Purchased for the sight and parts from the original, poor auction pic.
When in hand the shaping and workmanship is good. Very good. Pulled it apart and no markings or other information as to the builder.

Now wondering about keeping it together. But, it is a "low serial number" rifle.

Barrel is dated 6-09

Poor quality pics as it is raining. Better pics at some future date.
There is actually some very good grain in the buttstock under the darkened, grimy finish.

I'm pretty sure that guns been fired,and it looks great use factory ammo or load slightly reduced loads or sell it and get something you won't worry about.nice rifle.

I would clean it up and replace the pad. It's a collectors item, why would you tear it apart for parts?

Pays the bills.
A lot of rifles are worth much more as parts.
But I always work to make sure that anything interesting or historical doesn't "go under the knife". I have sold for a loss when something is worth saving.

A low number 1903 is a tough sell.
Rebuilding on a high number receiver is a possibility, but not what I typically do for time and $$ consideration.

Fired a lot is my guess/opinion.
Used and hunted hard, but put away for a loooong time. Spider webs/nests in the barrel, a lot of grime in corners and tight spots.
Checkering worn smooth.

I could put days into renovating, but it wouldn't make selling a low number 1903 any easier.

God I just hate when those killer Grey Recluse spiders get involved.

The following is my opinion, take it for what I am saying and its just my belief:
The "Norms" of safety we have today are the results of literally centuries of the evolution of humanities growth. If those "norms" existed in the early part of the 20th century the US government would have recalled everyone of the "low number" Springfield's and scrapped them.
IMO, I think the original plan should be executed to completion.

The only mitigating factor that would be if the stock work could be positively attributed and identified as from a maker of note, at that point I would agree with DanLH's comment. It would then be historical.

That is why it is posted here.

Most or all are safe to fire.
You aren't going to beat the guy who knows the guy who knows the guy.
https://www.m14forum.com/threads/springfield-armory-declares-low-number-m1903s-safe.488708/

Utah,
Check your PM.

Any gunsmith, good or bad, could have stamped his name on the butt, only to have it sent to the fireplace when installing the pad.

Yup, but you have to look.

I think Dan is 100% right. The rifle has historic value regardless of its origins. It would be a loss to part it out. Springfield parts aren't really hard to come by.

I agree. That is why it is posted here. I was looking for information in the inletting or under the pad but that was not to be.
Then here with the slim hope that the work was recognizable.

I take a lot of rifles apart that are unrepairable, "Bubba'd" or otherwise identifiable as common or not collectible. It is when I cannot put it in one of those categories that it ends up on a forum looking for help.