Done
Denver, PA, United States
Auction Details
Premier Firearms Sale Day 2
Morphy Auctions' April Firearms Sales To Feature A Remarkable Springfield 1903 Bolt Action Rifle In All Original Condition.
This all-original weapon retains its earliest .30-03 specifications and is an elite example of the rarest of all 20th century firearms manufactured in the United States.
Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collections, is pleased to offer this world-class rifle at their upcoming firearms sales event to be held on April 9th and 10th, 2016. All 1,400+ lots from this sale will be on display in Morphy's Denver auction gallery and available for preview on March 1, 2016.
This Springfield Model 1903 Rifle, estimated at $25,000 - 50,000, is truly in a class by itself. It was manufactured in 1905, the third year of production. Besides its outstanding condition and all matching parts, the gun's earliest proportions and detailing make it truly extraordinary. The vast majority of Model 1903 guns made in 1905 had a .30-06 cartridge. However, this example made in 1905 retains its early and all original .30-03 components. 1905 was an important milestone in the design evolution of the Model 1903. That year, Springfield updated its rod bayonet Model 1903 to accept a new knife bayonet. In addition, the government realized that the new Spitzer bullets used in Germany had a distinct advantage over the round nose bullets of the .30-03. As a result, Springfield re-engineered its Model 1903 to the new .30-06 cartridge. Given these changes, only a tiny handful of the old style Model 1903 rifles left the factory before being converted to .30-06 specifications, which included shortening the stock and barrel .20" and changing the rear sight. Incredibly, this 1905 Springfield 1903, on offer at Morphy's, is one of these early rarities.
This Model 1903 has a history that would be a perfect storyline for an antiques discovery television program. The rife was discovered in an attic in Boonton, NJ, where it had been hidd
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