RIA 1903 S/N 398186 with SA 1918 Barrel

[jjspearson]

I recently purchased a RIA 1903 with receiver number of 398186. I understand that this serial number is after RIA stopped making completed rifles. From other posts, I think it is likely that this receiver was shipped to SA to complete the rifle. I am wondering if the 1918 SA barrel was the original barrel with this rifle? Lyman 48S sight apparently was added post WW II.

[Scott_OH]

I would be surprised if its the original barrel. From my understanding, those RIA receivers SA built were all used in the late 1920s, so you'd expect a '27-'29 barrel. Does it have a punchmark under the serial number?

[1563621]

RIA 387643 SA 3-28 L66A
RIA 387883 RIA 2-19 1919 NM, stamp OHA/1919
RIA 388xxx SA 3-37
RIA 388xxx RA 6-42 Unusual–Remington 03 barrel on RIA
RIA 388831 RIA 2 -19 C126 NM
RIA 3896xx SA 2-27
RIA 3902xx SA 7-32
RIA 393292 RIA 2-19
RIA 397xxx Unmarked, No Date Barrel with small circle S on left rear of rear sight band
RIA 401857 SA 7-09/A (email 1/07)
RIA 403xxx SA 1930
RIA 404775 SA 4-27


Barrel dates all over

[Scott_OH]

Originally Posted by 1563621

RIA 387643 SA 3-28 L66A
RIA 387883 RIA 2-19 1919 NM, stamp OHA/1919
RIA 388xxx SA 3-37
RIA 388xxx RA 6-42 Unusual–Remington 03 barrel on RIA
RIA 388831 RIA 2 -19 C126 NM
RIA 3896xx SA 2-27
RIA 3902xx SA 7-32
RIA 393292 RIA 2-19
RIA 397xxx Unmarked, No Date Barrel with small circle S on left rear of rear sight band
RIA 401857 SA 7-09/A (email 1/07)
RIA 403xxx SA 1930
RIA 404775 SA 4-27


Barrel dates all over

I see a mix of ones that were built at RIA at the end of production, the 1919 Rock Island National match rifles (discussed by Ferris), late 20s Springfield built ones, and rebarrels.

Per Ferris, the receivers weren't sent to Springfield until March 1926.

[1563621]

This one RIA 424xxx has a SA 28 original barrel https://imgur.com/3QDB94M

[John Beard]

When rifle assembly at RIA ended in mid-1919, they apparently had a batch of finished receivers spanning the serial range from about S/N 385000 to about S/N 400000. What they did with those receivers is unknown. The most likely explanation was that RIA used them in later overhaul. To our knowledge, all the material sent to SA in 1926 was unfinished.

J.B.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by John Beard

The most likely explanation was that RIA used them in later overhaul. J.B.

RIA or SA?

Mike

[John Beard]

RIA. Even though RIA was no longer manufacturing new rifles, they still functioned as a depot for overhauling rifles. So they still needed to maintain an inventory of repair parts, including receivers.

J.B.

[jjspearson]

Yes, the receiver does have a punch mark under the serial # 398186. Could RIA have finished the rifle with a SA 5-18 barrel sometime in 2019?

[John Beard]

If the receiver has a punch mark under the serial number, then it went through rifle assembly or overhaul at SA. And the rifle assembly or overhaul would have occurred substantially later than 1919.

J.B.