Would like to get some info on a rifle that I have a chance to buy. On the top of the reciever it's marked U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1903 S/N 618XXX. On the magazine plate it has N.R.A under what looks like a flaming cannon ball. The rear sight is a Redfield peep sight with windage, elevation adjustments, front sight is a Redfield hooded - peep type sight. The barrel is a heavy target barrel, 23 3/4 in long by about 7/8 diameter at muzzle. The stock markings are a P in a circle behind the trigger, OGEKT or an I on the side. The barrel also has scope bases on it. The top of the bolt handle has been shaved for the use of a scope. The reciever has a parkerized finish, barrel is blued. The old boy that has it says it was arsenal rebarreled in Utah when he when he was a young lad and he used it for match shoots while in the NG. Does anybody have any info on this and a possible value? It's in 85 to 90% condition with a little surface rust on barrel that will easily come off with steel wool. Also the trigger has been worked on. 30.06 caliber Thanks Kelly

Nash, sounds like somebody made up a poor man's 40X Remington for the target range. The Redfield peep and scope mounts don't sound like anything a military armory would make up. I suspect some of the stock markings are a hodge/podge of stuff from over a couple decades. The barrel is most likely some after-market thing.

One marking on the stock you have there might, repeat might, be interesting. Might the "OGEK" be Elmer Keith's stamp while he worked at the Ogden Arsenal? I just spitballing it here but I'm sure there are some experts that will read this that will know for sure.

If it shoots good and it brings you happiness, then it's a good deal. But I don't think you have a collector 03 Springfield there.

Matt, I didn't mention this before ,but the old boy that has this said that he did get this from Elmer Keith. He said he wished he had gotten a receipt from him. If there was someway to verify this I think it would make it worth alot more. He is asking $400 for it.
Kelly

If the bore is decent and it shoots, it's worth the $400. As memory serves me, Elmer Keith worked at one of the western (Ogden???) arsenals and I have seen references to him putting his stamp on the rifles he worked on, which was the custom for all such armorers. Saw such a rifle for sale on http://www.gunbroker.com and it fetched another $50-$75 then it would have without the EK on it. If you figured he worked there a couple years and worked on two or three rifles a day, there has to be several of rifles so marked out there.

Hopefully somebody with some expertise in the subject can weigh in on this.

Nash22:

I am getting into this thread a little late. I hope you bought that rifle for the $400.00 the owner was asking. I am not an expert on NRA 03 Match rifles, but the Redfield rear sight was offered on The Model 1903 by Springfield Armory as a match rifle. Some of the "NRA and Military Match Rifles", had the heavy barrel of which you mention, and they were BLUE.

I suggest you pick up 2 publications: Model 1903 Springfield Rifles from NRA publications, and The Model 1903 Rifle by Lt.Col. William Brophy, which may also be available thru NRA.

You might really have something there.

As to micrometer rear sights and globe front sights being installed by the military, including the armories, and individual armorers,that was done quite often over the years. I own a 1903A-3 Smith Corona, which has a blonde C-stock and handguard, Lyman front and rear sights, all 1903 milled parts, other than the barreled action, and it was built by The US Airforce for one of their officers to compete in the "Match Rifle " across the course match.

Good Luck

Jerry

If in good shape, it is by all means worth the asking price! National Match '03's were generally fitted with the Lyman #48 aperture sights with a long slide, but it is probable that during WWII, some could have had Redfields installed instead. It could have been converted into a Match rifle at some armory other than Springfield, such as the one where Keith worked during WWII.

Too bad that the Keith provenance can't be established!

BTW, what is the SN? If it is a "high number" Springfield, it is OK to shoot. But even if it is not a high number, I'd buy it anyway, just because of its' configuration and the possible connection to the Great One, Elmer Keith!!

Jerry, El Deguello, I did buy this rifle. The story I was told was the guy I bought the rifle from was on an NRA sponsored shooting team. He could only remember 2 other names on the team, and one was Elmer Keith. He traded a model 95 in 405 Win to Keith for this rifle. It was in Salmon, Idaho in 1956. Keith lived in this area at the time. I've contacted the NRA, they have no info on this. I also contacted the DCM, have not heard back from them. I have ordered a book, m1903 Springfields & Its Variation. I'll check out the other books you mentioned. By the s/n the reciever was made in 1916. Thanks for help. Kelly

nash22,

If you go to this site you can punch in the serial # and get a manufacturing date, if that will help you.

http://armscollectors.com/sn/usmilookup.php?file=us_m1903rem.dat

Sorry I missed the SN you mentioned in your post. Since this is a Springfield Armory rifle with a SN under 800,000, it is considered a "low-number Springfield", and SHOULD NOT be fired with modern-day, full charge ammo. However, it should make a great target target rifle for use with the opld international 300-meter load of a 168-grain or 175-grain Sierra Matchking at 2200 FPS, or a cast-bullet load that develops similar pressures....

Nash22,

I've been doing some checking in Keith's book "Hell, I Was There". Starting on page 181 he discusses shooting at Camp Perry in 1940. Starting on page 185 he discusses how he came to work at the Ogden Arsenal as an armorer during WWII.

On page 187 he states " I put in three and a half years at Ogden Arsenal in charge of proof-firing and final inspection. Much of it was very hectic as I had to fisht some officers who knew nothing of guns but wanted to dictate what I did with them. I told the officers when I took the job I would not put OG.E.K. in the little rectangular box, my proof mark, on any gun I was not willing to go into combat with myself."

Keith proofmarks do indeed show up. I will PM you with a phone number of a friend of mine that spent a lot of time with Keith and might have some more info for you.