M1903 Springfield - Variants

Variants

There were four main variants given official nomenclature, though there are a number of important sub-variants:

• M1903 (1903)— developed for the .30-03 (also known as the .30-45) cartridge. Used original Type S stock.
  • M1903 Bullpup (1903)— experimental bullpup conversion for the USMC.
  • M1903 (1905)— changed from a rod type bayonet to the knife type Model 1905 bayonet and to the improved Model 1905 sight.
  • M1903 (1906)— modified again to specifically fire the new M1906 .30-06 cartridge ("Ball Cartridge, caliber 30, Model of 1906").
  • M1903 NRA (1915–1917)— sold to National Rifle Association members and stamped NRA on the forward tang of the trigger guard.
  • M1903 Air Service (1918)— issued to aircrew with permanent 25 round magazine and modified Type S stock forend.
  • M1903 Mark I (1918–1920)— modified for specific use with the Pedersen device.
  • M1903 Bushmaster carbine (1940s)— the barrel and stock were cut down 18 inches (460 mm) for easier use in Panama; 4,725 such rifles were made. It was a training rifle and saw no action. After World War II most were dumped into the ocean and surviving pieces are rare.
  • M1903 with 'scant' stock (1942)— in late 1941, before the 1903A3 was standardized, Army Ordnance wanted to standardize on a pistol-grip stock for all M1903 rifles. There were thousands of stock blanks that had been sized for the old straight stock. They weren't deep enough for the full pistol grip of the Type C stock, so they were modified to allow a "scant" grip that was the largest grip they could form. These "scant" stocks would only fit on a 1903, and would not fit an 03A3. Springfield only rebuilt existing M1903 rifles using this stock in 1942 and marked the cut-off seat with a small "s."
• M1903A1 (1930–1939)— changed from a straight stock to a pistol grip type stock (Type C stock). Nearly all M1903A1s were sold as National Match rifles until World War II.
• M1903A2 (1930s–1940s)— basically a stripped A1 or A3 used as a subcaliber rifle with artillery pieces.
• M1903A3 (1942)— modified for easier production with stamped metal parts and somewhat different grip and stock (late model Type S stock; no finger grooves).
• M1903A4 (1942)— an M1903A3 modified to be a sniper rifle using an M73 or M73B1 2.75X Weaver telescopic sight and different stock.

There are two main other types, various training types, and competition versions such as the National Match types. Aside from these there are some other civilian versions, experimental versions, and other miscellaneous types. Due to the duration of its service, there is also a range of smaller differences among ones from different periods and manufacturers.

In regard to its military use, it is important to note that during World War I it was actually outnumbered by the M1917 Enfield for much of the war. Also, during World War II many remained in use early on, especially in the Pacific (generally replaced as M1s became available), in addition to service (along with other weapons) as a sniper rifle and to launch rifle grenades.