use them as sniper rifles." - Tunis

"During the Spanish-American War of 1898, it was recognized that the Spanish Mauser, Model of 1893, exhibited characteristics superior to the 'trapdoor' Springfield and Krag rifles carried by United States troops. The Mauser was superior from the standpoint of rapidity of loading and the ammunition it fired. On August 15, 1900, Springfield Armory completed an experimental magazine rifle which they believed to be an improvement over the Krag. They fashioned a clip loading magazine rifle in which the cartridges were contained within the stock, preventing damage to an otherwise exposed magazine. Rifle production was suspended in January 1905, after the Secretary of War received a letter from President Roosevelt criticizing the rod bayonet as being to delicate for combat. Subsequently the rod bayonet was abandoned in favor of the 'Model 1905 Knife Bayonet.' A major conversion effort was launched by Springfield Armory to convert over 80,000 rod-bayonet '03 rifles to the new Model 1905 bayonet. An improved rear sight was another modification done during this period. The new sight was a folding leaf that included revised graduations on the sight ladder to accommodate the new ammunition being introduced by the War Department.
Among the arms on display at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site is an '03 rifle which exhibits the characteristics of an altered rod bayonet rifle. This rifle in particular, however, has an interesting story. During World War I, a trooper in France noticed that his issue '03 rifle had a particularly low serial number: No. 1. He reported this to his company commander who, recognizing the historical significance of the piece, returned it to the Chief of Ordnance." - www.france-collection.com

"As fine a rifle as it turned out to be, it surely had a shaky and complicated start in life." - LTC William S. Brophy.

"LINES TO MY OLD SPRINGFIELD
You too, my pet, my pride - and yet a tyrant of the years
When you I swung on sentry-go. With dust behind my ears
I've shouldered you o'er weary miles,
or crawled with you thru mud.
And in the fight at battle sight we've traded clips for blood.
You too, old Springfield, now must join
your ancestThe Krag that cracked at San Juan - the
first with smokeless charms -
The muzzle-loader granddad fired at Round
Top's mad attack -
The musket first 'heard round the world,'
now join their honor'd stack.
But stay! There's comfort in your looks,
old Springfield. Stick around -
With bayonet - till better cures for war
and strife are found.
In war, no matter what its cause, you are
a priceless friend.
When all else fails, on your sure aim
we know we can depend."

DISPOSITION OF OTHER M1903 RIFLES THAT WERE IN MUSEUM COLLECTION:
Army # 0215 - M1903 SN# 19411 - Transferred to Aberdeen 4/3/56.
Army # 0860 - M1903 SN# 46847 - Surveyed 1/25/32. Destroyed in 1931 Museum fire.
Army # 0927 - M1903 HEAVY BARREL SN# 244359 - Shipped to Camp Perry 8/3/27. Disposal Record 8/3/27.
Army # 0956 - M1903 SN# 462401 - Disposal Record 9/26/42.
Army #1216 - M1903 SN# 74724 - Transferred to Chief of Military History 4/24/57.
Army #2559 - M1903 SN# 1275314 - Transferred to Stores Division 6/8/33.
Army #2565 - M1903 SN# 1275276 - Transferred to Stores Division 6/8/33.
Army #5145 - M1903 SN# 1135578 - Listed as on loan to Detroit Arsenal 2/18/58.
Army #5185 - M1903 MANN ACCURACY BARREL SN# 830274 - Disposal.
Army #5369 - M1903 SN# 878270 - Disposed of 4/10/56. Weapon originally accessioned to the Museum on 17 June 1938. At that time weapon was appraised at $20.
Army #6572 - M1903 SN# 1328930 - Disposal. D-12-M. 11/1/51.
Army #8059 - M1903 SN# 107599 - Transferred to Commanding General (Captain Descoteev) 7/24/63.
Army #8062 - M1903 SN# 369004 - Transferred to Ft. Lee 6/29/67.
Army #8063 - M1903 SN# 475224 - Transferred to Watervliet 5/18/72. Returned to SPAR on Accession # 62.
Army #8066 - M1903 SN# 211159 - Transferred to Watervliet 5/18/72. Returned to SPAR on Accession # 62.

SPRINGFIELD PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903
1903 - 1-30503
1904 - 30504-45905
1905 - 45906-74000
1906 - 74001-192321
1907 - 192322-269451
1908 - 269452-337662
1909 - 337863-358085
1910 - 358086-398276
1911 - 398277-456376
1912 - 456377-502046
1913 - 502047-531521
1914 - 531522-570561
1915 - 570562-595601
1916 - 595602-620121
1917 - 620122-632826
1918 - 632827-761758
1919 - 761759-1055092
1920 - 1055093-1162501
1921 - 1162502-1211300
1922 - 1211301-1239641
1923 - 1239642-1252487
1924 - 1252388-1261487
1925 - 1261488-1267101
1926 - 1267102-1270301
1927- 1270302-1274654
1928 - 1274655-1285266
1929 - 1285267-1305901
1930 - 1305902-1338406
1931 - 1338407-1369761
1932 - 1369762-1404026
1933 - 1404027-1425934
1934 - 1425935-1441812
1935 - 1441813-1491532
1936 - 1496022 Production suspended
1937 - 1496023 - Production resumed in March
1938-1940 - 1510388-1592563 - Assembly only after 1939.

RIA PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903
1903-1-7500
1904-7501-16000
1905-16001-28000
1906-28001-75000
1907-75001-130000
1908-130001-165000
1909-165001-178000
1910-178001-201000
1911-201001-210634
1912-210635-217801
1913-217802-234830
1914-PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1915-PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1916-PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1917-234831-257061
1918-257062-326935
1919-326936-348414
TOTAL: 346000
Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN285507.
Introduction of nickel steel at SN319921.

REMINGTON ARMS PRODUCTION OF M1903, 1903A3, 1903A4
1942-3000001-3348085 (M1903)
1942-3348086-3607999 (M1903A3)
1942-3708000-4707999 (M1903A3)
1942-4992001-5784000 (M1903A3)
1943-3407088-3427087 (M1903A4)
1943-4992001-4997045 (M1903A4)
1943-Z4000000-Z4002920 (M1903A4)
TOTAL: 1084079

SMITH CORONA PRODUCTION OF M1903A3
1943-36080000-3707999
1944-47080000-4992000
TOTAL: 234000
On 18 January 1943 Remington directed to divert from production 20,000 M1903A3 rifles for conversion to the U.S. Rifle M1903A4 (Sniper's). Rifles #3407088-3427087 (from the first "block" of numbers) were diverted, and the first "03-A3" converted was delivered in February 1943.
On 20 June 1943 an additional 8,365 M1909A4 rifles were ordered. "Block" for these rifles and possible future orders was 4922001-5784000. The second "block" of "03-A3" numbers was used only to about 4168800 before cancellation of contract ended "03-A3" production 28 February 1944.
In March 1944, with receiver Z4002290, production of the M1903A4 was ended. Total production was 1,056,276 rifles, which included about 345,000 M1903 and M1903 (modified), about 711,276 M1903A3, and just 26,653 M1903A4 (short of the 28,365 ordered)

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.
Ferris, C.S. & John Beard. SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 SERVICE RIFLE PRODUCTION AND ALTERATION. 1905-1910. C.S. Ferris. Arvada, Co. 1995.
Ferris, C.S. ROCK ISLAND RIFLE MODEL 1903. Scott Duff Publications. Export, Pa. 2001.
Flayderman, Norm. FLAYDERMAN'S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AMERICAN FIREARMS...AND THEIR VALUES. 6th Ed. DBI Books. Northbrook, Il. 1994.
Gluckman, Arcadi. IDENTIFYING OLD U.S. MUSKETS, RIFLES & CARBINES. Stackpole Books. Harrisburg, Pa. 1965.
Hallahan, William H. MISFIRE: THE HISTORY OF HOW AMERICA'S SMALL ARMS HAVE FAILED OUR MILITARY. Charles Scribner's Sons. N.Y., N.Y. 1994.
Hatcher, Julian S. HATCHER'S NOTEBOOK. The Stackpole Co. Harrisburg, Pa. 1962.
Mallory, Franklin B. SPRINGFIELD RESEARCH SERVICE: SERIAL NUMBERS OF U.S. MARTIAL ARMS. VOL. 4. Springfield Research Service. Silver Spring, Md. 1995.
Poyer, Joe. THE MODEL 1903 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE AND ITS VARIATIONS. North Cape Publications, Inc. Tustin, Ca. 2001.
Sharpe, Philip B. THE RIFLE IN AMERICA. Funk & Wagnalls Company. N.Y., N.Y. 1947.
UNITED STATES MARTIAL & COLLECTOR ARMS. Military Arms Research Service. San Jose, Ca. 1971.
Tunis, Edwin. WEAPONS: A PICTORIAL HISTORY. The John Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, Maryland. 1999.
Walter, John. MODERN MILITARY RIFLES. GREENHILL MILITARY MANUALS. MODERN MILITARY RIFLES. Stackpole Books. Mechanicsburg, Pa. 2001.