does anyone know where I can find further detailed information on the 1903 30-06 that Roosevelt carried on his African hunt??

Someone please correct me here but I'm thinking the gun is in the museum in Cody Wyoming???

I think that is correct. It was the first SPRNG sporter ever made. I think Stuart Edward White got the second.

it's m1903 in 30-03, serial number ONE

jeffe

.

I believe that TR’s as well as his son Kermit’s Springfield Armory sporters are at Sagamore Hill.
http://www.nps.gov/sahi/

The Wilson book mentioned is a good source on the rifle although he has the serial number and caliber wrong. The best info I have found so far is in “The Springfield 1903 Rifles†by Brophy.

Stewart Edward White’s sporter was made by Ludwig Wundhammer in Los Angles, California.

Oh my God!!!!!!!!!!! You mean to tell me that the secret service allowed Teddy to shoot a “low-numbered†03?

quote:

Originally posted by Rick 0311:
Oh my God!!!!!!!!!!! You mean to tell me that the secret service allowed Teddy to shoot a “low-numbered†03?

Lol, back then his would have been a high numbered '03.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

quote:

Originally posted by Rick 0311:
Oh my God!!!!!!!!!!! You mean to tell me that the secret service allowed Teddy to shoot a “low-numbered†03?

Lol, back then his would have been a high numbered '03.

Can you imagine how well the military contract would have progressed had the sucker blown up and killed old Teddy? How would you liked to have been the inspector with your proof mark on that rifle?

Teddy’s rifle is in 30-03 caliber and is serial number 6000...and Kermit’s (can you imagine naming your kid after a frog?) is a 30-06 serial number 85806.

quote:

(can you imagine naming your kid after a frog?)

Rick are you sure they named the kid after the frog? More likely the frog after the kid. Now that is scary!

quote:

Originally posted by Thaine:

quote:

(can you imagine naming your kid after a frog?)

Rick are you sure they named the kid after the frog? More likely the frog after the kid. Now that is scary!

Hey, Kermit the frog is ageless and has been around forever!

"Antlers of moose shot September 19, 1915, with Springfield rifle No. 6000, Model 1903"
from A Book-Lover’s Holidays in the Open by Theodore Roosevelt NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS, 1916.
http://www.bartleby.com/57/

The following photos are courtesy of AR member mrlexma:







mrlexma's original post when he posted the photos to AR:

------------------------------------
mrlexma Posted 01-Sept-2005 5:25 PM

Well, I have at last tracked down some photographs of TR's famous Model 1903 sporting rifle. These photographs are the only decent ones I have been able to find anywhere.

I got them from the curator of the Springfield Armory, in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the rifle was originally made, and where it is now on loan from the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.

I thought the forum might enjoy seeing these as much as I do.

A few historical notes.

This rifle was not a "sporterized" military model, but was built from scratch by the armory specifically for TR and to his order. It is the first true sporting Springfield, except for a couple of prototypes that were also built specifically for TR's review and approval. As you can see from one of the photographs, it is serial number 6000.

The rifle is still in the original, unaltered .30-03 chambering. Rifles chambered for the .30-03 can fire the .30-06 cartridge, but not vice versa. TR used some of the military arsenal made .30-06 caliber, 150 grain, spitzer-bulleted FMJ ammunition in this rifle during his 1909-10 African safari.

Note also the Winchester sights, which TR insisted upon when specifying what he wanted. He also had the military armorers shape the buttstock to be as close to that of a Winchester lever action as they could.

It is scarred and beat to hell from hard use, but still in remarkably good shape for being nearly 100 years old.

What an artifact!

MR
------------------------------------

-Bob F.

As has already been pointed out, Brophy‘s book has a bunch of pictures of both TR’s rifle and his son’s rifle plus a bunch of info and history on them.

BFaucett
Thanks for the posting guess I will need to do some follow up.

quote:

Originally posted by BFaucett:

It is scarred and beat to hell from hard use, but still in remarkably good shape for being nearly 100 years old.

What an artifact!

MR
------------------------------------

-Bob F.

How about 102 years old? I believe they handed him the rifle in 1904.

I thought I remembered seeing a photo of a left hand 03 built by the Springfield Armory for TR. If I remember correctly it is in a museum near Springfield, Mass.

quote:

Originally posted by Ohiosam:
I thought I remembered seeing a photo of a left hand 03 built by the Springfield Armory for TR. If I remember correctly it is in a museum near Springfield, Mass.

M1Tanker posted something last year about a museum that he visited that had factory made left hand versions of all US military rifles. Don’t know if this is what you are referring to but the left handed jobs do exist.