The model 1903 Springfield Rifle was manufactured in 1903 in rod bayonet configuration. Approximately 74,500 M1903 rifles were manufactured by Springfield Armory between November 1903 and January 1905 in the distinctive rod bayonet configuration chambered for the .30-03 cartridge. Limited numbers of the M1903 Rod Bayonet rifles were issued to U.S. Army units in Alaska, the Philippines, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and to selected individuals. Following criticism of the integral rod bayonet by President Theodore Roosevelt in January 1905, the Ordnance Department halted M1903 production and redesigned the rifle to accept a conventional knife bayonet. Nearly all of the un-issued M1903 Rod Bayonet rifles were subsequently altered to the 1905 configuration; the majority of the Rod Bayonet rifles that had been issued were recalled and modified. Experts estimate that fewer than 100 original M1903 Rod Bayonet rifles exist in museums and private collections. The Rod Bayonet M1903 rifle is one of the rarest and most desirable U.S. martial arms. This very early production M1903 rifle remains in the original Rod Bayonet configuration and retains most of the distinctive Rod Bayonet components. The 24.206-inch barrel is chambered for the .30-03 cartridge and has the distinctive base for the Krag style rear sight. The spline at the top of the base is milled flush with the base and is nearly invisible which indicates that the sight base has never been removed from the barrel. The spline on the front sight base is in the same configuration indicating that the front sight is also original to the barrel. The rifle has the distinctive upper barrel band with early stacking swivel and solid lower barrel band. The rifle has the early smooth trigger; the trigger assembly has not been modified and allows the rifle to fire when the trigger is pushed forward. The un-checkered buttplate has the early, small diameter trapdoor with assembly number stamped on the inside. The bolt has the second style safety adopted for Rod Bayonet M1903s in 1904. The un-modified stock is stamped on the left side of the wrist with the Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "JSA" above the date "1903" enclosed in a rectangle. An encircled, script "P" proof mark is stamped on the underside of the stock wrist behind the trigger guard. The barrel, front sight and rod bayonet assembly, upper and lower barrel bands, sling swivels, rear sight base, trigger guard, floor plate and buttplate have the Springfield Armory charcoal blue finish. The receiver, bolt sleeve and cocking piece, magazine cut-off and butt trapdoor have a muted casehardened finish. The "ON" face of the cut-off is polished bright. The bolt has an "S" steel lot code stamped on the bottom of the safety lug. The bolt and extractor have the dull blue finish applied on new production components after 1905. The original M1903 Rod Bayonet bolts had a polished body with blued handle and fire blue extractor. The rifle is fitted with a later production follower with rounded front end rather than the square front follower original to Rod Bayonet rifles. The handguard is original but is missing the spring clamp originally fitted to the inside and has three carefully executed wire repairs that appear to be contemporary to the rifle.

Very good. The rifle retains most of the original components with the exception of the bolt, extractor, follower and handguard spring clip. Springfield did not assemble rifles in serial number order and the second style safety could be found on any Rod Bayonet M1903. The rifle retains 40% of the original blue and color casehardened finish and shows only light handling wear. The stock and handguard have been carefully refinished and are in very good condition; the final inspection mark and proof mark are fully legible, and the edges of the grasping grooves are sharp. With the exception of the nearly unnoticeable repairs to the hairline cracks on the handguard the stock shows minimal wear. Original M1903 Rod Bayonet rifles are extremely rare in any condition. This is a great looking example of one of the rarest of all U.S. martial arms that remains in substantially original condition. This rare rifle would be a tremendous addition to any advanced collection of U.S. military firearms.