The Model of 1903 Springfield Rifle is an odd branch of firearms history, in that, it’s one of the only legally citable cases of plajorism and Intellectual property theft comitted by a Nation’s Federal Arsenal in the 20th century. The Springfield Model 1903 came out of the US Army’s need for a new infantry rifle to replace the M1892 Springfield Krag Rifles.
The A1 of 1929 model incorprated two significant changes to the rifle from the stock 1903, or 1903 Mk1 - the rifles were fitted with “C” Stocks (stocks with a more pistol-like grip behind the trigger), and the complete omission of support for the Pedersen device. Of worthy note too, the 1903A1s used by the USMC for sniper roles were built off commercial match-grade(1903NM) receivers and barrels. Though the Springfield M1903A1 was officially retired by the Army in 1939, the USMC continued using these specifically through WW2 as a service rifle and into Vietnam as a sniper’s rifle, in limited capacity.
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