M1903 Springfield
Despite victory in the Spanish-American War of 1898, it was clear that the Krag rifles in American service were inferior to the Mausers used by their enemies. This prompt would lead to the development of a new universal short rifle that would serve in two world wars and beyond.
The History
Following the cataclysm of the American Civil War, the newly re-United States was left with a vast arsenal of muzzle loading percussion lock rifles in an era where the metalic cartridge was entering the scene. A stopgap solution was found in the “Trapdoor” rifles, a series of single shot breechloaders based on the older muskets firing black powder cartridges. This step was also taken by various other powers, but only the US retained them longer than was needed to develop a purpose-built design. It was only in 1886, when the French Lebel rifle shocked the world with its new smokeless powder, that the US finally began to seek a new rifle for its troops.
This would lead to the adoption of the M1892 Springfield, commonly known as the American Krag-Jorgenson rifle. A bolt action repeater chambered in a new .30-40 Government smokeless cartridge, this weapon would go through various model iterations in both rifle and carbine forms until 1898, when the final version was adopted just in time for the outbreak of war with Spain. Despite the rapid victory of the Americans, it was quite apparent that the German designed Mauser M1893 rifles used by the Spaniards was superior to the Krag, and a replacement was sought.
The Buffington rear sight of the M1903 in its 440 yard battle position, folded down with the v-notch exposed
The resulting weapon was a universal short rifle, with a heavily modified Mauser action that in the end resembled more the German 1898 pattern than the Spanish 1893 that inspired it. Chambered for a brand new .30-03 round-nosed rimless cartridge, the weapon would almost immediatly face design changes, with no less a figure than President Theodore Roosevelt himself ordering the deletion of the ramrod bayonet, and further refinements to the sights and mechanism culminating with the adoption of a new spitzer cartridge in 1906, designated the .30-06.
The close association with the Mauser would eventually come to haunt the new M1903 in the form of copyright laws. After a lawsuit, the German company was awarded royalties on all rifles and charger clips produced. Thus it would come to pass in 1917 that the United States would go go to war with Germany, armed with rifles they had been forced to pay their enemy for.
The Buffington rear sight in its elevated position, showing its three notches and aperture sight. Note also the windage adjustment, seen here greatly extended for demonstration
Entering into the trenches of the Great War, the M1903 acquitted itself well, proving very accurate in the hands of well trained American marksmen, while its relatively light and short nature made it better suited for the confines of trench warfare than contemporary long rifles. Despite being outnumbered by the M1917 Enfield rifle (a modification of the British P14 rifle that had been in production in the US already) in service, the M1903 would endure as the standard issue rifle through the conflict, even being used as a platform for the top secret Pederson Device in the war’s final stages.
The front sight, shoring the thin blade with its textured base. Note also the Springfield Armory marking, US Ordinance marking and production date, in this cas July of 1918
In the aftermath of the Great War the M1903 retained its place as the primary US service rifle until it was replaced with the M1 Garand in 1936, although it would not be until approximately 1943, well into the Second World War, that the venerable Springfield would be fully replaced and relegated to a mostly support role. Even then it remained in production in the form of the modernized M1903A1, simplified M1903A3 and the M1903A4 sniper’s rifle, with the latter seeing service as late as the Vietnam War and beyond.
The action of the M1903. Note the early pattern straight bolt handle and the very thin receiver bridge, which accommodates the large safety lug visible to the rear of the extractor
The Design
The M1903 is, for all intents and purposes, a variant of the Mauser 1898. It is a cock on open rotating bolt action rifle, feeding from an internal staggered box magazine holding five cartridges. the original .30-06, the legacy of the M1903 could be measured in caliber alone, although the reputation of the rifle proceeds it in the history of the United States as well. Similar to the Mauser, it feeds by simple charger clips through the top of the action, with elements of those designed for the M1903 persisting even to this day with those used for the modern M16 rifle magazines.
The controls of the rifle, with its Mauser flag safety seen here in the “Ready” position. The magazine cutoff is also visible on the side, with the magazine disengaged here. Flipping the catch to the middle position allows removal of the bolt
The M1903 was built from the start as a universal short rifle, echoing the rifle/carbine combo that had been the basis of most armies for decades. As a result the M1903 could be issued to infantry, specialists and cavalry without the need for separate variants. This would further lead to the long term viability of the weapon.
The sights of the M1903 are the famous Buffington Sight, a complicated affair with finely adjustable settings for windage and elevation as well as various notches and an aperture for the shooter to use depending on the situation they found themselves in. This combined with the high standards of training for American riflemen to create a very dangerous precision package, albeit one with drawbacks in close quarters and low light.
The markings on the receiver ring. Note the characteristic mottled finish of wartime produced (1917-1918) rifles that escaped arsenal refurbishment
This Example
The rifle seen here is the product of a fairly lengthy search for an M1903 that had escaped the post-World War I refurbishment that occurred with most rifles in the interwar years. As a result, it was produced by Springfield Armory in July of 1918, with the serial number of the receiver matching up to the production date of the barrel. The rifle retains its early features, such as its straight bolt handle (being perpendicular to the action, as opposed to the later style, which was swept back slightly toward the trigger) and finger groove stock. The distinctive mottled black finish, a type of Parkerizing unique to WWI production rifles, is also present. In all, this is an excellent example of a WWI production rifle.
The bolt removed from the rifle, the Mauser influence clearly visible
Opinions
The M1903 is, perhaps, the best variant of the Mauser action. With a smooth action and good ergonomics, there is a reason that the M1903 is such an iconic weapon. Although later versions would combine some operational improvements, such as aperture sights, the original model is hard to beat in terms of quality, and is a beautiful piece of engineering. With the iconic place the M1903 holds, there is no collection complete without one.
A soldier of the US Army’s 32nd Infantry Division peeks over the parapet of a trench in Alsace, France, his M1903 by his side
Observed Values and Frequency
Updated: February, 2024
AVERAGE VALUE (USD): $900 - $1,500
FREQUENCY: Rare
COLLECTOR’S NOTES: Above values reflect M1903 rifles remaining in correct, WWI pattern with no later updates.
Variations can occur in the checkering of the buttplate and trigger.
Heat-treating issues were corrected at Springfield SN800,000 and Rock Island SN285,507, thus serving as the cut-off for the so-called “Low Number” rifles.