Was this just at Springfield, or also at Rock Island and Eddystone Arsenals? What steps were taken to prevent failures with the 1903's-- was this solved before the cheaper 1903-A3 came along? RWTF
The problem was with the heat treating furnaces and the "experts" who operated them. In the absence of measuring devices, the heat of the receivers in the furnace was judged by appearance, that is, by the color the metal turned at certain temperatures. When measuring devices were finally installed, it became evident that on sunny days the receivers were heated to a much higher temperature than on cloudy days, when the color of the glowing receiver was easier to judge.
As a result of this test, not only were instruments installed in the furnaces, but a whole new procedure, called "double heat treatment" was adopted, which resulted in probably the strongest of all Springfield actions. Even later, after serial number 1,276,767 (if I recall correctly) the steel in the receivers was changed from carbon to nickle steel, resulting in an action which was as strong, but "stickier", lacking the surface hardning. All 03A3's were made of the improved steel.
According to General Hatcher, in "Hatcher's Notebook", receivers which had been "burned" by overheating could not possibly be salvaged by re-heat treating.
Incidentally, Springfields were never manufactured at Eddystone, only M1917 Enfields.
