The Springfield M1903 (United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903) is an Americanbolt actionrifle built on the Mauser turnbolt action, fed with an internal 5-roundmagazine. The Springfield borrowed lot of enough design features from the Mauser 98, down to be cock-and-open like the latter, that Mauser Werke successfully sued the US Government for patent infringement, forcing the American to pay royalties for every rifle and stripper clip produced. Due to the legal proceedings and its limited productions, the American start issuing the already-produced m1917 enfield rifles to their expeditionary force, more than the Springfield, as they entered the western front of the First World War.
It was used by US forces, most notably during the TwoWorld Wars, Korean War, and Vietnam War for limited sniper role. The weapon is recognizable by its straight grip stock, Type C semi-pistol grip stock (M1903A1 variant), bent bolt handle, oblong stock indentation on some models, and an adjustable flip-up rear sight or aperture one (M1903A3).
