My own Holy Grail came to me by sheer accident. During the better part of an early nineties year, my home and office were some four hundred miles apart. I usually flew round trip most weekends on the Government nickel. Exception as flight cancelled and decided to rent a car and drive. A pee break taking me into a just off I-5 fancy upscale Sporting goods store in Stockton, Ca. Most ski & winter sports, surprised to find fancy shotguns behind glass and an open-floor rack of "also ran" long guns half hidden in clothing. There; 'it'. An NRA Springfield Sporter. Product of Springfield Armory for NRA Members, the Model 1903 in sporting configuration largely consisting of a Lyman 48 Sight and a half stock with especially made barrel band and butt plate. The price that day in my history, $250 for this minty, original specimen. Snapped it up! Pix below. "Star Gauge" marking at 6 O'clock position of muzzle.
Verified with Springfield Research Service, it's legitimacy and much later, the original owner's name and "shipped to..." location in Midwest. Found him in Oakland Calif as death occurred in late forties and place of burial in Midwest. Photo of his gravestone in my files.
Mine, was in 'about' the first group made, all hand-fitted, build in June 1924 barrel date and shipped to that owner in 1925. These rifles and components offered by Springfield Armory into the mid thirties as both the Depression and domestic gun manufacturer complaints of "Government" competing with private firms; as valid. Something over 4K total production. Early editions as mine, "double heat treated" making for incredibly smooth actions. Later ones of Nickel Steel. Very few "original & unaltered" specimens surviving! Talk about luck... Moreover, "lucky pee!"
Best!
John
