This is an excellent, original Springfield Armory Model 1903 "Sporting rifle" manufactured circa 1930. One of only 4,495 sporting rifles manufactured between 1923-1932. This rifle is listed by serial number on page 46 of the D.C.M. Rifles Sales book from Springfield Research Service (copy of the page included). These were hand built by Springfield using new 1903 National Match receivers fitted with new 1903 star gauged National Match barrels. The receiver rails, bolt assemblies and triggers were hand polished for super smooth operation like a 1903 National Match rifle. The bolts were hand lapped, and the headspace was hand cut using a National Match, nickel steel (NS) marked bolt. The bolt is correctly hand etched under the extractor with the matching serial number. Standard receiver markings with the barrel roll marked "SA/Ordnance Shell and Flame/9-30" and marked with the original star-gauge mark on the muzzle. Actions and barrels were hand fitted to hand selected, straight grain American walnut, pistol grip sporter stocks to ensure correct bedding in the barrel channel and recoil lug area. The stocks use a single barrel band and were fitted with a special, heavier "NRA sporter" style cupped steel buttplate. There is an original circled "P" proof inside the curve of the pistol grip. Barrels fitted with a standard M1903 front sight base and blade, with a receiver mounted Lyman 48C target type micrometer rear sight. The rear sight base was machined for the clip slot cutout like the 1903 NM rifles. These rifles have a hand polished, rust blue metal finish with the NM bolt correctly "in the white". The walnut stocks were all given a hand rubbed, linseed oil finish. Rifle comes with an original pre-war "BOYT" marked commercial leather sling and original stamped sheet metal front sight cover. These rifles were as accurate, if not more so, as the M1903NM service rifles; in fact, the prestigious company of Griffin & Howe used many as the basis of their own super high grade hunting and sporting rifles. These rifles were so desirable that gun companies complained to Springfield Armory, that it hurt their commercial business. This eventually resulted in Springfield Armory stopping all production of these beautiful NRA Sporting rifles in 1932.