M1903 Springfield

Lore & Background

The M1903 was first used in combat during the Philippine-American War and was officially adopted by the United States as the standard infantry rifle on 19 June 1903. It saw service in World War I and was replaced by the faster-firing semi-automatic eight-round M1 Garand starting in 1936. However, the M1903 remained a standard-issue infantry rifle during World War II, since the U.S. entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm all troops. It also was used as a sniper rifle during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It remains popular as a civilian firearm, collector's piece, a competitive shooting rifle, and as a military drill rifle.

In Their Own Story

The rain had been falling on Empire Bay for three days. Vito stood on the fire escape of the apartment above the bookmaking office, the Springfield cold in his hands, the bolt locked home. Below, two men in grey overcoats argued in low voices, their breath fogging in the November air. He didn't need to rush. The Springfield didn't care about speed. He exhaled, let his breath leave his lungs, and watched the crosshair settle on the man closest to the door. One round. One bolt cycle. The argument stopped. He cycled the bolt, shouldered the stock, and watched the second man turn. The rain kept falling. The city kept its secrets. The Springfield kept its promise.

Reader's Guide

The source article does not provide any gameplay or usage guide for the M1903 Springfield in any video game or fictional setting.

Did You Know?

• The M1903's design is largely based on the Mauser M1893 and its successive models up to the Gewehr 98 rifle.
• The U.S. government paid $250,000 in royalties to Mauser Werke after a lawsuit over patent infringement.
• The .30-06 Springfield cartridge, adopted in 1906, is still a popular civilian cartridge.