The “Springfield ’03,” probably the weapon most identified with Springfield Armory, is known around the world for its accuracy, reliability, and ruggedness. Between 1903, when production began, and 1936, Springfield Armory turned out more than one million M1903 rifles with many modifications. An additional one-third million rifles were produced at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois.

This case displays a disassembled Model 1903 Rifle.

Springfield ‘03

Lessons of War   War is the ultimate testing ground for weapons, and in the Spanish-American War of 1898-1899 the United States found that the Krag-Jorgensen rifle did not perform as well as the rifle issued to the Spanish soldiers. During the war the Springfield Armory began developing a new primary arm for the United States Army. The new rifle, based on the German Mauser action, became one of the most famous weapons ever produced by a national armory and remained in production for more than a third of a century.

M1900                SPAR6133  The M1900 was an experimental model designed to match the performance of European weapons employed in the Spanish-American War of 1898. In the proof of war it was found that the Krag round did not have the velocity or range of the Spanish Mauser rifles and that the Krag's loading system was deficient.

M1901                SPAR6134   Problems encountered in the M1900 were answered in a new model that incorporated an action very similar to the Mauser and used a rimless cartridge. [See the October 30, 1901 newspaper article describing this rifle.]

M1902                SPAR6150   Only minor changes were made in the M1901 to produce the version that was approved for production.

M1902 Carbine   SPAR6140   Prototype carbine version of the M1902 rifle.

M1903                SPAR6168   Experiments with the M1902 determined that, with some modifications, a 24 inch barrel on the rifle was as effective as the 30 inch barrel. The shorter barrel would allow the same weapon to be used by both infantry and cavalry, removing the necessity of producing two versions of the same weapon. The Model 1903 incorporated this change.

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Production Springfields   The reliability and versatility of the Springfield 1903 is demonstrated by the length of time it remained in production. The weapon could be stripped of extra weight for use in World War I aircraft, or modified for service in the trenches; the stock and bayonet could be changed; yet the fundamental character of the weapon remained.

M1903        SPAR5531   The initial production of the Model 1903 Springfield Rifles made use of a rod bayonet.

M1903 with 1905 modifications   SPAR6394   Beginning in 1905 the M1903s were fitted with a knife bayonet. *[For President Theodore Roosevelt's opinion of the rod bayonet, see the document below! & See 1905 newspaper article announcing bayonet change.]

M1903A1    SPAR5533     Slight changes continued to be made during the production life of the M1903. Late in its career, the stock was changed from a straight grip to a pistol grip. This change distinguished the A1 versions of the 1903.

M1903A3    SPAR6359   The need for many rifles brought on by World War II necessitated the contracting out of the manufacture of the Model 1903. These somewhat simplified versions were built by Remington and Smith Corona.

M1903 Stripped for Air Service     SPAR1061   Approximately 900 M1903s were modified by shortening the stock and using a 25 round magazine. It is believed that these rifles were intended for use by observers in balloons.

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Just as the Army experimented and modified the basic service rifle, so they experimented with and modified bayonets. The rifle and bayonets displayed here were produced about the same time but not necessarily for each other.

Bayonet, Bolo M1905        SPAR1085   The poor design of the hilt of the M1905 bolo bayonet, which combined a bayonet and jungle tool into one weapon, made it difficult to use for brush clearing.

Bayonet, Bolo M1912        SPAR1086   Redesign of the hilt, enlargement of the grip, and addition of a hooked pommel eliminated the handling problems found in the Model 1905 bolo bayonet. These bolo bayonets were issued to U.S. troops in the Philippines.

Bayonet, M1905 Modified SPAR1084   One experimental modification to the M1905 bayonet consisted of the addition of a heavy steel back strap along the grip to act as a hammer, It was intended that the bayonet could drive tent pegs into the grounds.

Bayonet, M1917       SPAR5541   The bayonet issued for the U.S. Rifle M1917 (Enfield) was used by U.S. troops in WWI and WWII. It is a British design modified to U.S. standards.

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Case 27

A display of the stages in .50" & .30" cartridge production created by the St. Louis Ordnance Plant operated by The United States Cartridge Co.

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The president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, took a great interest in the M1903. However, he expressed his great dislike for the rod bayonet in this letter.

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