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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => The Barracks => Topic started by: Major 2 on November 26, 2021, 06:36:46 AM

Title: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: Major 2 on November 26, 2021, 06:36:46 AM

Army experimental Springfield 1903 bolt action rifle in a bullpup configuration.
Looks like something from the "Planet of the Apes' movies

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: Silver Creek Slim on November 26, 2021, 07:27:40 AM

Strange.

Slim

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: River City John on November 26, 2021, 07:59:40 AM

I do not see how they could keep the stock into their shoulder and work the bolt action.

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: Baltimore Ed on November 26, 2021, 10:05:00 AM

Don’t think you gain much from a bullpup boltgun. Extremely awkward to operate. Plus moving the blast of a ‘06 that much closer to your face. No thanks.

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: Tascosa Joe on November 26, 2021, 01:00:55 PM

Maybe the perfect solution to the non-existent problem.

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: Robert Swartz on November 27, 2021, 06:37:48 AM

Quote from: Tascosa Joe on November 26, 2021, 01:00:55 PM

Maybe the perfect solution to the non-existent problem.

.......somebody was real bored with too much time on their hands? If the action is smooth and the barrel uncut. At the right price could make for a good parts gun.

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: Major 2 on November 27, 2021, 06:54:49 AM

Ultra-rare worth way more than the sum of its parts.
Butt ugly and impracticable as it is, I'd adopt it 'cause of its uber cool :) value & place in history

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: Tascosa Joe on November 27, 2021, 08:31:48 AM

So this is an actual Springfield Armory experiment?

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: St. George on November 27, 2021, 08:48:03 AM

According to Brophy and Crossman - the two guys who wrote the book on the '03 - no, it isn't.

The 'bullpup' design was a 'thing' in the gun magazines of the early '60's - there were a lot of different configurations - it stands to reason some are still extant.

Scouts Out!

Title: Re: Ran across this Springfield 03
Post by: El Tio Loco on November 28, 2021, 06:20:23 PM

Brophy has a picture of this rifle on page 85 in his book "The Springfield 1903 Rifle".  He captions the picture with "The United States Historical Institute caption of this photograph states: "Modified U.S. Rifle, Cal .30 M1903 designed for experiment by cavalry 3/27/40." However this author does not believe any serious consideration for military use was given this rifle."
Brophy also adds, "A carbine that General George Patton was supposed to have somthing to do with is a modified '03 rifle that was stocked in the "Bull Pup" manner used by some sportsmen who wanted a short rifle.  It is difficult for me to believe that any serious consideration of this rifle was made by cavalry or Ordnance personnel; the added cost and weight of the stock and attachment system, complicated latch-up of the trigger mechanism, and the exceptionally high front sight and obsolete Krag rear sight would all be negative factors.  etc, etc, ....

If I could ever figure out how to post pictures I would have attached it.
Ken