The short answer is no! I pulled out "Hatcher's Notebook" last night and discovered that the Campbell quote above was lifted entirely from Hatcher's earlier work. In the chapter on Receiver Steels and Heat Treatment he says the following: "The test brings out quite clearly the fact that uniform results cannot be obtained by re-heat treating old receivers which vary widely in chemical composition." Apparently once the steel has been "burned" the damage is done. There is quite a bit more detail in the book and I would recommend that you read it.
Because of multiple failures in the 1920's both arsenals and a special board assembled for the purpose recommended that the low number receivers be withdrawn from service and scrapped. This finding was overruled FOR BUDGETARY REASONS (my emphasis). The low number rifles were set aside as a war reserve and the question of disposal deferred.
I am not interested in starting any internet flame wars on this subject. If you want to shoot your low number rifle, have at it. But in light of the above I think the legal position of people like the DCM who recently sold low number rifles is risky. The odds of a failure are very low, but not as low as they should be. So I say, if you have a choice, get a known double heat treat or nickel steel Springfield.
