Springfield U. S. MODEL 1903... CUSTOM TARGET RIFLE .30-06 Springfield

Here's a custom target rifle that someone has built from a Springfield Armory U.S. Model 1903. The receiver was made in 1919 with a serial number that is high enough to be in the double heat treated "safe to shoot range" (receivers below #800,000 may have faulty heat treatment and be dangerous to fire). This rifle is still chambered for the standard .30-06 cartridge but has a custom medium-heavy barrel that measures 1.235" in diameter at the receiver and after a short step tapers to 0.660" at the muzzle. There are no markings on the barrel. It is drilled for a front sight block which mounts a Redfield International Match globe front sight. The matching Redfield International Match target sight is mounted to the left side of the receiver above the magazine cutoff. The bolt handle has been reshaped and the safety lever has been replaced with an aftermarket reversed safety. A Dayton-Traister aftermarket trigger has also been installed, along with a trigger shoe. The stock has stock pins rather than recoil bolts which identifies it as from mid-WWII 03-A3 production. The stock has been highly modified with a roll-over cheek piece and full pistol grip both artfully grafted in. It has an old dried out "White Line" ventilated pad installed and the barrel channel has been modified for the heavier barrel contour. The handguard arrangement is a bit different. It appears to have an 03-A3 handguard that has been shortened at the rear. The rear handguard ring which normally would be just ahead of the receiver has been moved forward due to the diameter of the barrel, and a locating slot cut into the barrel channel for the ring. This leaves the first three inches of the barrel immediately forward of the receiver completely naked, but it's a functional enough arrangement. The right side of the receiver is drilled for another receiver sight which is no longer present and the inletted area of the stock below it has been somewhat crudely filled. An adjustable base is inlet into the forend for the hand stop/forward swivel. Overall condition of this rifle is good and the metal finish retains most of its bluing or Parkerizing (see photos). There are a few minor spots of freckling here and there but no significant pitting. The stock is in good overall condition and appears to be quite sound. There is a very fine/short crack behind the upper tang but it doesn't appear very threatening.
The mechanics appear to be in fairly good condition although I did note that the replacement safety lever can be worked loose of the bolt without much effort. The headspace checks out as correct although the bore shows use with a throat erosion measured at about 6.0 and a muzzle wear reading of about 1.8. The six-groove rifling is bright and free of rust or pits. It comes with the "Hunter" commercial leather sling.
An interesting custom target rifle that has been in a collection since the 1970's.