digi-shots Posted September 3, 2017 Share #1 Posted September 3, 2017 Here's a photo of a recent pick up - m1903 Springfield. It's a VC capture and brought back to the states in the late 1960's. The climate in South Vietnam has really taken a toll on it's condition... lots of rust and lots of "patina" ! The barrel is dated 12-17 and I believe based on the s/n 1,376,xxx the rifle dates to around 1935. It has the original older 1903 stock and has only one gas hole on the right side of the receiver. From what I've read, quite a few 1903's were given to the Chinese (and/or Taiwan) just before WWII. If anyone can shed some light on this, I'd sure appreciate it! Thanks for looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted September 3, 2017 Share #2 Posted September 3, 2017 M1903's were also provided to South Vietnamese Forces early on; I have a picture in one of my books of a class on the M1903 to a group of South Vietnamese militia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdibbs88 Posted September 7, 2017 Share #3 Posted September 7, 2017 i can hardly think of a worse weapon to have in a jungle environment. But, they did it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted September 7, 2017 Share #4 Posted September 7, 2017 Have a French MAS36 with tag from 4th Inf Div. Really had to be desperate if they fired it as its a wreck...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted September 8, 2017 Share #5 Posted September 8, 2017 That is a wonderful VN era bring back. Congrats. My accountant served in Vietnam. He told me of an incident where he was walking in the tall grass and a Viet Cong popped up feet away from him and aimed a gun at his chest. The gun misfired and my friend dispatched the VC with the machete he had in hand. The gun the VC had was an 03 Springfield. He intended to bring it home as a war trophy but got recalled from his unit on an emergency basis when his father had a heart attack back here in the States. When his gear was eventually shipped home the rifle was not included. That is a great item you have. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted September 8, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 8, 2017 Saw an even more abused vn bringback 03 on the gunboards forums, with paperwork. They sure got around, didn't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted September 8, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted September 8, 2017 I'll have to get back to the veteran I got it from to get more info... but he did point out a "bullet hole" across the front lower hand guard. The angle it went through does not appear to have been in line with whoever was holding the rifle. Here are some close up pics of the area: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted September 8, 2017 Author Share #8 Posted September 8, 2017 another pic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. BARney Posted September 9, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 9, 2017 If that rifle could talk, I'd buy it a beer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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