U.S. Model 1903 Rod Bayonet rifle manufactured by Springfield Armory c. 1904. Springfield Armory manufactured approximately 74,500 M1903 rifles with the distinctive rod bayonet between May 1904 and January 1905. A limited number of these rifles were issued to the cadets at West Point and Army units in Alaska and the Philippines. A few additional M1903 Rod-Bayonet Rifles were provided to the states, cartridge manufacturers, and selected individuals. In January 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt examined the new rifle and subsequently directed the Chief of Ordnance to suspend production of the Model 1903 Rod Bayonet rifles and redesign them to accept a knife bayonet. Un-issued M1903 Rod Bayonet rifles were altered to accept the new M1905 Bayonet and were fitted with a folding leaf rear sight. Nearly all of the M1903 Rod Bayonet Rifles issued to West Point and the regular U.S. Army units were recalled to Springfield Armory and altered to 1905 configuration. Experts estimate that fewer than 100 of the 74,500 M1903 Rod Bayonet rifles survive in the original configuration. M1903 Rod Bayonet rifles in un-altered configuration are among the rarest and most desirable U.S. martial arms. This rifle has been restored to the Rod Bayonet configuration using a combination of original and reproduction components. The original components include: (1) grasping groove stock with crisp script "JSA/1904" final inspection mark with rectangular border and encircled script "P" proof mark, (2) rear sight base with tangent rear sight, (3) solid lower barrel band, (4) grooved upper barrel band, (5) stacking swivel with flat surface on one side, (6) rod bayonet catch and stud, (7) rod bayonet, (8) front sight stud with lightning holes, (9) short follower with square end, (10) first style unmarked Mauser type safety, (11) floor plate catch with convex edge and (12) smooth buttplate with small diameter trapdoor. The handguard is a replacement that lacks the riveted spring clip found on original handguards and the caliber .30-03 barrel is a modern replacement. The bolt body has been polished bright like original finish Rod Bayonet bolts and the extractor has a fire blue finish that is similar to the niter blue used on Rod Bayonet extractors. The barrel, front sight, rod bayonet, bayonet catch, upper and lower barrel bands rear sight base, trigger guard, floorplate, buttplate and sling swivels are blued. The receiver, cut-off switch, bolt sleeve, cocking piece, altered Mauser style safety and butt trap door are casehardened with a mottled blue-gray finish. The receiver is roll-stamped "U.S./ SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY. MODEL 1903." using the early small serif letters above the serial number "18780". The magazine cut-off markings have serif letters. The right side of the upper and lower barrel bands are stamped with a small serif "U" (UP). The rifle has the distinctive front sight cover issued with Rod Bayonet rifles and is fitted with a russet leather sling marked: "ROCK ISLAND/ARSENAL/1903". The original parts used to restore this rifle to Rod Bayonet configuration are extremely rare. Restoration of an altered Rod Bayonet M1903 rifle would be almost impossible today. This rifle is pictured in the book "U.S. Military Bolt Action Rifles" (2010) by Canfield on page 209.

Fine as professionally restored. The receiver retains patterns of the original casehardened finish. The bolt has been polished and the extractor reblued. The stock has been refinished and has a clear restamped "JSA/1904" final inspection mark and script "P" proofmark. The 1903 dated sling is in excellent condition. This is a great looking, professionally restored example of an extremely rare and historically significant M1903 Rod Bayonet rifle. Due to the fact that very few Rod Bayonet rifles escaped alteration to the 1905 configuration even the most advanced collections of U.S. martial arms frequently lack an example of a Rod Bayonet M1903. This is a tremendous opportunity for the advanced collector to obtain a rare Rod Bayonet M1903 that would enhance any collection of U.S. martial arms.