Springfield Armory M1903 with Ogden Arsenal Elmer Keith Cartouches

Description

This is a beautiful Springfield Armory M1903 .30-06 with very cool Ogden Arsenal Elmer Keith cartouches O.G.E.K. in a box on both sides of the stock, which shows that it was inspected by Elmer Keith in Ogden, Utah.  This 1903 is in a “C” pistol grip stock.  The rifling is beautiful.  This has NOT been modified for the Pedersen device.  It has a Springfield Armory barrel with the flaming bomb stamp and is marked “S A 9-18”.  Importantly, this is a “high number” serial number, in the 980,000 range.  M1903 rifles made before February 1918 (“low number” serial numbers from 800,000 and below) utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury.  The issue was discovered and fixed with serial numbers 800,000 and later.

Elmer Keith was from Idaho/Utah and was famously known for being instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum, as well as the later .44 Magnum and .41 Magnum cartridges, credited by Roy G. Jinks as “the father of big bore handgunning.”

Anyway, this is a beautiful M1903, from the best time period,  in excellent condition and is correct with interesting history tied to Utah, the Ogden Arsenal, and Elmer Keith.  I also have a new reproduction WWI era sling, bayonet and scabbard that will go with it.

I have about 10-12 close up pictures that I can send you.

You don’t have to pay sales tax to me or a gun shop’s profit margin.  Pretty good for this one.

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