Description
The M1903 Springfield, (formally the United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903), is an American five-round magazine fed, bolt-action service repeating rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century. It was officially adopted as a United States military bolt-action rifle on June 19 1903 (hence Model 1903) & saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing semi-automatic eight-round M1 Garand starting in 1936. The M1903 Springfield remained in service as a standard issue infantry rifle in early WW2, since the U.S. entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm all troops.
In 1942 the M1903 production was discontinued in favor of the M1903A3. A simple aperture rear sight replaced the M1903 sight & the rifle’s designation became the U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903A3. It was primarily adopted in order to speed familiarization by soldiers already trained on the M1 Garand, which had a similar sighting system. The 1903A3 also received a Parkerised finish instead of being blued. The Model 1903A3 proved to be just as reliable & accurate as its predecessor & with its aperture rear sight, it was probably one of the more practical bolt-action rifles ever issued to U.S. forces.
The first Model 1903A3’s were delivered in December 1942. The Model 1903A3 rifles continued to be issued to each Army & USMC unit for launching rifle grenades, because a suitable rifle grenade launcher was not developed for the M1 Garand until late in 1943. Many Model 1903A3 rifles were also supplied to Allied forces, notably the Free French & Nationalist Chinese.
The M1903A3 rifle were used in combat alongside the M1 Garand by the U.S. military during World War II & saw extensive use in action in the hands of U.S. troops in Europe, North Africa & the Pacific. The U.S. Marines were initially armed with M1903 rifles in early battles in the Pacific, such as the Battle of Guadalcanal, but the jungle battle environment generally favored self-loading rifles. Later Army units arriving to the island were armed with the M1 Garand. The U.S. Army Rangers were also a major user of the M1903A3 during World War II with the Springfield being preferred over the M1 Garand for certain commando missions.
Springfield Model 1903A3 rifles are highly desirable for collectors & this is a chance to own an original.
Please view all of the photos carefully as they form the main description & override all others.
Sold on consignment on behalf of a collector.
