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LOT 355
Historic Documented U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Mark I Bolt Action Rifle Fitted for Presentation to the Mayor of Springfield by the Springfield Armory with Supporting Documentation and Display Stand with Inscribed Plaque - Serial no. 1132505, 30-06 cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Originally developed towards the end of World War I, the 1903 Mark I Rifle was intended to be the counterpart to the Pedersen Device. In the field, a Mark I/ Pedersen equipped soldier would be able to switch between a full powered bolt action rifle and a semi-automatic carbine as needed. While this plan did not pan out, the Mark I was still a good, serviceable rifle and saw active use up to and during World War II. This example was manufactured in 1919 and has a set of blade and ladder sights, a Springfield “8-44” barrel, “R” bolt, and a black walnut buttstock with a smooth buttplate. The entire metal surface is finished in a deep, near black high polish blue finish, and the magazine cutoff and sear have been switched to standard 1903 pattern components. Included with the rifle is a hardwood display stand with a plaque inscribed to Charles V. Ryan, Mayor of Springfield,
from the employees at Springfield on December 2, 1966. Included documents detail the history of the presentation; the rifle was procured from the Rock Island Depot by a Lieutenant Colonel Howard Ammerman Jr. of the Ordnance Corps, refurbished, fitted with a scarce black walnut stock from Springfield’s select reserve of pre-Civil War musket blanks, and then transferred from LTC Ammerman to Mayor Ryan, with appropriate RIA bill of sale and proof of transfer. Charles Ryan served as Springfield’s mayor from 1962-1967 and 2004- 2008 and, during his 60s tenure, was a noted supporter of the Springfield Armory. While not explicitly recorded in the included documentation, the item was most likely a token of esteem from the Armory for the Mayor’s support of the institution; reportedly similar gifts were made to other political supporters of the armory during this period. In 1968, shortly after the presentation of this rifle, the Department of Defense halted activity at Springfield.
CONDITION: Very fine as arsenal presentation finished, with 95% of the high polish blue finish. Areas of brown spotting are present on the muzzle, bolt and receiver, with some mild dings and pits beneath the surface and mild handling marks. The upper handguard is a replacement, and the mid-band is parkerized; otherwise, the attractive stock is fine, with some ding and light spots. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Collection of Charles V. Ryan, Mayor of Springfield; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
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