'03 Cartouches

[collector]

Springfield Mark 1 1120930 which indicates 1919.

I have Brophy and Poyer, but still am unsure on the correct dates for the two cartouches in the shot I've included.

DAL- David A. Lyle. I've only ever seen that on older rifles. The SA/ J.F. Coyle is a configuration that seems to be WW2 and just before.

My '03 has a 5-42 barrel and three circle P stamps under the wrist, so it's been through refurb a few times.

Books contradict each other a bit, like DAL in box is 1917-1919, but other book says 1916-1942, is there a SA/DAL out there somewhere?

Anyway just curious.

[Rhscott]

Recycled parts at its best.  The stock has been around the block a few times.  Your action most likely is on its second barrel….. at least.

Looks like the wrist has finally cracked.

 

[GWS]

Does your stock and action have the Mk.1 cut-out on the left side?  if so, the action may be original to the stock. The 1st Mk.1 was S/N 1,034,503 and the last(observed) was 

1,197,834. The Mk.1 S/N's were mixed in with "regular" 1903 rifles so your action and stock may be original issue and the DAL cartouche would be correct. It still has the straight bolt handle which may or may not be original. Check the bolt for identifying numbers/letters. Does your rifle still have the special Mk.1 trigger and sear? Many, if not most of those parts were replaced during overhaul/rebuild. I have never observed a SA/DAL cartouche. I have a "mixmaster" '03 myself with a 1,256,099 receiver, a SA 5-35 barrel and a rod bayonet stock! It shoots very well.  My Mk.1 is S/N 1,189,246 with a 3-20 barrel, so a bit later than your's. Thanks for showing this.

 

Steve

[collector]

 

On 3/16/2026 at 6:32 AM, Rhscott said:

Recycled parts at its best.  The stock has been around the block a few times.  Your action most likely is on its second barrel….. at least.

Looks like the wrist has finally cracked.

 

Yes I'm aware that the barrel is not the original. The rear sight mount (or whatever it's called, see photo) is not fluted as well, so a replacement. Yes I'm aware that the stock has been around the block a few times.

 

On 3/16/2026 at 1:57 PM, GWS said:

Does your stock and action have the Mk.1 cut-out on the left side?  if so, the action may be original to the stock. The 1st Mk.1 was S/N 1,034,503 and the last(observed) was 

1,197,834. The Mk.1 S/N's were mixed in with "regular" 1903 rifles so your action and stock may be original issue and the DAL cartouche would be correct. It still has the straight bolt handle which may or may not be original. Check the bolt for identifying numbers/letters. Does your rifle still have the special Mk.1 trigger and sear? Many, if not most of those parts were replaced during overhaul/rebuild. I have never observed a SA/DAL cartouche. I have a "mixmaster" '03 myself with a 1,256,099 receiver, a SA 5-35 barrel and a rod bayonet stock! It shoots very well.  My Mk.1 is S/N 1,189,246 with a 3-20 barrel, so a bit later than your's. Thanks for showing this.

 

Steve

This stock is not the original Mk 1, since the cut-out is not there, and the muzzle end is marked RI. The trigger and sear are not the Mk 1 type. It's clear that this rifle has been through the mill. This rifle would have been refurbed for later use, in this case WW2, so maybe that's when the SA/JFC was added?

On the bolt image, I wonder if something was marked in the scratched area and later removed since the marks are just in a  certain area.

I love these puzzles about the refurbs, their story is less obvious compared to a 1911 or 1911A1 (one of my favorites) since it involves a stock as well.

But whatever, it's a good shooter.

[Rhscott]

Mr Coyle (JFC) retired in 1938 with over 40 years service at Springfield Armory, so the SA/JFC was well before the 1942 barrel was installed.