Image Lot Price Description




1056
$0.00

*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 BOLT ACTION MILITARY RIFLE WITH 8-GROOVE BORE AND WINCHESTER A5 SCOPE. SN 716929. Cal. 30-06. Usual configuration with 24″ bbl marked “SA / 6-17” with a flaming bomb in the center. It has standard front sight, rear sight and split front band/bayonet lug with stacking swivel and a grooved rear band with sling loop and a corresponding sling loop in the buttstock. It has high, grooved, 1-pc handguard with two spring clips. Bbl and front receiver ring are mounted with scope blocks containing a Winchester A5 scope with sgl post reticle. Receiver has usual markings with milled trigger guard & floorplate and checkered buttplate with trap containing a nickeled brass oiler/cleaning kit. Rifle is mounted in extraordinarily beautiful, uncheckered, tiger-striped American walnut with straight grip. The bore has very rare experimental rapid twist 8-groove rifling which apparently did not progress beyond the experimental stage. This exact rifle is identified by SN and pictured on p. 504 of the book The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy,and the muzzle of the bbl is pictured on p. 557 of the same book. This rifle is ultimately unique with its 8-groove rifled bore and arsenal mount of the Winchester scope. Undoubtedly Springfield was experimenting with accuracy testing possibly for a new sniper rifle. This gun has 8 lands/grooves, not 7 as stated in Brophy’s book on pages 504 & 557, but the image clearly shows 8 grooves. PROVENANCE: Bob Rosenthal Collection. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Bbl & bands retain about all of their orig arsenal finish with bright bbl blue. Receiver & bolt retain about 90% strong orig arsenal finish with trigger guard & floorplate retaining most of their bright orig arsenal blue. Wood is sound with a few chips in finish and light handling & storage marks and retains most of its bright varnish finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Scope retains most of its orig factory blue with only some minor rust on top adjustment knob. Optics are fine. 4-39210 (16,000-20,000)


Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010
Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.