Page 276 - Demo

INCLUDES AN ORIGINAL "HOFFER- THOMPSON" CARTRIDGE HOLDER
LOT 395
Exceptional, Early Production,
Springfield Model 1903 “Hoffer-Thompson” Gallery Practice Rifle - Serial no. 351338, 22 S cal., 24 inch bbl., blue finish, walnut stock.
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.
CONDITION: 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.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 396
Outstanding Pre-World War I
Springfield Model 1903 Bolt Action Rifle - Serial no. 620931, 30-06 cal., 24 inch bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in early 1916, this rifle is one of the selected Model 1903 rifles sold to National Rifle Association members by the Director of
Civilian Marksmanship (DCM). The front of the trigger guard finial is stamped with a small Ordnance Department ‘Shell and Flame’ insignia over the letters “N.R.A.” to
designate authorized sales by the DCM. The ‘NRA Sales’ Model 1903 rifles were star-gauged (although no special star-gauge marks were applied to M1903 rifles until about 1922) and selected
for accuracy and exceptional fit and finish. The sale of M1903 rifles to civilians was discontinued with the entry of the U.S. into WWI in 1917 and was not resumed until the 1920s. With the exception
of the NRA sales mark on the trigger guard, this rifle is identical to pre-war Springfield M1903 service rifles. The receiver, cocking piece and bolt sleeve have the dark, oil-quenched, casehardened, finish. the
safety and magazine cut-off are casehardened with a colorful water-quenched finish. The bolt, rear sight base, barrel, upper barrel band, front sight base, buttplate and sling swivels have a military blue finish.
The extractor, trigger guard, floorplate, lower barrel band, band spring and front sight base are high polish blue. The “ON” side of the magazine cut-off and rear face of the folding leaf sight are polished bright. The walnut
stock and handguard are oil finished. The rifle has a fine checkered buttplate, “Style S” stock with grasping grooves and single reinforcing bolt, ‘high hump’ hand guard with sight relief cut and spring clips, grooved trigger, rear sight with 2850 yard ‘volley notch’ small diameter, dished, elevation knob and large, dished windage knob. The receiver has the standard five-line, block-letter, Springfield markings and serial number. The barrel is stamped: “S.A.” above the Ordnance Shell and Flame insignia and dated “1-16”. The bottom of the bayonet lug is stamped with a block “H”, the right side of the lower barrel band is stamped with a block “U” facing the muzzle, the bolt safety lug is stamped with the steel lot code “G 6”, and the safety and magazine cut-off markings have block letters. The left side of the stock behind the magazine cut-off is stamped with the inspector’s initials “J.S.A.” in block letters enclosed in a rectangle. An encircled, script, “P” proof mark is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard. Pre-war, Springfield M1903 rifles had commercial quality fit and finish. A limited number of these magnificent rifles were released to the qualified shooters between 1912 and 1917.
CONDITION: Excellent plus. This rifle is all original and retains 98% plus of the Springfield Armory casehardened,
military blue and high polish blue finish. The floorplate has traces of finish wear from contact with a sling and
the front sight base has a few scratches from removal of the front sight cover. The blue finish on the bolt and
extractor show minimal cycling wear. The stock and handguard are in nearly new condition with crisp edges on
the grasping grooves and perfect poof and inspection marks. This is a nearly new example of a scarce pre-WWI
Springfield M1903 rifle. It would be nearly impossible to find a better example of a classic Springfield M1903 rifle.
274 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,000