RWTF- that isn't even a low number rifle. Rock Island receivers below- and I'm quoting from a suspect memory here- 285,000 were in that category. Those above that, including yours, were made of nickel steel- a different beast entirely, and devoid of any of the aspersions cast toward low numbered guns.
I must say that this has been one of the more civilized discussions of low numbered '03's that I have witnessed in a long time.
Thanks for the info--were the nickel steel (Winchester M54 and Model 12's up to about 1932--)barrels on both SA and RIA 1903's marked with any special stampings to indicate nickel alloyed steels?
I also agree about the "absence of the malcontents and numbnutz that often screw up legit posters elsewhere on this website" being a blessed relief here- also true, IME anyway, with the German and European gun sectors-- nice to have folks like you and Michael Petrov and Herr Raimey Ellenburg and other cognoscenti here and willing to share- Good things indeed--
