This is an example of a U.S. Springfield Model 1903 rifle still in rod bayonet configuration that was manufactured circa 1904. The rifle has the distinctive rod bayonet components which include: (1) retractable rod bayonet, (2) front sight base with two lightning holes, (3) longer, 24.206, inch unmarked barrel chambered for the .30-03 cartridge, (4) rod bayonet stud on forearm tip, (5) upper barrel band, (6) second style stacking swivel with flat face, (7) solid lower barrel band, (8) one-piece handguard with interior spring secured by two rivets, (9) first type rear sight base with spline at the upper front of the base, (10) Krag style tangent rear sight, (11) bolt with arsenal polished body, (12) "S" stock with no reinforcing bolts inletted for rod bayonet stud and (13) smooth buttplate with small butt trap and "58" assembly number stamped inside the butt trap door. The rifle has the second style bolt sleeve and safety lock adopted in late 1904. The rifle has a replacement follower rather than the short square-ended follower utilized on Model 1903 rod bayonet rifles and is fitted with a replacement, a post-1905, trigger guard. The top of the receiver is roll-stamped: "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/MODEL 1903/36938" using the small, serif letters utilized until serial number 60,463. The markings on the safety lock and cut-off switch also have serif letters. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with an illegible Ordnance final inspection stamp that consists of three script initials enclosed in rectangle. An encircled, script, "P" proofmark is stamped behind the trigger guard. Springfield Armory manufactured approximately 74,500 Model 1903 rod bayonet rifles from November 1903 to January 1905. Following President Theodore Roosevelt's criticism of the rod bayonet design in January 1905, production of Model 1903 rifles ceased pending redesign of the bayonet. Nearly all of the completed Rod Bayonet M1903 rifles were altered to accept the Model 1905 bayonet and subsequently had the barrel, stock and handguard shortened and the sights altered to for newly adopted .30-06 cartridge. Experts estimate fewer than 100 original configuration Rod Bayonet Model 1903 rifles exist in museums and private collections today.

Fair. The rifle appears to be a period refinished Model 1903 Rod Bayonet rifle with the exception of the replacement trigger guard and magazine follower. The barrel and rear sight base show no sign of ever having been removed from the rifle. All of the rifle components show similar wear. The rifle retains small amounts of the original blue and casehardened finish in protected areas. Most components have a gray patina. The receiver, rear sight base, rear sight, magazine cut-off, bolt handle, bolt sleeve, cocking piece and safety are lightly pitted. The barrel, barrel bands, trigger guard and buttplate show traces of blue finish in protected areas. The bolt has scratches and pitting and has been crudely re-polished. None of the original niter blue finish is present on the extractor. The stock and handguard remain in good condition with moderate handling wear. The Ordnance final inspection mark stamped on the left side of the stock is faint. The proof mark on the underside of the stock is clear. U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Rod Bayonet rifles are extremely rare. Most of the examples that are offered for sale are restoration. Aside from the trigger guard and follower which were probably replaced as a unit this rifle has most of the correct import marks. This Model 1903 Rod Bayonet rifle would be a solid representative addition to any collection of U.S. service rifles.