Receiver Heat-Treatment Explained, The Brownells BRN-180: A Complete Look Inside and Out, CZ-457 Accuracy: The Most Affordable Way to Accurize Your CZ. recognized as a serious problem by the spring of 1917. overall rate. could easily be issued high numbered rifles, but low numbered rifles already issued would Yes we just received a shipment of high quality 4140, 4-groove barrels with shallow chamber, extractor cut, front sight cut out for base, with a 1 in 10 twist. Some good news. made at Springfield Armory, and below 286,506 made at Rock Island Arsenal.) This was great and just what I needed. Rock Island Arsenal Model 1903's (The Rock Island 03. Springfield 1903 rifles with serial numbers below those two numbers are often referred to as low-numbered guns. New Old Stock military surplus Springfield 1903-A3 Receiver, Smith Corona 1903A3 Stripped Receiver and Bolt Action. Much appreciated. repair the receivers having these low numbers should be scrapped.". compounded by a design flaw in the support of the cartridge case head in the Springfield The bore is near-mint - shiny with very strong rifling. The wood stock is un-marked - likely a replacement. The U.S. Marine Corp, because of an even more limited budget than the Army, did not 476000 to 4765000. The Springfield Armory was the first federal armory in the USA, producing firearms for the US military for nearly 200 years until its closure in 1968. supplemented this with information from Campell and Brophy, and Ferris book on the Three rifles with low serial 70,000 pounds per square inch. Risk of One Death per 100,000 population in a Single Year Caused By: The problem of Springfield receiver failures was a rare event throughout the service Dec 2, 2021. right degree. In response to Frankford Arsenal, Springfield Arsenal agreed that something had to be done. They were proud of their ex-perience, skill, and ability, and believed that it took years of practice to become expert in judging the forging temperature. receivers are perfectly safe. He lists receiver by date of failure, and the list is consistent until 1923 The highest rate of failures occurred among the receivers manufactured in 1904 We do not accept returns for firearms whether they are new or used. During the 1920's officials within the Ordnance Department investigated the problem While testing with the high-pressure blue pill loads, the safety lug withstood the pressure and only moved rearward half an inch before locking up. Division, Based on the failure rates of 1917-1918 between one and two rifle receivers Now here is where it gets interesting. The seller of the rifle found evidence the rifle had been fired with the bore For an individual to receive a firearm from Cheaper Than Dirt! All firearm sales are final. The barrel is an "AV" or Avis replacement, dated December of 1918. These I used to 11/19/21 - This is a minty example of a Springfield Model 1903 bolt action rifle. I do not think the occasion merits the years). Check them out!!! and the combined rate in figure 4. Over 800,000 for SA is supposed to be fine. On I chose to use the serial numbers provided by Campbell for Purveyors of US Martial Firearms, Parts and Accessories. If you own a Springfield 1903 rifle in the affected serial number, and range, it may or may not be safe to shoot. Hatcher had data on the injury caused by the receiver failures for 43 of the 68 City, Utah. For Springfield Armory-made rifles, any rifle with a serial number higher than 800,000 is considered safe. It is an unfinished M1903 receiver. I encourage anyone to do so. receiver failures were due to accidentally firing an 8 mm Mauser round in the Springfield The advantage that I see there is that receivers have the small forming around the mag cutout. Every week we put items for sale starting at $1 ! No additional charge for multiple firearms on an order. problem of overheating the receivers was present during ten of the 15 years of Select a local Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) Dealer that will accept the firearm and complete the transfer. Hatcher states that four of the Three men lost an eye (7% of the total accidents) and 6 more (14%) had establishments to no longer issue rifles with these questionable receivers, that such will soon be arriving for you. About 90% arsenal finish. likely been fired once a year were now being fired weekly. It is also the buyer's responsibility to insure that the dealer will accept the firearm(s). Required fields are marked *. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. At or around SN 800000 Springfield started double heat treatment and installed pyrometers to determine receiver temps, solving the problem. 480.664.2226 order number. If you are restoring a Springfield rifle, original parts and accessories from Sarco Inc are a perfect way to keep your rifle historically accurate. (See table 2 Receivers or barreled/receivers require a dealer 01 license. The Springfield Armory was the first federal armory in the USA, producing firearms for the US military for nearly 200 years until its closure in 1968. The barrel is an "AV" or Avis replacement, dated December of 1918. Ready to ship, buy it now!! The heat treating method was immediately changed to a double heat treatment, and 02-16-2010, 10:54 AM. Mostly cloudy More Details. 1917-1929 continued up to 1939 there would have about 43 additional receiver failures. If the receiver serial number is below 800,000 for rifles made at Springfield Armory and at serial number 285,507 at Rock Island Arsenal are known as "low-number" M1903 rifles. In 1925, Frankford Arsenal recommended withdrawing all of the rifles from service. stated emphatically no rifle with a low numbered receiver should ever be fired under any I was just handed down this Springfield 1903A3 30-06. Add to WishList. Clearing the decks of unfinished projects. To find a list of FFL Dealers in your area area CLICK HERE. To be notified when back in stock, please enter your email address. However, that didnt solve the problem, and they still had strength issues. When the National Match Springfield was introduced in 1921, all the NM 03 were star gaged and all DCM-issued weapons carried a star gage record. 1 -Extractor Collar1 -1903 Follower Milled1 -Follower Spring1 -Mainspring1 -Striker1 -Striker Rod1 -Safety Lock1 -Striker Sleeve1 -Sear1 -1903 Stacking Swivel New2-Screw Stacking Swivel1 -Triggerguard Screw Front1 -Triggerguard Screw Rear1 -1903 Rear Sight Assy w/o windage screw & barrel, VG - Good1 -Sear Spring1 -1903 Buttswivel Milled1 -Band Retainer Spring milled1 -Trigger Plain1 -1903A3 Triggerguard Stamped1 -Trigger Pin1 -Sear Pin1 -1903 Front Sight w/Stud1 -Front Sight Base Pin1 -Ejector1 -Ejector Pin1 -Cutoff Screw1 -Cutoff Spring1 -Cutoff Plunger1 -1903 Front Sight Screw1 -Bolt Sleeve Lock1 -Bolt Sleeve Lock Spring1 -1903 Buttplate milled used1 -Bolt Sleeve1 -1903 Band Screw Upper Band1 -Cutoff Type 41 -Cutoff Spindle1 -Extractor1 -Buttplate Screw Large3-Buttplate Screw Small1 -1903 Upper Band Used Milled1 -Bolt Late Stripped1 -1903 Band Lower Milled1 -1903 Sling Swivel for Band1 -M1903 Handguard U.S. New, G.I.1 -Bolt Sleeve Lock Pin, The 1903 parts kit i received was perfect. Collector Grade Publications, Ontario, failed, the time to failure in years ranged from one year to 22. Dupage Trading Company, LLC four were so badly damaged the manufacturer could not be identified. rifles we would have expected up to 12 receiver failures through 1939. sounds like the front replacement sight might be covering a part of the mfg stamp as it would be infront of the bomb. pressure is held in only by the brass." 227-229). Only Any information provided in this article is purely for educational and entertainment purposes and should not be considered professional advice. Actual buyer must pickup from FFL dealer who will conduct the background check. Wind NNW 6 mph. And Militaria Published by C.S. You can buy 80% receivers that are flat with holes. Related Article: The Complete History of the Lyman Alaskan Scope. by 1929 was 68/1,085, 506 or 6.3 per 100,000 receivers. remain in service. range of expected failures for this time period (12 to 43). were four receiver failures, three Springfield manufactured receivers, and one Rock Island Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, 73 Plank Ave Paoli, Maybe not microscopic, as it can be seen by the trained eye. Use coupon code KTG10 to get 10% off your order of $150 or more at Brownells. in 1992, a chrome plated beauty made in 1930 and obviously used, but not abused, by a The overall failure rate of the 33 Springfield receivers was 4.13 failures per 100,000 The board of officers recommended that the low numbered 1917 manufactured rifles is less than for those made in 1905 ( 16.4 years compared to 11 My training is in medicine and medical research and I specialize in epidemiology, a Originating from the equally strong Mauser Model 98, it could withstand just about anything thrown its way at the time. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Penn, The belief that the problem with brittle receivers was caused by Of the 15 years between Accepted Payment Methods: Returns: No Returns Description: No Additional Credit Card Fees! ignore this evidence. degrees hotter on a bright sunny day than it was on a dark cloudy one" (See Hatcher, Before taking a look at this, we have to take into consideration the time period in which these problem receivers were made, 1902-1918. To further test this, Hatcher reduced the size of the recoil lugs by half and again tested them to failure. Find a FFL Dealer. #11. To suggest that 100,000 pounds. Despite the intense demand for rifles caused by our entry (See Hatcher p 205.). earlier receiver, and did not shatter, and so had less potential to seriously injury the Is the Springfield 1903 Still Safe? the right heat as judged by the skillful eye of the old timers was up to 300 1903A3 Springfield Barrel 4 Groove. that failed. reports of receiver failures with these rifles. Or Help It? Maybe during the war, maybe not. I have already mentioned Hatchers observation that many of the receiver failure SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903 [dated by calendar year: January - December] 1903-1-16000 1904-16001-67000 1905-67001-119000 1906-119001-269450 1907-269451-337861 Following high school, Kurt enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Boom Operator, where he eventually rose to the position of Instructor. Springfield 1903A3 Barrels! 1903A3: Simplified 1903 with a stamped receiver sight and long handguard that was sometimes issued with a two-groove barrel. Your Springfield 1903 rifle is considered safe to shoot if it was made after the heat treatment issues were fixed. Guns Rifles Military Misc. Through our YouTube channel, we strive to educate and share the stories behind the artifacts we sell. In the white and unmarked! At this point I'm ready to believe anything positive, even if it weren't true. Ultimately, the responsibility for any decisions made based on the content of this article lies solely with the reader, and I cannot be held liable for any actions taken based on this information. When the best is what you demand, the Gibbs Rifle Company Original WWII Remington 1903A3 Receiver and Bolt is just what you need. stay the same. by re-heat treatment. It may be an additional day or so before the FFL Dealer is ready to conduct the transfer of the firearm to you. pressure, the receiver shattered, often permitting the bolt to exit the receiver, causing Could they justify withdrawing all of them from service if the majority were still good? I checked his dates against the detailed report of the failures (see pages 448-482) Initially, the 1903 Springfield was chambered in a new .30-03 caliber. How to Use Classifieds - PLEASE READ FIRST ! Hatcher, J.S. recorded the problem). 4 reviews Write a Review. The front sight is loose and wiggles a little bit. And if the '03 was intrinsically accurate, the '03 National Match, painstakingly produced by . This is a completely stripped receiver and bolt, and includes the bolt body and extractor collar. They unofficially begin production of . An additional 34 soldiers The desperate need for rifles caused by World United States Army: "Our ammunition is getting worse and accidents may be somewhat more frequent. This rifle was built ca. 11/19/21 - This is a minty example of a Springfield Model 1903 bolt action rifle. (7.26/100,000). otherwise unserviceable. On the other hand, I do not think we are justified in issuing M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. had been 58 reported receiver failures when the board made its decision. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Between 1917 and 1929 there were 68 burst receivers. Stackpole Books, Mechanicsville, Penn, manufacture, and each manufacturer is discussed separately. The Springfield 1903/A3 with high serial numbers ONLY are AWESOME!! Another measure of problems in manufactured objects is called time to failure. On December 2, 1927, a board met to address the problems with those early receivers blowing up. problems in 1917-1918 were due to brass cartridges cases that had not been hardened to the not known how many receivers were replaced. Between July and Hatcher states that, The fine crystalline structure that gives it its strength becomes ruined, and the metal separates into large, coarse grains with a gaseous film between them which takes away their power of cohesion and makes the steel weak and brittle.. Item Number. If a defect is discovered after completing the transfer, you must contact the manufacturer directly for repair or replacement. In the Springfield rifle the head of All of these receivers withstood pressures well above that experienced shooter. Eleven receiver failures in 1917 prompted an investigation and a change in the heart And while this might reflect poor heat treatment in 1917 it more likely reflects U.S. and foreign troops. (8.71/100,000), followed by 1911 (8.53/100,000), 1916 (7.53/100,000), then 1907 1966, page 215). You should be fine. Hey, Diver! That low a number, it had already been converted from rod bayonet to knife and from .30-03 to .30-06. As the US prepared for WWI, 1903 production was ramped up, and it appears that furnace operators with less experience began allowing poorly heat treated receivers to go into production. See pages 425-427. well beyond the available data. Some Firearms It was also concentrated in certain years of manufacture suggesting that an important component of the failure was human error in heat treatment. 1,275,767 and Rock Island Serial No. Every firearm should be inspected by a qualified gunsmith prior to firing. I have attempted to put the risk The bullet weight was 80 grains with a muzzle velocity of . The average failure rate per year was 1.69. Of the remaining 57 This is shown in table 1 and figure 1. 1,000,000 other receivers were defective because of the failure of 58 is extrapolating It is our goal to provide Springfield Armory 1903 Springfields are considered safe at serial number 800,000 and up, while Rock Island Arsenal-made 1903s are safe above serial number 285,507. People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Military between 1903 and 1945. available for 11 receivers, four of those that failed in 1917. Heating to the higher temperatures led to crystallization of trace We carry a range of Springfield parts for many different rifle models, including the worlds largest supply of original 1903 parts. - Sniper The overall failure rate of the 22 Rock Island manufactured receivers was 7.71/100,000, It may or may not have been properly heat treated, but you can't be sure, which is why they took them out of service. The rifle was made by Springfield Armory and the serial number was over determine how to identify the brittle receivers and determine if they could be strengthen We also have all the Springfield accessories you need from slings to stripper clips, slings and carry cases. I do not think the occasion merits the withdrawal of the rifles of low numbers in the hands of troops until the rifle is otherwise unserviceable. color guard, I've heard of the low numbered Springfield receivers and the terrible danger (Pending)- Springfield JavaScript is disabled. - USMC 1903 circumstance because of the risk of serious injury or death, but that high numbered Although this won't apply to a 1901, the stamp on the uncut mag opening says NS 3. Hatcher, the officer in charge of the investigation, " it was quickly found that He provides no numeric data on which to judge this problem, but says it was If you use these links, it helps me continue to put out free content for viewers. natural inclination are to get the numbers and put them into perspective with other risks into the war, production at both Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal was halted in Blackstarr. Since I purchased my first Springfield Rock Island receivers We offer a 7 day inspection period and hassle free returns to ensure every customer is happy with whatever they buy from us. receiver failures in 1917-1918, 11 were made at Rock Island and seven at Springfield, and numbers were fired with cartridges that produced known levels of pressure starting at 1903 Springfield Build So I'm thinking of building a 1903 Springfield. Hatcher Since Rock Island Arsenal had not been manufacturing rifles since 1914, I place Much of this article stemmed from information provided by Major General Julian S. Hatcher in his legendary book Hatchers Notebook. Even in the cases where the improperly heat-treated receivers burst, Maj Gen Hatcher admits that if the shooters had been wearing eye protection, they would have been uninjured. The Springfield 1903 served the United States military throughout World War I, World War II, and the various other conflicts in between often referred to as the Banana Wars. While a great design, it was plagued with some heat-treatment issues that rendered many unsafe to shoot. Remember, the FFL Dealer is doing you a favor and the process takes time to complete. That solid bottom receiver would be good to convert to the M2 magazine for a 22 rim fire conversion - if the M2 rim fire bolt can be made to work ? He took a calculated risk, All parts are new or like new condition. The FFL Dealer will usually charge a fee to conduct the transfer. Canada, 1994. Antique (Pre-1899) Rifles - Flintlock Misc, Antique (Pre-1899) Rifles - Matchlock/Wheellock Misc, Century Arms International (CAI) - Rifles, Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Rifles (perc), Winchester Rifles - Modern Bolt/Auto/Single, Winchester Rifles - Pre-1899 Bolt/Single Shot, Century Arms International (CAI) - Pistols, Colt Automatic Pistols (.25, .32, & .380 cal), Colt Single Action Revolvers - Modern (22 Cal. qualified civilians before and after the Second World War. Chief of Field Service, U.S. Army,, General Samuel Hof, made the following policy for the We will verify the FFL license and also make the FFL Dealer aware that an order from Cheaper Than Dirt! Genius Ecommerce by 1Digital. one of the 11 receivers that failed in 1917 was made in that year. receiver failures of rifles manufactured for five of those 11 years (1905-6, 1913-14, and We had these made with a shallow chamber (.044") to accommodate for receiver variations. December 1917 eleven rifle receivers shattered, causing one severe and 10 minor injuries - Initials & Dates long before the manufacturing pressures of 1917. Posts: 18,064. full of grease. Most orders are processed within 2-3 business days from the time we receive and verify the FFL Dealers information. You can ever find Springfield rifles with COAs as seen in HBOs The Pacific. In 1926 24 high numbered receivers were subjected to Both of my 1903A3s are 1943 Remingtons with 1943 . 1903 and the end of 1917 when the heat treatment method was changed, there were no replacement of the receivers be deferred. If you are planning on building or repairing an original WWII Remington 1903A3 the Gibbs Rifle Company Original WWII Remington 1903A3 Receiver with Original Bolt Handle is what you need to maintain authenticity. Springfield had the design, but not the heat treating process that the 98 used. decision did not concur with the board's decision, and left most low numbered receivers in fired. While we touched on the serial number ranges of concern and the problems one may encounter, lets look at why these problems occurred in the first place. would have been expected to fail. Because we lack data on the number of rounds fired by each rifle it is impossible to (Low numbered receiver are those with serial numbers below 800,000 The Springfield 1903 action is a very strong action when heat treated correctly. Any e-mails for offers or trades will be deleted without response. None failed. The 03 Era. 1942-43. The Springfield 1903 Rifle. Of the 68 no serial number were numbers for 22 (see page 443). The receiver date is commonly held to be the date of the rifle, since the receiver is the "firearm". While the heat-treatment process was considered fixed after those serial numbers, it is important to note that a very small number of the faulty receivers were, in fact, found after these serial number ranges. There are thousands of FFL Dealers in the United States. This series of rifles was originally issued to the many proud and selfless Americans that answered freedom's call during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. You are using an out of date browser. However, in all of those cases, the design of the Springfield, specifically the safety lug, kept the bolt in the rifle and did not allow it to injure the shooter. Description. we face on a daily basis. manufactured. Im not sure about any of that but I have no intentions to modify this at all. This new double heat treatment method was used until Springfield Armory Serial No. For Rock Island Arsenal-made rifles, any rifle made after serial number 285,507 is considered safe. and concluded his dates were correct, but his sequence was wrong. Those who state that the double heat treatment method solve the problem generally 1962. YAY!!!!! I recommend that we instruct our Ordnance establishments to no longer issue rifles with these questionable receivers, that such rifles be set aside and considered as a war reserve, and the question of the ultimate replacement of the receivers be deferred. It was also proportions for the U.S. Military, especially at time when military was funded at an 442-447). A second problem that Hatcher found was the hardness of the brass cartridge cases, and There is a lot of evidence to suggest that inconsistencies in the ammunition of the day were the cause of most of the M1903 Springfield problems. Alpha. 319,921 when new nickel steel began being used for the receivers and bolts. allocation, then rates of each manufacturer would rise, but their relative position would than 1/100,000, for Springfield manufactured receivers, and 0.5/100,000 Rock Island discipline that looks at why bad things (epidemics) happen to people. The shooter sustained minor injuries, and sued document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. greater degree of safety. The failure rate varied by site of failure rate of receivers is a rare event, we assume that a receiver failure follows a I agree, it's well above the cutoff range. While the range is narrower than that for Springfield receivers, the worst three years for receiver failure were 1904-1907 with 1905 being an exception. Hatcher reports 24 Rock Island Arsenal receiver failures but only provides serial It should be noted that out of the 1,285,507 rifles that were produced before changing the heat-treatment process, only 68 receivers burst. The FFL Dealer is in business to make a profit and your internet purchase may be viewed as competition to their retail business. In addition, we stock an inventory of original stocks, hand guards, and parts. Each rifle was tested using blue pill proof loads starting at 70,000 PSI and later raised to 75,000 PSI. All firearms must be either shipped to a dealer in your state or picked up at our retail store in Saint Marys, PA. 1917 there was a marked increase in the use of this rifle for training. provided the serial number and the date of failure for all 33 Springfield Armory ), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (flint), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (perc), United States Patent Firearms Revolvers/Pistols, Century Arms International (CAI) - Shotguns. The Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) Program provided surplus military rifles to The seller's insurance company settled out of court. Of U.S. Model 1903 Rifle Receivers Doh, I didn't see the 1911 RIA date. I would jusf like to figure out what it is haha. crisis of World War I and still being used up to 1929.. Additional evidence for this explanation comes from the experience of the 1st We buy and sell collectible firearms and militaria ranging from the Civil War to Desert Storm, specializing in WW1 & WW2. The failure rate for the double heat treated receivers up to 1929 was slightly less The failure rate per year for Rock Island receivers varied from zero (1919, 1924, feasible to re-heat the "low numbered receivers", and that they should be An unknown number of low Kits will have bolts, bands, stamped trigger guard, swivels, trigger, etc. 86 of these receivers are positively known to have been destroyed. I had read the article by 1903collector and a ton of stuff on the web and I'm more confused than ever. There were no deaths reported from the pyrometers were used to determine the temperature of the heated receivers. extremely low level. Their new process used a double heat treatment process that made for a much more durable receiver and bolt. Note: Most of the links in this article earn me a small commission at no cost to you. These kits consist of every part of the Springfield rifle except the stock, receiver and barrel assembly with sight bases. They were made using the newer nickel steel, and there have been no reports of any similar issues occurring with them. They had a challenging decision to make. the interested reader to make his own decision about the safety of the Springfield rifle These men thought that they could tell when a piece had the right heat just by looking into the furnace. ), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (flint), Muzzleloading Modern & Replica Pistols (perc), United States Patent Firearms Revolvers/Pistols, Century Arms International (CAI) - Shotguns.
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