Early 1903 Springfield Project

[butlersrangers]

Does your action have the 'Bolt Hold-Open' spring/pin hidden under the left bolt-race.

This part & screw are often overlooked or have been removed from the action.
The pin bears on a 'dimple' on the bottom of the left locking-lug, to hold the 1903 bolt open for single-loading.

If your action has this part, it is a likely site for corrosion after refinishing.

[P0H0]

I took out the ejector — I didn’t see a bolt hold open. Isn’t that the followers job? I’ll look next card — rifle in the humidity box.

Learn something new everyday- Thanks BR! I just looked up the part and see it was present on some early 1903s as you mentioned. So it predates the follower holding open, correct? I see a few for sale online…. Was this one of the changes made in 1905/1906?

The color is coming along. Again, this is a conservation, so all I have done is use 000 steel wool and replace the buttplate with another early. It was in a scant stock, I have corrected and got a straight stock for it.

Pass 5:

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[P0H0]

Pass 6:

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[P0H0]

BR - Mine does not appear to be setup for a bolt hold open. I have not located a hole for it…

[butlersrangers]

This hold-open device served the same function as the hold-open pin on the Krag extractor.

When the 1903 magazine cut-off lever is in the 'down-position', it stops the rearward motion of the bolt, short of clearing the follower.
This allows the contents of the magazine to be held in reserve, and the rifle to conveniently function as a single-shot.

This was probably overkill. Pressure from the follower would probably have kept the bolt from sliding forward, if the muzzle was pointed downward.

I would be surprised if your rifle doesn't have machining for this redundant feature.

[P0H0]

Final Pass 7 - Completed

High Resolution Photos Link

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[P0H0]

Next I am going to soak the parts in kerosene for 24 hours.

Here’s the link again if you want to see the high resolution photos of the final pass:


High Resolution Photos Link

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[P0H0]

This hold-open device served the same function as the hold-open pin on the Krag extractor.

When the 1903 magazine cut-off lever is in the 'up-position', it stops the rearward motion of the bolt, short of clearing the follower.
This allows the contents of the magazine to be held in reserve, and the rifle to conveniently function as a single-shot.

This was probably overkill. Pressure from the follower would probably have kept the bolt from sliding forward, if the muzzle was pointed downward.

I would be surprised if your rifle doesn't have machining for this redundant feature.

I’ll see if I can find a diagram so I know what I’m looking at — it didn’t appear to have anything beyond the cutoff.

[butlersrangers]

'POHO', your 1903 parts are looking nice!

BTW - I was incorrect earlier about the 1903 Springfield magazine cut-off positions.

When the 1903 Springfield cut-off lever is in the 'down' (OFF) position, it prevents the bolt from being pulled past the rear of the magazine follower.
The rifle functions as a single-shot.

When the lever is in the 'up' (ON) position, the bolt can be drawn further to the rear and feed cartridges from the magazine.

The bolt 'hold back' pin or catch served two purposes:

1. If the cut-off lever was 'up', it prevented the bolt from easily sliding forward and blocking the magazine's stripper-clip guides.

2. If the lever was 'down' (OFF Position), it helped keep the bolt from sliding forward during single loading.

I believe pre-war and WW1 bolts had two shallow dimples, on the bottom of the left locking-lug, to accept the tip of the pin of the 'bolt catch'.
These dimples accommodated two slightly different bolt positions.

I do not know the timeline for this 'bolt catch. feature. I once had a Rock Island Model 1903, made in 1913, that had the bolt catch.

Here is a photo of a 'beat up' early 1903 bolt with the two dimples.

[butlersrangers]

Jouster2 forum has some great content on 1903 Springfield Rifles.

'vishooters' has amazing 1903 information and posted this great photo showing the 1903 bolt 'hold back' or 'Bolt Stop' installed.