SOLD IMPORTANT US NAVY ISSUED 1903 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE, MARKED TO THE USS IDAHO (BB-24) & TO THE USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55)

In excellent original condition we have a very important US Navy issued 1903 Springfield Rifle that served on the Pre WWI Battleship USS Idaho, BB-24 and more significantly the very famous WWII Battleship the USS North Carolina, BB-55, The third most famous Battleship after the Missouri & Arizona. You will note the right side of the buttstock has a rack number in period correct WWI era script “IDA 20” dating to the issue to this ship around 1909 and on the left side of the buttstock in a rack number in period correct script “NC 152” from around 1939.

This rifle by serial number was originally built as a post Rod Bayonet 1905 rifle in 30-03 caliber.  It was returned to Springfield armory and rebuilt to 30-06 caliber sometime in 1909-10 as it has all the features found on these rebuilds such as a checkered buttplate, rear stock bolt only and a barrel date of 05.  This is a textbook example of the early 30-03 rifle upgrades to 30-06 which were done at this time.   The stock cartouche definitively identifies this gun as it bears the inspection marking GRG for George Goring who only worked from 1908-1911.  It was at this time that the Navy & Marine corps began to receive their first shipments of these rifles which were they officially adopted  in 1911.

The Battleship Idaho BB-24 had only a brief service career from 1908-1914 when she was sold to Greece.  At this time the small arms would have been removed from the ship and put back in stores.  Undoubtedly it was probably issued in used over the intervening years but it was marked as part of the small arms of the USS North Carolina that entered service in 1939. This ship as you know saw much combat service in the Pacific and is docked as a Museum ship in Wilmington, NC.  Navy marked rifles are extremely scarce and very few small arms can be tied with any certainty to a specific ship but this rifle can be and its a true Icon for anyone who admires the famous navy battleship now sitting in glory in Wilmington which i’m sure many of you have visited over the years.