Ria 1903 serial numbers
↳ Willys Go Devil Engine Based GENERATOR SETS and COMPRESSORS(Includes Hobart Bros.↳ Jeeps used by: USMC, USN, USCG (-NO EBAY-CRAIGSLIST-COMMERCIAL SALES-).↳ Willys MB & Ford GPW, For Sale Section.G503, WWII Jeeps, Willys MA, Willys MB, Ford GP, Ford GPA, Ford GPW, Bantam BRC.The blue is "rough" due to the final polishing stage being discontinued as being unnecessary and actually beneficial for a combat bayonet as it is less reflective."Īre you sure the date is 1903 and not 1908? The blue is dark but definitely shows as blue in bright sunlight, the dark Parkerizing that began about #408000 or so is definitely a very dark gray in sunlight. I have yet to see a dated one dated 1906, have seen #75485 dated 1907.ģ08392 is very early 1918 and was certainly blued when manufactured. Just as a note, from what data is available, the first approximately 75,000 RIA bayonets were not serial numbered. When the pressure to produced bayonets stopped with the Armistice on Novemsome numbered blades were not put through the final marking process as quickly as they normally would have, or were held back for a minor flaw. The lower number is probably an aberration based on a few that were serial numbered a month or so prior to being dated - sort of the "bottom of the barrel" syndrome at the end of the war. There is overlap at the end of that range, as #403775 is dated 1919 while #409988 is dated 1918. I have found RIA 1918 dated bayonets to run from about 304,000 to about 410,000. In recent years some of the ranges have been shortened or lengthened based on further observations. This so-called last SN is an approximated end-number only. The last of the M1903 Modified rifles was completed the following March 1943.
Ria 1903 serial numbers serial number#
"Brophy's serial number ranges are based on his observations of dated specimens. M1903A3 production phasing out the M1903 Modified began in December 1942 with the first 1909 rifles included in the factory invoice to the Ordnance Dept. The first 2100 or so made at RIA in 1906 were not serialized, and I have one of these in my small bayonet collection also." Only about 7000 were made at RIA in 1919, so the rest of their production (88,000 approx.) was made from 1906 to 1912.
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Ria 1903 serial numbers serial numbers#
The serial numbers for both our M1905's falls into the range of bayonets made at RIA in 1918 which is 305,211 to 410,543 or about half the total ever manufactured at RIA.
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RIA did not produce any from 1913 to 1917 and none after 1919. Given the highest observed serial number was 1,195,240, one could then conclude that RIA made approximately 200,000 of that total, or about 1 out of 6 M1905 bayonets made from 1906 to 1922. Only a total quantity for both armories combined is given but earlier in the text it is stated that Springfield made over 1 million of the M1905's in that period. "Brophy's "The 1903 Springfield Rifles" book shows a chart with the serial numbers and corresponding dates for both RIA and Springfield from 1906 to 1922. I Have a SA 1905, but will quote a thread on another site.