Manufactured in early 1916, this rifle is one of the selected Model 1903 rifles sold to National Rifle Association members by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM). The front of the trigger guard finial is stamped with a small Ordnance Department 'Shell and Flame' insignia over the letters "N.R.A." to designate authorized sales by the DCM. The 'NRA Sales' Model 1903 rifles were star-gauged (although no special star-gauge marks were applied to M1903 rifles until about 1922) and selected for accuracy and exceptional fit and finish. The sale of M1903 rifles to civilians was discontinued with the entry of the U.S. into WWI in 1917 and was not resumed until the 1920s. With the exception of the NRA sales mark on the trigger guard, this rifle is identical to pre-war Springfield M1903 service rifles. The receiver, cocking piece and bolt sleeve have the dark, oil-quenched, casehardened, finish. the safety and magazine cut-off are casehardened with a colorful water-quenched finish. The bolt, rear sight base, barrel, upper barrel band, front sight base, buttplate and sling swivels have a military blue finish. The extractor, trigger guard, floorplate, lower barrel band, band spring and front sight base are high polish blue. The "ON" side of the magazine cut-off and rear face of the folding leaf sight are polished bright. The walnut stock and handguard are oil finished. The rifle has a fine checkered buttplate, "Style S" stock with grasping grooves and single reinforcing bolt, 'high hump' hand guard with sight relief cut and spring clips, grooved trigger, rear sight with 2850 yard 'volley notch' small diameter, dished, elevation knob and large, dished windage knob. The receiver has the standard five-line, block-letter, Springfield markings and serial number. The barrel is stamped: "S.A." above the Ordnance Shell and Flame insignia and dated "1-16". The bottom of the bayonet lug is stamped with a block "H", the right side of the lower barrel band is stamped with a block "U" facing the muzzle, the bolt safety lug is stamped with the steel lot code "G 6", and the safety and magazine cut-off markings have block letters. The left side of the stock behind the magazine cut-off is stamped with the inspector's initials "J.S.A." in block letters enclosed in a rectangle. An encircled, script, "P" proof mark is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard. Pre-war, Springfield M1903 rifles had commercial quality fit and finish. A limited number of these magnificent rifles were released to the qualified shooters between 1912 and 1917.

Excellent plus. This rifle is all original and retains 98% plus of the Springfield Armory casehardened, military blue and high polish blue finish. The floorplate has traces of finish wear from contact with a sling and the front sight base has a few scratches from removal of the front sight cover. The blue finish on the bolt and extractor show minimal cycling wear. The stock and handguard are in nearly new condition with crisp edges on the grasping grooves and perfect poof and inspection marks. This is a nearly new example of a scarce pre-WWI Springfield M1903 rifle. It would be nearly impossible to find a better example of a classic Springfield M1903 rifle.