Model 1903 Rod Bayonet rifle, serial number 91, manufactured by the Springfield Armory circa 1903 and pictured on page 470 and 471 of "The Springfield 1903 Rifles" by William S. Brophy. This rifle remains in the original Rod Bayonet configuration and features the distinctive retractable, 23 1/2 inch rod bayonet, front sight base with lightning hole, full length handguard with spring clip secured by two flush mounted rivets. Krag style tangent rear sight with two band rear sight base, first pattern Mauser style safety lock and full length grasping grooved stock with inlet for the rod bayonet, bayonet stud and catch. The rifle retains the other unique components found only on the original Rod Bayonet rifles. These components include: upper barrel band, stacking swivel with special machined flat, solid lower barrel band, short magazine follower with square front end, polished bolt with niter blue extractor and smooth buttplate with small Krag style butt trap door stamped on the inside with the assembly number "83".The rifle barrel, trigger guard and large components have the high polish blue finish found on the earliest production Model 1903 rifles. The receiver and buttplate have a casehardened finish and the bolt is polished bright. The black walnut stock and forearm are oil finished. The top of the receiver ring is roll stamped "U.S./SPRINGFIELD ARMORY./MODEL 1903" in small Roman (serifed) letters over the serial number "91". The markings on the magazine cut-off and safety lock also utilize Roman letters. The barrel is correctly not marked. The left side of the stock is stamped with a ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "JSA" above the date "1903" surrounded by a rectangle with square corners. An encircled script "P" proof mark is stamped on the underside of the stock wrist behind the trigger guard finial The rifle was period modified with an experimental front sight illumination device. The modifications consist of a battery compartment in the buttstock and additional trap in the buttplate, a contact switch on the right side of the stock ahead of the grasping grooves and a hole for a bulb in the front sight base. A single wire runs from the battery compartment thru a hole in the butt along the inside of the stock inlet to the switch and the front sight. The rear sight is not illuminated and unmodified. The underside of the stock is inletted with what appears to be a auxiliary rear sight mount; two slotted mount screws are fitted to the stock comb and right side of the butt. Experts estimate that fewer than 100 Model 1903 Rod Bayonet rifles survive in the original configuration in museums and private collections. Several of these original Rod Bayonet rifles were period modified with special sights. In 1904 the Ordnance Department released a few Rod Bayonet rifles to individuals engaged in development of optical or illuminated sights. When the Ordnance Department recalled nearly all of the approximately completed Rod Bayonet rifles to accept the Model 1905 Bayonet. Rifles like this example were among the very few to escape modification.

Fine. The rifle retains 65% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish with light to moderate handling wear. The bolt retains most of the original bright finish and about 80% of fiery niter blue finish is present on the extractor. The stock and handguard remain very fine. The grasping grooves have sharp edges and the final inspection mark and firing proof are very crisp. Aside from the modifications for the illuminated front sight, the rifle remains in the original, unaltered Rod Bayonet configuration. The rear sight base spline is flush with sight base and nearly invisible. All of the extremely hard to find Rod Bayonet components such as the Mauser style safety, short follower, one piece lower barrel band and special stacking swivel are present and appear to be original to the rifle. This is a great, original, example of one rarest and most desirable U.S. martial arms. The experimental illuminated sight device make this much more rare, additionally the low serial number adds to the significance of this magnificent Rod Bayonet Model 1903 rifle. All of the aforementioned make this a one-of-a kind piece that would stand out in the finest collection of U.S. martial arms.