Trying to find a floor plate for a friends 1903 Springfield. It's a 1917 vintage and lacks the floor plate.

I've bought two replacement bottom metal and floor plate assemblies. Both are too narrow for the stock inletting (see picture). The one on the bottom is original. Anyone know where I can find the wider floor plate needed??

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No picture came in.
There is only one 1903 Floorplate regardless of vintage; not sure what you are looking for. If you want a straddle floorplate, well that is a custom thing which you can make.

dpcd,

Picture should work now.

Can you see how much wider the bottom metal is compared to the other two? The floor plate from the top assembly won't fit.

The top two bottom metal assemblies will fit in the stock but leave huge gaps between the stock and bottom metal.

That's because the metal at the bottom is from a 1917 US Enfield, not a Springfield. You need a floorplate for the 1917 Enfield.

quote:

Originally posted by Brett:
Can you see how much wider the bottom metal is compared to the other two? The floor plate from the top assembly won't fit.

The top two bottom metal assemblies will fit in the stock but leave huge gaps between the stock and bottom metal.

the top 2 are a 1903 and 1903a3 respectfully

the bottom one is a 1917.

enfield, rather than springfield

here's a give away -- look at the bolt .. does it have a knurled knob? if no, enfield...

does the left side of the action of a lever that goes up and down, like a switch? if not, then enfield

both of those "features" could be gunsmithed away..

is there a safety on the bolt (springfield) or on the right side of the action that rotates nearly 180 degrees? (enfield)

If the one on the bottom is the original and you need a floorplate for it, then order a 1917 floorplate. Instead of all the Springfield parts you have been buying. Sarco and/or Springfield Sporters or Numrich will have one.
The reason you think your friend has a "1917 vintage" Springfield is because he has a 1917 Enfield, made by Remington, Eddystone, or Winchester, or maybe a 1914 Enfield. He does not have any type of "Springfield".

Any chance of a pic of the whole gun? Outside chance it could be a post WW1 "Bannerman" cobbled together with parts from both. The bottom metal is definitely 1917 Enfield.

And, although it's hard for me to tell in the photo, it looks as though the 1917 triggerguard assembly pictured has been straightened at the front, a typical mod done when sporterizing the Model of 1917 and Pattern 1914 military rifles.

You are also missing the catch, spring, and pin.

Guys, thanks so much. It's probably an Enfield. I'll post a pic or two tonight. I have the catch, spring and pin BTW.

I'm on an airplane at the moment so I can't look at it but I'm certain it's a 1903 Springfield receiver. It's marked that way and has the lever on the left side.

Probably is a Springfield with Enfield bottom metal. The stock has a crude carving that says "San Diego Zoo".

Another thought; i said "1917 vintage" because I looked up the date of manufacture based on the serial number...

https://images.search.yahoo.co...MBSYk/B&fr=yfp-t-700

This might be the little devil!

Guard screw spacing c/c :

Springfield, 7.750"
M 1917, 7.875"

It's a Springfield and the bottom metal is apparently from an Enfield and has been altered to fit the stock.

Thanks so much for your help guys!!!

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I think Dunlap describes fitting a Springfield trigger guard to an Enfield action in his book, but this is the first time I ever heard of the other way around.

Yeah, this is definitely the bass ackwards to build a rifle. WTF came to mind but I didn't want to say it.

Please feel free. My thoughts exactly.

Well, the '17 trigger guard straightened is much more stylish than the original 1903. It has the classic M700 Remington guard bow shape. The guard screw spacing issue could be compensated for in the welding process. Maybe someone was going for a better look.

You might want to try fitting a Mauser 98 trigger guard to your Springfield.

Only problem is the inletting is for the M1917.

quote:

Originally posted by odies dad:
You might want to try fitting a Mauser 98 trigger guard to your Springfield.

Here is another novel idea; you might try fitting a 1903 Springfield trigger guard to your 1903 Springfield.
Much less drama.

True, but if he is trying to salvage the stock he will have to use a good bit of filler or find a new stock.

If he wants to use the stock, then he needs to get a 1917 floorplate from Sarco; they are $8.50.

Just curious, what caliber is this thing. Only time I've seen this before was in a magnum conversion. That wide 1917 guard is easier to make the mag box wider.
Don

It's an '06. I ordered a replacement floor plate. Thanks so much for the help!

I received the Enfield floor plate and it's exactly the same as the Springfield floor plate I bought.

Are the two identical or did they send the wrong part. Now I'm REALLY confused...

No, they are completely different. Where did you order it from? The correct Enfield plate will cover your triggerguard mag recess just like the Springfield one covers it's own.

Numrich:

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/M...USMilitary-33541.htm

#516980 - 1903
#413000 - 1917

Then they sent you the wrong one.

I bought it on EBay. Apparently a mistake. thanks again!!

Ah, that explains it. I find all kinds of wrong IDs of items there.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobster:
Well, the '17 trigger guard straightened is much more stylish than the original 1903. It has the classic M700 Remington guard bow shape. The guard screw spacing issue could be compensated for in the welding process. Maybe someone was going for a better look.

I personally prefer the Springfield 03 guard bow shape. Particularly on a classic Springfield sporter. But that is just me.

quote:

Originally posted by Redoak8:
[I personally prefer the Springfield 03 guard bow shape. Particularly on a classic Springfield sporter. But that is just me.

It's not just you. The M1917 is a British design and whatever else their virtues, British gun makers never designed an attractive repeating rifle, unless it was based on an action designed elsewhere.

The Springfield trigger guard makes up into an elegant sporter, like this pre-War Griffin & Howe: