This is an excellent example of a very scarce, early production, Springfield Armory .22 Gallery Practice (Hoffer-Thompson) rifle. Springfield Armory manufactured 15,525 Gallery Practice rifles between 1907 and 1918. Utilizing a distinctive cartridge holder for a .22 Short cartridge, the Gallery Practice rifles were externally identical to a standard M1903 rifle. Early production rifles, like this example, lacked the ".22" markings found on some components of late production Gallery Practice rifles. Most Gallery practice rifles were apparently destroyed by the Ordnance Department following WWI - original examples are very scarce. This early production rifle has a barrel marked: "SA" above the Ordnance "Shell and Flame" insignia and the date "9-08". The front sight base and mount have a matching index line. The rifle has the early production M1903 features that include: (1) early, pre-1910, Style S stock with straight profile edge and no reinforcing bolts, (2) first style handguard without rear sight clearance cut or spring clips, (3) smooth buttplate, (4) smooth trigger and (5) early style upper barrel band with no "H" marking. The rifle has the M1905, .30-03, folding leaf rear sight with 2400 yard graduation and platinum sight line installed on Gallery Practice Rifles until 1910 and special, copper-plated firing pin spring. The safety, magazine cut-off and lower barrel band have the early serif letters. The receiver has the standard, four line, block letter, Springfield markings with the serial number. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with a Springfield Armory final inspection mark consisting of the initials "J.F.C." in block letters in a rectangle. The stock wrist is stamped with a "H" sub-inspection mark behind the trigger guard but, correctly, lacks the encircled "P" proof mark found on .30 caliber service rifles. The receiver, cocking piece and bolt shroud have the dark, slightly mottled, oil-quenched, casehardened finish. The safety and magazine cut-off have the vivid water-quenched case-colors. The buttplate, bolt, rear sight base, barrel, trigger guard, floor plate and small components have the Springfield Armory military blue finish. The lower barrel band, band spring, upper barrel band, and rear sight base have the high polish blue finish used on early production Springfield M1903 rifles. The rear sight face and "ON" side of the cut-off are polished bright. The walnut stock and forearm are oil finished.

Excellent. This scarce rifle is all original with only very limited handling wear and retains 95% plus of the Springfield casehardened, military blue and bright blue finish. The markings on all components are crisp. The stock and forearm remain in excellent plus condition; wear is limited to a few scattered and very insignificant storage marks. The "JFC" final inspection mark is crisp. This is an exceptional example of a very scarce Springfield Model 1903 Gallery Practice rifle in the highly desirable early production configuration. This is one of the very best M1903 Gallery Practice rifles extant and is worthy of a place in the finest U.S. martial arms collection.