Michael Petrov's pics of Springfields owned by White & Roosevelt, and particularly those in his book, got me thinking again about how wonderful these old rifles are. They have such classy lines & proportions, feed slicker than any Mauser and evoke nostalgia like no other rifle. Here's a beater I picked up at a show, low number, rusty bore and all:

FLA:
Thanks for posting your find. My father's only rifle when I was growing up was a sporterized Springfield with Weaver K3, with which he had killed deer, elk and antelope. He kept it in his closet and I can still remember fishing it out from among the wingtips and slippers and working that buttery action.
After reading John Barseness' article on classic Springfields in the September issue of Rifle magazine, I had a nostalgia attack and found a neglected Springfield Armory sporter, 900,000 srial number range at a local shop. No sights, nondescript monte carlo stock, scope mount holes in the bridges, but two holes in the right wall ahead of the bolt root for a Lyman 48S. First order is to completely clean the gunk out of the bore, which looks very promising, then find a Lyman sight.
Gee a Springfield feels good without a scope on it.

I suppose you would call this a 'utility' 03. Barrel has been cut to 16" and wod shortened accordingly. Bolt has been low-scoped and 3 position safety installed. Scope is a 2 1/2 Lyman Alaskan in a Griffin & Howe side mount. Compass in buttstock and trigger is a Timney. Front sight is a Redfield Sourdough on original Springfield ramp. It was built by Les Womack for a noted writer as an Alaskan trail gun. Original 2 groove barrel the action is a Remington. Shoots very good with factory 150grs that I had.

Egad!! My ears hurt, just looking at that 16" 30-06! I had a Mauser I cut down to 18" for deer hunting when I was in college, and the fireball when I fired it at dusk blinded me for 10 min.! That other Springfield sporter has a fairly rare Long Slide model receiver sight on it. For a Springfield, that sight would elevate all the way to 1500 yds!!

fla3006,

Does your rifle have the flaming bomb and NRA stamped on the forward part of the trigger guard housing below the forward screw? There is some evidence that these early Lyman 48’s were mounted at the Armory on NRA sales rifles.

Always nice to see new and interesting 1903’s, keep them coming.

I have piles of pictures of Springfield sporters, what maker and what time period would you like to see? If I have a picture I’ll post it.

Michael

I have a Springfield in the shop that I am doing to match the "original" springfield sporters, not the sporterized ones. could you post a picture of that. They are listed and referred to in the Springfield book

"Michael Petrov: fla3006, Does your rifle have the flaming bomb and NRA stamped on the forward part of the trigger guard housing below the forward screw?....Always nice to see new and interesting 1903’s, keep them coming....what maker and what time period would you like to see? If I have a picture I’ll post it."

No Michael, no marks on TG, what I have is probably nothing special, just a neat shooter (with light loads). I'd like to see pics of Hoffmans, Fred Adolphs, Bob Owens and Tom Shelhamers that aren't in your book. Or Niedners, G&Hs, whatever you have, they're all nice. Thanks!

quote:

feed slicker than any Mauser

Once I saw this bullshit, I quit reading!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
I have a Springfield in the shop that I am doing to match the "original" springfield sporters, not the sporterized ones. could you post a picture of that. They are listed and referred to in the Springfield book

This is the only NRA sporter picture I have comparing an unmodified one to one G&H worked over.

A Fred Adolph in super condition, made in 1916.






More later

This is the earliest Bob Owen Springfield sporter that I know of. The G&H side mount and scope were fitted at a later date.

Not a Springfield, I just like looking at the wood on this one.

Did Bob checker those too? I sure like the "drop" in the butts.

A Shelhamer rework of a NRA sporter.



John

And of course you need the matching .22 Hornet on a 1922 M1

No, the stock is not short on the Hornet, it is just my poor photography skills.

this is getting me in a springfield mood...paul

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
Did Bob checker those too? I sure like the "drop" in the butts.

I believe that Bob was responsible for the design and layout but don’t think that he ever did the actual checkering.



Gasgunner, a wonderful pair of Shelhamer’s.

zimbabwe, my first hi power was a Krag that I cut down to 16". When shot in the woods every pine cone for an acre around fell down.

Speaking of short, here is a 20†Shelhamer, barrel cut, reblued and front sight by Niedner.

There were many regional gunmakers whose name is not a household word today that did fine work. Remember the old adage “Judge the gun not the nameâ€. MP

One More!

Michael: Many thanks for the posts. I think the Adolph stock design is very nearly the loveliest I have seen for an iron-sighted 1903.

Michael,

I am getting the fever! there is some beautiful peices of work. thanks for sharing the pics!