I have a good buddy who wants to take a military Springfield and mount a scope. No, this is not a pristine military rifle, but one that has already been sporterized.

It has the military bolt that needs to be cut off and a curved bolt welded in place. It needs drilling and tapping, the installation of a scope friendly safety, which he can supply.

No one locally wants to tackle the job. Who would be a good smith to do that work?

Guess I could have asked Redneck or Jkob if they wanted to mess with such a project. Don't want to insult top smiths with a retro project on a Springfield...

It may be just what some smith loves to do.

DF

Ed La Pour did the work you want on my Springfield 1922 M2, his prices are fair and he is a gentleman who delivers on his promises. I have always been pleased with his work.

I like his stuff; he does great work.

I'm not sure my bud would want to spend that much.

DF

Would it be right to guess we're talking about a high # '03, not an 03-A3 here?

Yes, serial number over a million and an all milled 03, not an 03A3.

DF

First question to ask is there an "R" stamped on the root of the bolt handle or "NS", or something else. That will determine whether you want to alter it. If it says "NS" that means it's a nickel steel bolt, and one of those in unaltered condition (like this bolt) is worth well over $100. Something to consider when an "R" bolt (wartime Remington manufacture) is worth 1/4 of that. Bottom line: if nickel steel, sell it to a collector/restorer and replace it with a Remington bolt and then chop it up if needs be. (Serial number over 1 million means it has a good chance to be a nickel steel receiver.)

Another factor in the equation is that the receiver sight will have to go if a low mounted scope is installed, or at least remove the sight slide and leave the base intact (which is kind of fugly unless you have an ultra-rare slide blank to install in its place). What the old timers did in that situation was to mount the scope in a quick detachable system and carry the sight slide in a trap in the butt plate or grip cap, so as to allow switching back and forth between scope and sights when in the field.

Frankly, sportsmen during the first half of the 20th century got by just fine with just a receiver sight. Were it my rifle I would put the money into checkering/refinishing the stock and losing the white line spacers and plastic furniture on the stock, and have a gun suitable for everything out to a helluva long distance.

Good points.

My antique eyes are beyond peep sights, so that may not be a viable option for a using rifle. My buddy is in the same position.

I'll check on "R" vs. "NS". Didn't know that. If I swap bolts, head space may not work out... If I was re-barreling, not a problem.
Who are the collector/restorers that I may deal with?

Agree with the Lyman going, not leaving the base. Wonder who would want a vintage Lyman receiver sight with brass insert aperture? I installed a small bead to replace the military front sight.

I'm hoping Ed LaPour will do his bolt job, drill and tap and install a Buehler type safety without breaking the bank. I like the looks of his bolt jobs, don't have a budget with this rifle for the full 3 position safety treatment. I'm going to call him after lunch (time zone issue).

DF

If I did a new bolt handle and safety, side swing type, i would have to notch the action and the stock to make it correct to clear a scope.

Yeah, a different bolt may, or may not, effect headspace. Springfield bolts were fairly consistent though, at least in my experience. As for a market for a NS bolt, plenty of options- eBay, milsurp collectors forums, etc. Heck, I might be interested. (But we don't know yet what it is.)

I can do the stock notch.

What Buehler type safety is now available? I see that Timney makes or made one.

If I didn't want to go to the expense of a swing type safety, what would be the best option.

DF

I don’t see any lettering on the bolt.

DF

I checked around and the smith least backed up is David Christman, Guild member (ACGG), here in Delhi, Louisiana. He's done work for me before.

I'll be sending him the gun for welded bolt, drill and tap for scope, install a Buehler type Dayton-Traister Mk II safety that I got on EBay for $12. I plan to remove the stepped down part of the military barrel myself, re-crowning with Brownell tool, which I did with my '06 HVA project and that gun shoots sub MOA. The Springfield barrel is in very good shape; I'll be anxious to see how it shoots with scope.

DF

As you probably know David has done a couple rifles for me. He is top notch
My 7X57 double square bridge Mexican

Half round and half octagon

Yeah, he spent a lot of time on the West coast, moved back to LA.

He's a good smith and a good guy.

That's a real fine piece, hadn't seen it before. You musta been hiding it...

DF

I was able to remove the military sight, file and sand the area under the sight and cold blue. Doesn't look that bad. I can always cut the barrel to remove that 1.5" section, true and crown, taking it from 24" to 22.5". I used 4-0 steel wool to brighten the Parkerized finish a bit.

The rifling looks good all the way with a clean crown. May work like this.

DF

David partnered with Jim Dubell in the old days in Washington state. When David retired he moved home to Louisiana. Unfortunately Jim passed away a couple years ago.

Not a Spring chicken...

But, a bunch of us here on the Fire are "seasoned" citizens...

DF

Well, I removed the front sight; it was really rough under the band. I taped the barrel, fore and aft, filed and sanded the rough area and cold blued the band. I polished the Parkerized military finish with 4-0 steel wool to brighten it a bit. I have tools to cut and recrown, but may go with this for now. Sorta grows on ya...

DF

From this:


To this: Notice the SA, ordinance bomb and date, 10 42

David has the Springfield, gonna do his magic, have it back in a couple of weeks.

You can't beat that turnaround.

DF

I got the Springfield back from David on Friday. Now that was fast. And, as usual, he did a great job.

I told him I wanted a bolt handle long enough to not squeeze too tight at the scope eyepiece and forward enough to not bump my trigger finger. He mounted the $12 safety I picked up on Ebay, drilled and tapped for Weaver bases.

I inletted the stock to clear the bolt handle. It's ready to shoot. Scope is Bushnell 4200 3-9x40.

DF

Looks great!

Should be OK for a working gun. It has an old Timney, set at a perfect 3#'s.

I'm hoping this '42 vintage Springfield barrel shoots as good as it looks thru the Hawkeye. It's about mint, obvioiusly wasn't shot much.. Gun is glassed and free floated.

DF