This is probably one of the finest, all original N.R.A. marked U.S. Springfield Model 1903 bolt action rifles in existence. These early Springfield and Rock Island sales rifles were all hand selected specifically for their beautiful blue and casehardened finish with excellent wood components. They all featured hand selected, star-gauged barrels (although they were unmarked) that were used/sold to National Rifle Association members between 1912 and 1917. This example is a fairly late production rifle that is in just stunning, like new condition showing almost no cycling wear and no firing wear. Most of the these rifles were stamped on the front of the trigger guard, with the U.S. Ordnance "Shell and Flame" insignia over "N.R.A.", which designate that these rifles were authorized for civilian sale. This 1915 production Springfield Model 1903 has a beautiful oil-quenched casehardened receiver, bolt body and bolt sleeve, giving them a very dark black finish/color overall with a color casehardened finish on the magazine cut-off lever and safety lever. The barrel and rear sight base, upper and lower barrel bands, trigger guard, floor plate, sling swivels and buttplate are blued. The rear sight is blued with a bright face, which has a 2850 yard center notch and .575 inch dished windage knob. Both the windage and elevation knobs are knurled with grooved edges. The buttplate has the fine checkering introduced in 1910. The trigger is the later thick pattern with the grooved face. The top of the receiver is marked in five lines with "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/MODEL 1903./621023". The bolt has a straight handle and the safety lug is stamped with a "I8" steel lot code. The barrel is stamped with "SA/Ordnance Shell and Flame insignia/12-15". An "H" is stamped on the bottom of the bayonet lug. The right side of the barrel band is stamped with a small gothic "U". The markings on the magazine cut-off and safety lever have roman characters. The rifle is fitted with a beautiful black walnut, oil-finished "S" style wood stock with finger grooves on the sides with a single rear reinforcing bolt. It also has the original early style "high hump" handguard with rear sight clearance cut and two front spring clips. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with a final "J.S.A." inspectors mark inside a rectangle, with an encircled, script "P" proofmark and a "4" sub-inspection marks on the underside of the stock wrist behind the trigger guard. A single letter "D" sub-inspection mark is stamped in the cut-off lever recess. The front of the trigger guard finial is stamped with the Ordnance "Shell and Flame/N.R.A." sales mark. The rifle is complete with an original Model 1905 bayonet and Model 1910 USMC style light green canvas scabbard and Model 1907 leather sling. The bayonet is stamped "SA/1909" with the obverse marked "U.S./401576". The sling is marked "ROCK ISLAND/ARSENAL/1914/T.C.C.".

Exceptional like new condition with 99% of the original blue/casehardened finish overall. The markings are crisp and sharp. The walnut stock and handguard are both in excellent plus condition with a few handling marks on the top rear comb with crisp cartouches and stock proofs. The finger grooves, like wise are also crisp and sharp. Mechanically excellent. The bayonet is in very good condition with the metal having been arsenal reblued with the sides of the blade slightly repolished. The scabbard is in excellent condition with a wonderful light olive green color with tight stitching overall. The leather sling is also in very fine condition with nice sharp markings with some minor flaking of the face of the leather on the upper end of the sling. This is the finest condition U.S. Springfield Model 1903 bolt action rifle we have ever offered at auction!